Lighting in your kitchen

Lighting your kitchen usually requires different types of lighting to be installed. Task lighting is required to light up the work tops for preparing food and general tasks within the kitchen. Spotlights are an ideal form of task lighting as they can be directed wherever they are most needed.

Track spotlights are usually simple to install and are a popular replacement for a standard fluorescent fitting quite often found in older kitchens. There is a wide range of spotlights available, either as single units or as part of a multiple spotlight arrangement.

Spotlights in the kitchen

Recessed spotlights in the ceiling are a popular way of lighting a kitchen as they give good lighting coverage throughout the kitchen, some can be tilted to give a better directional light for illuminating the kitchen sink area or more accurate lighting over the worktops.

If possible it may be an idea when designing the layout of your kitchen to allow for the positioning of spotlights in certain areas such as over the fridge or near to the cooker. Although, be careful not to position recessed lights so that you might stand in you own light and create unnecessary shadows.

The use of dimmer switches in a kitchen can give you added control. The dimmer switch could be turned up when task lighting is required. The lights could then be dimmed when less light is required. This is especially useful if you have a kitchen diner as the light could be dimmed during your evening meal.

 

A high kitchen ceiling

If you have a high kitchen ceiling, it may be possible to light the ceiling itself using single spotlights directed upwards to light the ceiling and then using spotlights pointed at the work surfaces as task lighting.

In a traditional style kitchen, a traditionally styled ceiling light perhaps with wood or wrought iron can look stunning hanging from the center of the kitchen ceiling.

Modern or contemporary ceiling lights are available for the more modern or contemporary kitchen.

Having ambient lighting as well as task lighting in a kitchen allows the room to used for more than just cooking and the preparation of meals.