Introduction
It’s true that lighting is important throughout your house and home, but no room deserves more consideration than the kitchen. As the central hub of your home for cooking, socialising, entertaining and even working in a post-Covid world, kitchen lighting ideas are essential for achieving the ideal vibrance and mood for any task.
For this reason, choosing the right lighting to go with your kitchen design ideas should be one of your top priorities. At Matthew James we believe the best time to choose a new lighting strategy, is during the planning stage, when you’re signing off on your kitchen drawings. If you put it off until later, you may regret it when you have to make changes to completed sections, resulting in both lost time and money and reducing options.
Don't underestimate the power of lighting
Planning a kitchen design and layout is something you want to get right the first time. It’s more than just a room in your house—it’s where you spend most of your time.
The lighting in your kitchen has a major impact on how you use it, and how you feel when you’re there. Kitchen finishes and cabinetry must be taken into consideration when planning your lighting layout and design.
A good kitchen lighting plan needs at least two things: task lighting that is bright and free of shadows so that cooking and preparing food can be done safely. Along with mood-setting lighting, that highlights architectural features to make the room feel less like a work space.
Kitchen lighting ideas can be simple and cost effective. A few well placed fixtures can help you create the perfect atmosphere in the kitchen, which is why it’s important to invest in lighting ideas that are both functional and beautiful.
We’ve put together some tips to help you get started:
1. Make the most of your soaring eaves and high ceilings
Kitchen lighting can make or break a kitchen design. For some, it’s all about the pendants. A pair of eye-catching pendants can be added to a room with high ceilings to give it a more expansive feel while also giving it a clear sense of direction.
If you want to create a balanced look, space the pendants equally apart. Each end pendant should be 6 inches or less in from the island’s edge. A low-hanging pendant light fixture is a no-no. You could also add dimmer switches so that you can control how much light you want shining down on your food!
Another thing to consider when designing your kitchen lighting scheme is using reflective surfaces like mirrors or glass tiles on cabinets or walls so that they reflect more light back up into them rather than letting it escape through windows or doors – this will create more even lighting throughout
2. how to light your new extension
Before you start building, think about how you’re going to light the extension. Because the last thing you want is to discover that you require additional lights but lack the necessary cabling or sockets.
Despite the fact that side returns provide a lot of light during the day, it is important to consider how the room will look at night.
Incorporating wall lights that blend in while not in use is a nice approach. In terms of illumination, you can either go with an all-rounder or one that is more targeted.
If you are planning on spending time in your kitchen after dark (which everyone does), then investing in dimmable spots can be a great idea because they can be set to give off a warm glow through out the evening hours. LED strip lighting can also help create an inviting atmosphere when entertaining guests at home.
Check out one of our projects where we designed and installed a brand new kitchen into the clients extension: Contemporary Open-Plan Shaker Kitchen Design In Halesowen
3. Make an impression
When it comes to kitchen lighting, it’s not only about function; it’s also about having a good time. If you want to make a statement, go with a large pendant necklace. If you can, place it above your kitchen table or island so that it provides task lighting as well. Also, this isn’t limited to really large kitchens. Statement lighting may be just as effective in small kitchen designs.
4. Be dynamic
Choosing the right lighting for your kitchen can be a daunting task. Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or renovating an old one, choosing the right lights can make all the difference.
Your kitchen lighting requirements will change on a regular basis. For example, if you have young children in your household, you may need brighter lights than if you are entertaining guests on occasion.
Choose an adjustable lighting system to make your life easier. Pendants, for example, that can be easily raised or lowered depending on the level of brightness required.
It’s also commonly used to modify sightlines. So you have an amazing view from a window or prefer to entertain in your kitchen, you will want to ensure that your pendant lighting isn’t hung so low that it obstructs that breathtaking view!
5. Take charge of how your kitchen is lit
Unless you’re a pro, it can be hard to know what kind of lighting is best for your kitchen. But don’t worry! We’re here to help.
With an abundance of light sources and functions to consider, it’s often savvy to think about a flexible control system rather than a simple on/off switch. If at all possible, separate your lights so you can have different moods with the flick of a switch.
In order to generate mood lighting in resting zones, use wall lights and washers to add soft background illumination. The installation of uplighters on top of kitchen cabinets will boost overall illumination while lowering the number of downlights necessary for high ceilings.
6. Under Cab illumination
When it comes to lighting in your kitchen, you can’t go wrong with Matthew James. We’ve seen so many of our customers come to us because they want a kitchen design company that can help them bring their vision to life. We’re happy to report that we’ve been able to do just that for hundreds of clients over the years!
What are some of the things that make us stand out from other kitchen design companies?
Well, we believe in providing our customers with a total solution—not just beautiful cabinets and appliances, but also the right lighting for whatever mood they might be in at any given time. We know that your kitchen often doubles up as a home office and playroom!
We provide integrated cabinet lighting as a popular design feature. These lights, which replace the base of the wall cabinets, provide light inside and below the cabinet and are controlled by motion. This means there are no tangled wires or unsanitary switches.
Conclusion and what's best for your kitchen
Kitchen lighting ideas vary according to size and needs. To determine which type of lighting each area requires, first examine the areas of your kitchen and consider the activities that will take place in each space.
Task lighting is required in some areas, such as food preparation areas, the kitchen sink, and above the stove. Others, such as the dining room, require mood and accent lighting.
Task lighting should be three times brighter than general lighting in areas where you work, read, or prepare food. Lighting should be placed over prep and cooking areas, sinks, and cabinet surfaces as a general rule. It is a practical approach to kitchen lighting that avoids relying on a grid of lights in the ceiling, which frequently misses important areas.
If you’re going to be chatting with someone in the kitchen while you’re cooking, you’ll want them to sit in a softer light so they can relax. We always recommend wiring the kitchen lighting on multiple dimmable circuits to achieve different mood settings. The amount of light required in multifunctional kitchen spaces varies greatly depending on usage and time of day.
Open-plan kitchens with a dining area or a breakfast bar require adequate lighting for eating as well as softer lighting for after-dinner conversation. Ambient lighting, particularly in the evenings, creates a magical atmosphere for entertaining guests.
We are kitchen design experts with extensive knowledge of the various light sources, fixtures and fittings available, and today’s high-tech control systems. Our electricians are fully qualified to ensure a secure and properly installed installation.
Rather than working with grids and symmetry, focus on the areas that need lighting.