Lighting For Your Kitchen And Cabinets
Kitchen lighting
Kitchen lighting is a form of home lighting specifically for the
functional purpose of a kitchen. In the kitchen several
requirements need to be met and these must be aided by precise
lighting. Thus kitchen lighting is mostly task lighting and
ambient lighting and less of decorative lighting. Good kitchen
lighting, from an aesthetic and functional standpoint,
incorporates both ambient and task lighting.
>From the perspective of a professional lighting designer, the
kitchen is one of the more interesting and versatile projects
one can tackle. Filled with numerous nooks and crannies,
cabinets and appliances, shelves and other specialized areas
such as islands, kitchens can present more lighting challenges
than any other room in your home.
Start with the task areas. These are best lit with bright,
shadowless light. Fluorescent tubes are particularly well suited
for this. You want to get the fixture close to the task area so
as to get maximum light concentrated on the area you wish to
work. In kitchens this would be counters, sinks, and tables.
Spot lights and directional lights also provide task lighting in
kitchens. For pantries or other closets, small Under Cabinet
Lights provide good illumination. They can be mounted inside the
closet above the door header to provide glare free lighting on
the closet contents.
Ambient light is the general, overall light that fills in
shadows, reduces contrast, and lights vertical surfaces to give
the space a brighter feel. Fluorescent tubes are well suited to
the job of providing ambient light. They provide broad, even
illumination and their efficiency makes it possible to fill the
space with light without turning it into an oven. Incandescent
down lights are more dramatic and give a brilliant white light
but require several fixtures to avoid shadows in a kitchen.
Direct lighting is achieved by using conventional recessed
lights, surface lights or light fixtures that are on a pendant
or chain. These types of lights work well to provide bright
lighting for work surfaces and general purpose lighting in the
kitchen area. Rope lighting and small recessed lights are budget
friendly.
Add a layer of accent lighting. You may be lighting artwork,
architectural details, collectibles, or a food presentation area.
Kitchen occupancy sensors can be used in place of expensive
complicated 3-way switches in kitchens with multiple entrances.
If the sensors can "see" all the entrances from their mounting
location, they will turn on the lights automatically whenever
anyone enters the room from any direction.
The importance of kitchen lighting is often overlooked. The
traditional kitchen has been replaced by a modern one where
people interact in quietude over the counter. Thus kitchen
lighting is evolving with the needs of modern households.
Cabinet lighting: make your cabinet attractive as never before:
When it comes to interior, cabinet d