A kitchen’s lighting scheme is much more critical to the overall aesthetics and liveability of a space than most people commonly believe. Kitchen lighting is complex, as a dark kitchen with less lighting can create too many shadows which then makes cooking, eating, and socialising difficult and uncomfortable.
On the other hand, a kitchen with too bright or much lighting feels sterile like a hospital waiting room, creating an awkward atmosphere. Therefore, kitchen lighting may be the difference between an unliveable space and a pleasant, inviting space where you’ll love preparing meals and meeting with friends and family.
The standard logical lighting scheme in a contemporary is a combination of overhead (ceiling mounted or recessed lights) and pendant lighting. However, as we move into 2022, the advantages of under cabinet illumination should not be overlooked, so let’s take a closer look at how under cabinet lighting can increase the functionality, aesthetics, and WOW factor of your new contemporary kitchen.
But First, What is Under Cabinet Lighting?
Under-cabinet lighting is lights that are positioned beneath upper wall cabinets. You may also install under-bench lighting, which consists of a tiny strip of lights installed on the underside of the benchtop.
LED under cabinet lighting gives a gentle and low-key effect that may make an otherwise bright space feel cosier throughout the day or early evening when daylight is still present.
However, there are a plethora of options available for under cabinet lighting, from built-in, aftermarket, strip, LED, fluorescent, battery-powered, or hardwired solutions are all available. We’ve put together this complete guide on under cabinet lighting, including why you should have it and what to know before you purchase it, to save you a little time and a lot of headaches.
What are the Benefits of Under Cabinet Lighting in Your Contemporary Kitchen?
- Better Quality Light Ensures a More Comfortable Working Atmosphere.
To begin with, under cabinet lighting improves the quality of light in your kitchen by directing light to where you’re working—the benchtop. You’ll likely have a lot of shadows where you’re holding that sharp knife if you’re working with only overhead illumination.
- Energy Savings
Installing under cabinet lighting in your kitchen can save you money on your energy bill since you’ll be able to light up the workstation without turning on the entire room’s lights. If you use LED lights and separate lighting portions on various switches, you may save even more money. Compared to incandescent lights, LED lights emit less heat and spend less energy. They are less likely to burn out, are less expensive to power, and are less likely to shatter than regular light bulbs.
- Gentle on the Eyes
LED strip lights produce calming illumination that is gentle on the eyes and provides a relaxing atmosphere in the kitchen. These LED lights are ideal for situations where you work for lengthy periods, even at night. For people sensitive to strong lights, LED under cabinet lighting would be more beneficial.
Choosing Colour Temperature
You should think about the bulb’s colour temperature when choosing the kind and design of under cabinet lighting. Different varieties of lighting comes in a range of different colour temperatures.
While colour temperature really comes down to taste, most people specify a warmer colour, but some people like neutral white. If a temperature is too chilly, the space will seem sterile; the room will appear yellow if it is too warm.
The colour and intensity of some LED light systems can be controlled via a remote (most often with strip lights). The colour temperature you select should be influenced by your personal style as well as the other colours in your kitchen. Warmer lighting is recommended if your kitchen is largely decorated in warm hues such as reds, oranges, and yellows. If your kitchen is decorated in cold hues such as greys, blues, greens, or white, you’ll want to use cooler lighting.
Considering Light Brightness
It’s also worth noting that colour temperature and brightness are not synonymous. For example, you can have extremely bright, extremely warm lighting, or extremely cool, extremely dark lights, or vice versa.
The light brightness will be determined in part by the amount of lighting you install as well as the bulb’s lumen value. You’ll want stronger lights in a darker kitchen, but you won’t need as much in a kitchen with a dazzling white benchtop since the benchtop will reflect light, making the area look brighter.
When deciding on the brightness of your under-cabinet lighting, benchtop material should be considered. For example, matte surfaces reflect light more evenly, whereas glossy counters, such as high-polished granite, cause greater glare.
If your benchtop is constructed of a highly reflecting or brilliant material, choosing integrated lighting with bulbs hidden behind a frosted lens is especially suggested. The end effect will be a considerably more comfortable light quality for working in the kitchen.
Ready for Your Next Kitchen Renovations Sydney?
Designing a new kitchen might be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be when you work alongside skilled kitchen renovations Sydney companies who will help you create your dream contemporary kitchen with a smooth process.
Renovating your kitchen may increase the utility of your room while also increasing the value of your home. To adopt a more contemporary kitchen design, keep these lighting ideas stated above in mind and apply them so you can simply modernise your kitchen and enjoy having your preferred style.
