How lighting influences the layout of a kitchen
How lighting influences the layout of a kitchen
The kitchen is more than just a space for cooking. Nowadays, this room is often used to gather family members or entertain friends and guests. However, without sufficient lighting, it might be difficult to maximise the usage of your kitchen.
There are numerous ways to use lighting to make your kitchen a safe and appealing area for everyone, whether you want to highlight your décor, make cooking easier, or create a truly welcoming dining space.
What makes a kitchen lighting setup so important?
If you are planning a kitchen renovation, a kitchen lighting setup must certainly be considered. Making the most of the natural light in your kitchen, along with a well-planned mix of light fixtures and fittings, could instantly improve its appearance and feel.
You’ll be able to enjoy your kitchen at any time of day, from watching the dawn while drinking coffee in the natural morning light to resting with a glass of wine in the evening under the atmospheric dimmed light of your carefully planned lighting scheme.
Setting your kitchen lighting effectively allows you to emphasise your favourite design elements and make the room appear much bigger.
In this My Beautiful Kitchen blog post, we’ll go over how you can use lighting ideas and fixtures to improve your kitchen design and make your modern kitchen the heart of your home.
How to set up the lighting in the kitchen
Choosing new kitchen cabinets and worktops is a vital part of upgrading your kitchen. Although lighting is often a secondary concern, it is ideal to plan it all at once. This is because the layout of your cabinets, appliances, and fixtures will influence where lighting should be set.
There are lots of options to choose from, including wall lights, accent lights, and pendant lights.
If you do not plan for lighting design, your kitchen will not function well. This should have an effect on how you arrange your units, white goods, furnishings, and power sources.
It will assist you in installing the right types of kitchen lighting in the proper locations, lighting each area to the level of your choice.
Never disregard the significance of kitchen lighting
You shouldn’t disregard the significance of having sufficient lighting in your kitchen, as lighting is essential for functionality and ambiance. Even homes that receive abundant natural light during the day will need adequate lighting throughout the evening and on cloudy days.
In general, lighting is crucial for functionality and practicality. Food preparation often calls for the use of sharp utensils, and the hobs and oven can become extremely hot, so proper lighting is essential for safety! Safety is essential, and being unable to see what you’re doing is a certain prescription for disaster. It is always preferable to have too much light rather than not enough.
The main objective should be to provide adequate lighting. For example, use bright lights or recessed spotlights above worktops and cooking areas. Then you can add additional lighting to set the mood, like wall lights or a statement lighting fixture over the dining table or kitchen island.
What type of finish should I use for my lights?
The finish you choose for your cabinets should also affect how you place your kitchen lighting. High gloss kitchen cupboards, for example, are very reflecting, resulting in an uncomfortable glare when lighting is not properly directed. Matt kitchen units, on the other hand, absorb light, so you might have to adjust with additional artificial lighting, especially if your cupboards are a darker colour.
Different types of kitchen lighting
It is important to have more knowledge about all different types of kitchen lighting before you can plan it properly. Colour brightness and warmth may significantly change the mood of a room, thus any kitchen should have at least two lighting levels.
Lightning levels
The first type is shadow-free practical lighting for safe cooking, while the second is mood lighting which produces an inviting vibe. A third type, which may not be necessary, is to use extra lights carefully positioned throughout the area to attract attention to key aspects.
Although these types of lighting have many names, they are most generally recognised as task lighting, ambient lighting, and accent lighting because of their primary functions. The finest kitchen lighting design should include all three.
Ambient lighting
Keeping full-brightness task lights on all the time could be irritating to the eyes, which is where ambient lighting comes in. This should be your primary source of background lighting in your kitchen, complementing natural light during the day and creating a softer atmosphere in the evening.
This form of lighting, also known as indirect general light, creates a pleasing base level of illumination rather than exposed overhead lamps blasting down harshly. Ambient lighting should provide a warm glow to the room with the turn of a switch, spreading evenly around the space to ensure proper lighting.
You may achieve this with a combination of ceiling lights, wall sconces, and even coloured strip lights. Once you install spotlights with a dimmer switch, you can modify the brightness and warmth to match your current activities.
Task lighting
Despite the many kitchen lighting choices available today, having enough light to use the space efficiently is essential. In short, task lighting is needed for preparing and cooking food in a modern kitchen.
This lighting is carefully positioned above counters and ovens, often in the form of downlights or spotlights under cupboards or in cooker hoods. It can be an appealing feature in a modern kitchen.
Accent lighting
Although the previous lighting types are enough to produce a balanced ambiance, accent lights are the perfect finishing touch for a well-designed kitchen. As the name implies, these lights improve a particular area, emphasising a design detail and enhancing the whole setting.
This style of kitchen lighting is used for more than just mood lighting and spotlights. There are many methods to include light as a supporting feature in kitchen design. Accent lighting is often used to create a dramatic effect by highlighting decorative objects.
Backlighting is a common way to exhibit china or other things, particularly when using glass-fronted cupboards or open shelves. Under-cabinet lights or platform lights around the base can accentuate cabinet or worktop finishes without being as bright as task lighting. An under-cabinet light is an effective way to provide additional lighting.
How to set up lights in layers in the kitchen
Some kitchens make the mistake of having only one centralised light. This is a serious problem because a single light fixture cannot offer enough light to brighten the entire room and everything that has to be done in each area. It can also make the kitchen appear smaller, with gloomy corners closing in.
Lastly, the most effective kitchen lighting design will include all three types. The secret is to design a kitchen lighting system that unifies the three lighting components in a seamless manner.
What exactly defines a layered lighting technique?
This problem can be solved by designing a layered lighting approach that incorporates recessed lighting and ambient sources. This involves creating different lighting ‘zones’ across the room so that the lighting in each location matches the needs of the activities that will take place there. You may then change the lighting to suit your needs with just a press of a switch.
Task lighting must enable you to see properly when cooking and cleaning. Adding under-cabinet lighting is one approach to ensure that your work surfaces are properly lit.
Placing flexible strip lights or puck lights under the outer edge of wall units will light up the counters without casting dark shadows, allowing you to control your hob and chopping boards securely.
When you don’t need harsh directional lighting to concentrate on a task, you should be able to turn them off and switch to ambient lighting. Instead of focussing on cooking areas, these lights should brighten the rest of the room enough to allow you to move the furnishings and comfortably dine or drink.
This can be achieved with wall uplights and semi-flush-mount ceiling lighting.
How can I enhance kitchen lighting?
Finally, when the task lights are turned off, accent lighting can add dimension to your kitchen design by complimenting the ambient lighting. Again, a common choice is to install LED strips or puck lights on the bottom of shelves or cabinets to light up what is stored beneath them.
Consider the light controls in the kitchen
Once you divide your kitchen lighting into these three parts, it’s a good idea to use separate circuits using different switches. It enables you to turn on each lighting type independently or in combination as needed to get the desired illumination levels.
Of course, the position of switches should be practical. For example, the overhead light switch should be at the door so that you can quickly turn it on as soon as you go in.
Lighting options include dimmer switches and overhead lighting
We know that not everyone has enough money to include multiple kitchen lighting systems. But you do not need to rewire anything on separate circuits. As an alternative, you may set up dimmer switches to adjust the brightness, allowing you to use the same lights in multiple ways whenever needed.
For example, overhead spotlights can function as task lights at maximum brightness before turning ambient lighting when reduced. The same is true for pendant lights or accent lighting fixtures over islands or tables.
What are the features of smart kitchen lighting?
If you choose smart kitchen lights, you may connect them over WiFi and control them using a smartphone app. This is a useful method for creating a lot of kitchen lighting layers at once. Remember to match your light fixtures with the rest of your kitchen’s décor to create a cohesive lighting scheme.
It’s an excellent idea to match your switches with your kitchen cabinet handles or washbasin taps, such as silver with silver or brass with brass. But do not attempt DIY wiring for the lights controls and fittings. Unless you’re a professional electrician, you need to hire one.
Pick the right kitchen lighting colours
When buying light bulbs for your kitchen light fixtures, including integrated LEDs, you may be thinking about what is the best light colour for kitchens. We’re not discussing rainbow colours here, but rather the temperature. Light is usually categorised as either cool or warm, with cold lighting being a brighter white and warm lighting being a softer yellow, though there are several tones.
Why is the temperature of the bulbs so important?
Kelvins (K) are used to measure lighting warmth, and the bluish-white tones of daylight are approximately 5000K. Based on lighting experts Lumens, the best light temperature ranges for use are:
- 3100K-4500K – bright white, ideal for task lighting.
- 2000K-3000K- soft white, appropriate for ambient lighting (between white and yellow)
- 1000K-2000K – warm white, ideal for accent lighting (similar to candlelight glow).
The light will be colder or more blue-tinted as the temperature rises. On the contrary, as the temperature drops, the light becomes warmer or more yellow-toned. Anything beyond 4600K is comparable to or brighter than natural daylight. This is usually only required in clinical or commercial contexts. No home kitchen should feel like a hospital or a supermarket, and proper lighting can help achieve a warm, inviting atmosphere! Many people do not realise how much changing light temperatures can affect their mood, but the improper tone can be visually shocking.
This is yet another reason to carefully consider which lights should use specific bulb temperatures and which types can be paired.
Task lighting is used most often alone, so it can be bright or cold. Because ambient lighting is warmer, it is usually not recommended to use it all at once.
But accent lighting is also warm, so having both on at the same time will not feel out of place. This is the goal of layered kitchen lighting, to always achieve a comfortable brightness.
Extend the theme with kitchen lighting styles
Of course, lights must be useful in the first place, so consider their type and setup. However, how you position your lights will have an impact on the general look of the room.
Install kitchen light fixtures in as symmetrical a pattern as possible to achieve a sense of balance.
If lights are recessed or hidden, proper placement is not as important. Having said that, it’s still recommended to keep every light an even distance apart. This prevents gaps where areas of the kitchen could become ‘dark spots’.
However, it is not necessary to always stick to even numbers. It’s generally more visually appealing to have an odd number of fixtures, like three pendant lights over a kitchen island.
Because light fixtures can be decorative in their own right, colours, forms, and textures must all be considered. To connect everything in the room, the fittings should be constant throughout, as the right lighting can unify the space. If you want to add some colour, experiment with contrasting hues.
Sculptural shapes add a dramatic creative flair, while patterned fabric lampshades add a soothing warmth to the space.
How to light up a kitchen island
A kitchen island, whether freestanding or peninsula, with appliances or seats, is often the focal point of the area. The design of the island and how you use it should influence your lighting choices, as well as its location in relation to other important spots in the space.
If it is more of an office with an integrated hob or sink, task lighting should be the top choice. Hidden LED downlights can be used as spotlights above the workspace.
But you should attempt not to put too many together in a tight grid. This can result in solid, uncomfortably bright lights. Install a dimmer switch, they can be turned into ambient lighting.
Ambient lighting is most suitable for kitchen island lighting over an eating or entertaining space, such as a breakfast bar. Small pendant lights are often used in this setting. If you have limited space or low ceilings, linear suspension lighting is a popular choice.
Remember to use natural light
Even though we’ve talked a lot about artificial kitchen lighting, you should never underestimate natural kitchen lighting. You must track the natural daylight in your kitchen in order to create a lighting system that balances any limitations. This allows you to adjust the light settings correctly at any time of day, including night.
The most effective technique to increase natural light in the kitchen is to use as much glass as possible. Bigger windows, skylights, and sliding doors are perfect for allowing light in. There are several options for privacy glass, so you won’t have to deal with heavy curtains or particular shades.
A back door with a sizable glass panel is an option if French patio doors are not possible. Also, if skylights are not an option, you could choose clerestory windows. These are narrow horizontal windows that run along the top of an exterior wall. Even little porthole windows can make a significant difference.
What if the room is too tiny to accommodate windows or glass doors, or if they don’t fit the layout?
There are still steps you may take to brighten your kitchen. To enhance the light you have, choose lighter colours and shiny finishes such as high gloss.
Design a new kitchen with My Beautiful Kitchen
Now that you understand the fundamentals of kitchen lighting design, you can find the perfect kitchen lighting fixtures for your house. If you’re looking for lighting as part of a bigger kitchen remodel, why not explore our inventory of full kitchen units and kitchen fittings?
My Beautiful Kitchen offers a range of cabinet types.
Browse the My Beautiful Kitchen blog for more kitchen lighting and décor ideas, or contact the My Beautiful Kitchen team by phone or email to learn more about our kitchen products.