Understanding the Different Types of Kitchen Lighting

Here are many ways to bring light into your kitchen. There are so many types of fixtures and bulbs on the market that selecting fixtures for your kitchen can feel overwhelming. Where to Start Start by considering the following factors: •    Size of the kitchen •    Purpose of the lighting •    Budget •    Glance through kitchen magazines or home remodeling sites on the Web for lighting fixture ideas. It will be much easier to narrow down your choice when you first figure out the general style that interests you. The Three Types of Kitchen Lighting: Ambient, Task and Accent. Ambient lighting, also known as general kitchen lighting is used for the purpose of creating bright light throughout the kitchen. Adding ambient lighting can immediately improve the look of your kitchen and add a sense of warmth. Recessed and ceiling-mounted fixtures are types of ambient lighting. Recessed lighting creates a clean, bright and organized look. It can also create an open and spacious feeling. If you have a smaller sized kitchen, ambient lighting can help open it up and make it feel larger. Recessed lighting has the advantage of being installed with a dimmer switch. Dimmers can help reduce energy use and help create different moods in your kitchen. Many homeowners like recessed lighting because it is unobtrusive and does not interfere with the design of the kitchen. Track lighting is a form of ambient lighting. It can also be used as task lighting when the light is used to focus on a specific area. When used for general lighting, track lighting can produce strong light without glare. Task lighting is the rising star in kitchen lighting design. Under-the-Cabinet-Lighting is a form of task lighting that focuses on specific areas or objects. Under-the-cabinet lighting brings direct light to work areas, such as the countertop, to help see better. It can also help save energy by eliminating the need to keep the main kitchen lights on. There are several other advantages to installing under-the-cabinet lighting including that it can highlight your counters and backsplash, make jobs easier and safer and eliminate shadows. Accent lighting or focused lighting is used to highlight a particular object or to draw attention to a specific space. While this is not so common in a kitchen, it is sometimes used to highlight artwork. Pendant lights can be hung over a kitchen island to combine decorative and task lighting. Mini-pendant lights can accomplish the same and often 2 or more are hung together in a row. Pendant lights are popular in kitchens because they are functional and decorative. Pendant light are available in numerous styles and colors and materials. Additionally, they are simple to dust and clean. The best method for lighting a kitchen is to use a combination of lighting fixtures. Too much of one kind of lighting fixture can distract from the design and beauty of the kitchen. Do you research, decide on what you like. An educated decision is usually the best decision.