In addition to investing in quality flooring and cabinetry, it’s equally important to illuminate your kitchen properly. The right lighting can make all the difference in your comfort and ability to cook and maneuver around the space without difficulty. By following a specific lighting plan and working with an experienced home improvement professional, you can be confident that your kitchen will be lit for success. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Properly Light Your Kitchen

Do:

Layer all of your lights.

Layering allows you greater control of which areas are brightest. You’ll need ambient lighting, which is designed to illuminate the entire room. These lights are usually set overhead and can be controlled by a simple flip of the main switch. Many homeowners opt for recessed or flushed lights for this purpose. Then you’ll install task lights, which are designed to focus on specific areas of the kitchen. You might brighten your island with pendants, for example, or shine a bold spotlight over the stove. Finally, think of accent lighting. This isn’t necessarily functional but can be used to add a fun touch to the room.

Use bold LED lighting.

Depend on LED lighting for its long life expectancy—you won’t have to worry about replacing bulbs nearly as often. This is also a highly efficient option that makes sense for a room used as frequently as the kitchen. They produce bold illumination, making them especially ideal for task lighting areas above the island or the kitchen table.

Don’t:

Mix your lighting types.

While home improvement professionals offer many different types of lighting, it’s best to commit to just one. For example, LED and halogen lights may produce different types of glows. This can create an uneven appearance. Stick with one temperature type for best results.

Neglect the unexpected areas.

You may not recognize just how valuable lighting up those unexpected spaces might be. For example, illuminating the space beneath the cabinets and brightening the flooring is a fun way to give the kitchen a polished, modern look. Installing lights directly above the cooktop or inside the cabinets adds dim lighting to dark spaces.

Successful home improvement projects begin with high-quality building materials—and that’s why homeowners trust the team at Nunda Lumber & Hardware. Based in Livingston County, NY, the company carries an extensive range of lumber, flooring, hardware, paint, and tools, all designed to bring your vision to life. The company’s kitchen specialists can even work with you to render a computerized design concept for your remodeling project. Visit the home improvement specialists online to learn more about their products, or call them at (585) 468-2521.