Kitchens are the heart of a home and can fulfil many purposes – a place to gather and eat, a place for homework or completion of hobby or craft work. Due to the versatility of a kitchen, its lighting must be flexible and adaptive too. Out of all the rooms in the home, the kitchen needs to have the most flexible lighting options to cover all of its possible intended uses.
A good rule of thumb is to install general lighting for main illumination, some adequate task lighting and an option for a softer mood light for evening dining. For a kitchen, the main light should be as close as possible to natural lighting. When cooking, it’s important to see exactly what you’re doing as you’re dealing with food, gas, electricity and sharp instruments, for example. Recessed lights at various intervals are a great idea as they provide strong illumination without taking up valuable space.
What is the design of the kitchen? The position of fixtures and shape and size of the space will have an impact on your lighting choices. The size will affect how many lighting fittings can be added. The number of existing features and their style will also impact the choice of lighting. The level of natural and artificial light already entering the kitchen will also need to be considered. The layout of the kitchen will dictate where you can place fixtures.
Keeping the style of your kitchen in mind, it will make it easier to browse for your new lighting fixtures. You will want to consider aesthetics, size, ease of installation and the atmosphere the lighting will create. For the perfect Ceiling Rose to match your chosen fixture, visit a site like Creative Cables
The different options available for kitchens include ceiling or wall mounted fittings, suspended or flush pendant lights, recessed lights, track lighting, concealed lights or floor or table standing lamps.
Material is another decision that must be made. Do you want exposed or shaded lights? Will you opt for gloss, matte or iridescent finishes? Metal, wood, glass or plastic? Try to blend your choice of materials with the existing furniture and finishes already in your kitchen.
Some top tips for kitchen light considerations include:
Be aware that exposed fittings will show up any oil or grime as a result of cooking. This is why recessed lights are so popular.
If you are planning a kitchen refit, consider units with built-in lighting. For example, cupboards with lights that come on when the door is opened and cooker hood lights.
For a kitchen with a high ceiling, consider uplighters on top of cabinets to provide good main illumination and this will reduce the number of downlights or spotlights you may need.
In terms of cost, prices for different fixtures will vary considerably. Many people leave the decisions to the electrician, however, if you are serious about your lighting, it is well worth visiting suppliers in person to investigate the options available.