When designing a new kitchen or planning to remodel your old kitchen, it’s essential to consider how light sources, natural or artificial, can directly affect your overall design. A well-designed kitchen lighting arrangement can drastically customize the style and mood of the space.
The kitchen is an area used at all times of the day. From breakfast time to the last meal of the day, people are always in and out of the kitchen. These days, a kitchen is not an isolated entity just for cooking. It is a place of enjoyment and conversations.
Modern kitchens are a significant part of open floor plan arrangements. This makes the kitchen a place to cook and eat food on a breakfast or snacks counter. So designing a kitchen area and lighting it the right way plays a vital role in how you and others can perceive the space.
Thanks to creatively using natural light and various electrical lighting fixtures, this also becomes a place to enjoy. Moreover, you can use clever lighting solutions to accentuate and cover shortcomings in your kitchen design and make a small area appear more prominent.
So, how can lighting be utilized to complement your kitchen design, transforming it into a true heart of the home?
Kitchen Lighting Arrangement
Kitchen lighting placement should be considered as early as possible in the design process. This will allow you to concentrate on how your lights will help you by providing better lighting when cooking and preparing meals.
Creating “zones” in your kitchen can also help select lighting that complements your activities. Think and assess where your kitchen furnishings will go and what kind of lighting you’ll need.
Lighting Types
There are numerous forms of kitchen lighting – task, accent, and mood/accent lighting. You can blend them seamlessly to create a kitchen atmosphere that is both functional and soothing at the flip of a switch.
Task Lighting
Task lighting describes the brightest lighting designed to serve a single purpose: to allow you to see effectively. Task lighting is prominent in places where you will cook or make meals. You can also use them anywhere you need stronger light, like if your kids use your dining area for schoolwork.
Task lighting is employed to brighten your stovetop, kitchen worktops, and sink area. It can include ceiling lights positioned above work areas or spotlighting placed beneath kitchen units.
Accent Lights
Accent lighting complements task lighting, letting you turn off or dim bright lights once you finish cooking to sit back and relax in a more dimly lit room. Accent lights focus on the things or locations you want to pop out. Use it to dramatically impact the kitchen, such as backlighting on shelving units or emphasizing a kitchen island.
Ambient Lighting
The overall backdrop light is known as ambient lighting. The availability of natural light entering your kitchen may influence how you use ambient lighting. Some kitchens may need extra backing lights to give the area a feel of a calm environment.
This lighting can come from wall lights, table lights, or, if you have a dimmer switch, from your primary task lighting.
Switches And Controls For Lighting
When it comes to segregating your kitchen lighting among task, ambient, and accent lighting, it’s best if they’re all on distinct circuits so you can adjust the atmosphere and feel of the space. Consider what lights you’ll require together at the same time when designing kitchen lighting and group them.
Determine whether you want to have more than one control switch for your overhead lighting, especially if you have many entrances to your kitchen, like the corridor to dining or kitchen space. Also, having dimmers allows you to use one light for various purposes.
Suppose you have pendant lights over a dining room table. For example, they may be set high for working but can be dimmed when you want to unwind at the table over a romantic dinner. Consider what style of kitchen handle, brassware, and perhaps even types of equipment you may use, and select switches (and plugs) that compliment them.
Take Advantage Of Natural Light
Allowing natural daylight into your kitchen gives it a sense of spaciousness and calmness. Let natural light fill your kitchen through patio doors, windows, and skylights wherever possible. Avoid thick fabric window coverings since they can obstruct light from reaching the kitchen.
Choose lighter-colored kitchen units or high-gloss kitchen cabinets to reflect light all around space where natural daylight is limited owing to the kitchen position or arrangement. But whatever shape and size of your kitchen, creative lighting layout can always take it from “okay” to “amazing,” so keep lighting in mind when designing a new kitchen.
How We Can Help You
Do you find it complicated or too much to do by yourself but want a unique modern kitchen to make your home look beautiful? In that case, you can always reach out to us.
At Artyss, we provide you with the complete home experience to ensure your home looks like your dream. You can visit our website for more details.
