Not everyone will place an importance on lighting or expect that changing the lighting of an area will make much difference to a room, but in reality, lighting often forms a big part of interior design.
A good lighting scheme can improve a room’s design and make it more aesthetically pleasing. In kitchen design, lighting is important not only for the overall appearance of the area, but also to provide well-lit areas for preparing and cooking a meal.
There are three main types of kitchen light. Using more than one type and creating different colours and textures, can enhance the kitchen greatly and can also produce various effects in the kitchen.
Ambient light creates a soft, warm glow that softens shadows and makes the kitchen seem more inviting.
Accent lighting, as the name implies, accentuates the kitchen and adds depth and dimension to the whole area. It also reduces contrasts and fills in shadows. Accent lighting is usually low voltage and can be used to highlight beautiful pieces in the kitchen, such as delicate china, an indoor fountain or wine collection.
Task lighting is very important as it is provides much needed light for preparing and cooking a meal as well as for other activities that may occur in the kitchen, such as reading, children’s homework etc. It is essential that your kitchen worktop surface is well lit.
In many kitchens, an island is used as the work area. Hanging fixtures or pendant lights are best suited for islands. These lights can liven up the whole kitchen. As they are very often luxuriously and elegantly designed, they provide the kitchen with beauty as well. While providing concentrated light directly onto the island’s surface, pendant type lights often come with dimmer switches, allowing them to be adjusted. Homeowners can transform their island from a well-lit work area to a cosily lit dining table at will. They are available in many different designs and styles so they can suit all types of kitchens, from traditional to contemporary.
Task lighting can also be achieved with under cabinet lighting, which illuminates shadowy counter surfaces. Mounted on the underside of high cabinets, they provide low voltage light that eliminates shadows in the kitchen. Many varieties are easy to conceal in the shallow recess on the bottom of the cabinets. There are three types of under cabinet lighting. Linear shaped bulbs known as strip fixtures are the most common. Puck or disc lights create softer, more attractive lighting but are not as well suited for work purposes. Track systems can consist of miniature low-voltage halogen or xenon bulbs. Xenon bulbs cost about the same as halogens but last up to 10 000 hours (while halogen last about 2 000 hours).
Under cabinet lighting is a must for homeowners with kitchen countertops made from marble, granite or any stone product as these materials look wonderful when hit with a direct beam of light.
Decorative lighting can also be used in the kitchen, but homeowners need to be careful not to overdo it. Lighting inside cabinets, for example, can illuminate glassware on display.
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Put more thought into your lighting scheme to improve your kitchen’s design by combining natural light with other types of lighting fixtures. Use lighting to create an ambience that will suit the occasion and set the mood.
