You Are Currently Viewing 5 Basic Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb
kitchen-lighting-design-rules-of-thumb-northerncult-blog

5 BASIC KITCHEN LIGHTING DESIGN RULES OF THUMB

Making good lighting for a kitchen can be a challenging proposition under even the best of circumstances even if it is building a new one or renovating an existing kitchen. Getting the kitchen lighting ideas and incorporating the lighting will really transform the overall ambiance and mood of the kitchen with the right light color temperature.

In today’s world, there are so many kitchen lighting ideas to choose from that homeowners often don’t know where to begin. Here are some top-notch kitchen lighting design rules of thumb to guide your decisions during the renovation process. 

Kitchen lighting comes in an array of styles, designs, and features. Whether you’re renovating or starting from scratch, lighting can make a huge difference. Check out our ultimate guide to kitchen lighting design rules of thumb, so you can find the perfect addition to your kitchen space. Even when searching for kitchen lighting ideas for small kitchens, kitchen lighting ideas low ceiling won’t give much idea if we search for reliable kitchen lighting, that’s why we decided to create this post for you

Think about the atmosphere and task areas where you want to illuminate

In general kitchen lighting design rules of thumb, the kitchen is a multi-functional room lighting allows us to transform the space from task-oriented and focused to social convivial and relaxing from a busy food prep area to a haven of a home office at the touch of a button, so let’s start from the basics of lighting when considering the kitchen lighting design rules of thumb, 

Let’s break down the various layers of kitchen lighting

  • Task lighting help for performing any task such as reading a recipe, cutting vegetables, etc
  • Accent lighting that illuminates key features or zones such as dining areas
  • Ambient lighting that brings balance and harmony to the kitchen
  • Feature lighting that gives the space personality such as a focal point above an island unit
Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb Northerncult.com

01. Task lighting for working areas

Task lighting specifically targets the main working areas of the kitchen such as the food preparation counter or the dining table. We recommend using a homogeneous diffused light source to the underside of the cupboard joinery, be aware of obstructions to the light and unshielded light sources as these can create unsightly dots or lines on the reflective backsplash. The kitchen unit lighting idea is a wonderful way to accommodate task lighting.

Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb Dos And Donts Northerncult Blog Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb Dos And Donts Northerncult Blog

Remember to add task lighting in front of you, otherwise, you will create half shadowing onto countertops. A decorative pendant can be a handy way of achieving functional task lighting above counters and tables in addition to adding an injection of mood and style to the kitchen

It is important to light any tables where food prep cooking or dining is likely to occur,  Flush, recessed downlights create a streamlined modern look, surface mounted directional spotlights are also a smart option when sealing recessed depth is an issue only add light where necessary to avoid unsightly grids of light in the ceiling. Scallops are great in the kitchen but not when they’re created by incorrectly offset lighting

Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb How To Avoid Shadows Northerncult.com

Remember to add task lighting in front of you otherwise, you will create half shadowing onto countertops a decorative pendant can be a handy way of achieving functional task lighting above counters and tables in addition to adding an injection of mood and style to the kitchen. Try using the latest pendant kitchen lighting ideas, kitchen lighting ideas on island for task lighting will make kitchen lighting design better.

Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb Do'S And Dont'S Accent Lighting Northerncult Blog

02. Accent lighting to create point of interest around the kitchen

Accent lighting that guides the eye and creates points of interest around the kitchen illuminating paintings or sculptures. This can be achieved via down lighting from the ceiling careful consideration of offsets is recommended for the best light quality localized lights such as a picture light can also be used decorative wall lights can be a nice touch to add rhythm and focus to otherwise bare walls. 

In addition to providing atmosphere and influencing mood, accent lighting is used to highlight architectural features and important objects, and to draw attention away from the things that aren’t as pleasing. Searching for recessed kitchen lighting ideas, ceiling kitchen lighting ideas can give better understanding for accent lighting. 

Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb Do'S And Dont'S Ambient Lighting Northerncult Blog

image source : houzz.com 

03. Ambient lighting for sense of warmth and depth

Ambient lighting that improves the sense of warmth and depth in a room ensuring that the kitchen feels welcoming and comforting we recommend providing comfortable levels of illumination while avoiding glare or harsh direct light sources. A clever way of adding diffused light to a space without having to build any details within the ceiling is via indirect uplighting from decorative pendants it is also a handy way to make a space feel larger and more open a common technique. 

When introducing Ambient light into the kitchen is the use of coffees and coves because they create an indirect perimeter of light that washes the room one thing to remember is to allow sufficient spacing to ensure that the light creates a soft glow otherwise you’ll be stuck with a harsh band of light and won’t gain much useful light from that detail up lighting from existing joinery can be an effective way to add ambient lighting to the soffit. 

Remember again to allow for enough space in the detail for the light to soften across the ceiling diffuse decorative light sources allow for flexibility and a personalized touch to the kitchen small table lights can be an effective technique when evoking a mood or adding a touch of elegance to your kitchen table 

Kitchen Lighting Design Rules Of Thumb Do'S And Dont'S Feature Lighting Northerncult Blog

04. Feature lighting to make a statement

Feature lighting gives an opportunity to make a statement and give the space personality it can also add to overall light levels feature lighting can refer to the fitting itself which makes a statement whether on or off or any interesting light effect that adds an extra dimension but is not absolutely essential.

Decorative pendants in finishes and materials of your choice are good examples of feature lighting if you need useful lighting from your pendant, however, you may also need to check its lighting output miniature uplights to the window reveal are wonderfully dainty details that can add a bit of drama to the kitchen thank you for listening to this an installment in our dark art of light series

Kitchen Lighting Design Rules of Thumb

To make thing short while considering the kitchen lighting design rules of thumb, here are the six points to make kitchen lighting design better. 

  • Prepare a basic lighting plan incorporating all your needs and atmosphere you want to create

  • Check whether all four layers of lighting can be incorporatred, ie Ambient lighting, Accent lighting, Task lighting and Feature lighting

  • Choose the right color temperature, energy consumption and Color rendering.

  • Match Light Fixture Styles With the Overall Kitchen Lighting Design Scheme

  • Opt for Dimmers Whenever Possible

  • Don’t Overload the Space With Too Many Light Fixtures

FAQs about Kitchen Lighting Design Rules of Thumb

What is the best lighting for a kitchen ceiling?

LED Lights will be the best option for kitchen lighting, Using different types of lighting and incorporating different layers to kitchen lighting such as Ambient, Accent, Task, and Feature lighting will make kitchen lighting better.

Are LED lights good for kitchen?

LEDs are of higher quality of light with great energy efficiency, color rendering, and options with color temperature. This isn't the only thing that makes LED lighting a smart choice for your kitchen. Their flexibility to use dimmers and other lighting control systems is a great advantage when using in kitchen lighting.

How many lumens should you have in a kitchen?

In general the Kitchen should have 3,000 to 4,000 lumens, whereas if we consider the average Lux or Illuminance describes the quantity of luminous flux falling on a surface (SI unit of illuminance is Lux)
Average lux on Task areas in the kitchen: 500 lux
Average lux on general areas in the kitchen: 300 lux

What color LED light is best for kitchen? Should kitchen lights be warm or cool?

In short, all kitchen lights should be neutral or daylight color temperature. Neutral White (3300–5300 Kelvin) between warm and cool white will be the best option color LED light for the kitchen.

What is the best color for under cabinet lighting?

The best color for under cabinet kitchen lighting should be neutral or daylight color temperature. Since most times it is used as a task light. Neutral White (3300–5300 Kelvin) between warm and cool white will be the best option color LED light. Consider using higher CRI (color rendering index) and if you need a dimmable option consider using dimmers to adjust the brightness of the lights.
Kitchen-Lighting Guide Free Ebook
Northerncult-Lighting-Ebooks-Free-Ebook-Northerncult.com

Download Our Free Ebook Now!

This contact form is available only for logged in users.

Tags : kitchen lighting design rules of thumb, kitchen lighting ideas, pendant kitchen lighting ideas, farmhouse kitchen lighting ideas, kitchen lighting ideas small kitchen, small kitchen lighting ideas, recessed kitchen lighting ideas, ceiling kitchen lighting ideas, kitchen lighting ideas no island, kitchen lighting ideas for small kitchens, kitchen lighting ideas low ceiling, kitchen lighting ideas UK,
galley kitchen lighting ideas, kitchen island lighting ideas, kitchen island pendant lighting ideas, kitchen cabinet lighting ideas, kitchen table lighting ideas, kitchen track lighting ideas, kitchen island lighting ideas 2020, kitchen sink lighting ideas, kitchen ceiling lighting ideas, kitchen unit lighting ideas, kitchen recessed lighting ideas,

This Post Has 2 Comments

Leave a Reply