Lighting Considerations During a Kitchen Remodel

How much should lighting be considered during a kitchen remodel? To save money, some people choose to not update their lighting, but are usually disappointed because with everything else shiny and new, old light fixtures stick out like a sore thumb. However, almost always lighting is updated, because usually an electrician is needed to make updates so it makes sense to switch out or add a few lights. New lighting sources and updating fixtures is an easy way to improve the overall function and aesthetic of a room.

To give you an idea of different lighting options you may want to consider, here is a breakdown:

Task: lighting directed to work surfaces to help people perform tasks. An example of this is undercabinet lighting that illuminates the countertop below. Hanging light fixtures over an island is another example.

Ambient: provides overall illumination to a room and is the main source of lighting. An example of this is recessed lights. Other examples are flush mounts, semi-flush mounts, wall mounts, and hanging lights.

Accent: a focal light that draws attention to objects or details. It can enhance certain design details in the kitchen such as a decorative range hood, piece of art, or cabinetry when placed in glass cabinets, above upper cabinets, under cabinets, or below the toe kick. Other examples of accent lighting include track or spot lighting that is directed to artwork or another feature, or cove or tray ceilings. Dimmers switches are important to adjust the brightness, such as with undercabinet lighting which could then be used as either task or accent lighting.

Layering lighting with all of the above types is the most common scenario when planning a kitchen layout. Functional layers of light provide specific purposes such as illuminating tasks, creating comfortable overall lighting, accenting special objects, or decorating a space.