Kitchens are the hub of the home so lighting needs to cater for every activity.

Kitchens are a multi-functional room that can act as a cooking, dining, socialising and working space.  If this is how your kitchen operates then your lighting needs to cater for all needs.

Before you decide on your overall lighting scheme, look at how much natural light comes into the kitchen, and from which direction. Then you can start to plan the optimum position for your lighting.

Be practical with placement

Think about what happens in each part of your kitchen. You naturally spend a lot of time by the sink, hob and in food preparation areas, which means you’ll need plenty of light to see what you’re doing.

Under-cupboard lighting works well as it’s hidden and avoids shadows falling over the work surfaces. In addition, lights that have been fitted near to hobs should be flush to wall or ceiling as this makes them easier to clean.

Position spotlights to highlight active areas of your kitchen, but not so they shine right in your eye. Directional lights that you can angle yourself will help you to work glare-free. Plus, you don’t want them to shine down on you when you’re eating.

Instead, dining areas should be lit more softly with mood or accent lighting to create a relaxed environment.

Bring warm ambience to your kitchen

We’ve looked at practical illumination for the work spaces, now a cosier element is needed for where you dine or sit and relax in the kitchen.

A pull-down light above a dining table lets you adapt the illumination depending on the function of the table and the time of day. It can be pulled down for intimate suppers and pushed up when there are larger groups around the table.

Meanwhile, dimmable wall lamps can be used to provide subtle background illumination. And if you have high ceilings, position uplighters on the top of your kitchen cabinets to give ambient light without overpowering the room.

Create a sense of space

Clever lighting can also be used to highlight features or make small spaces look bigger. For example, placing lighting below an island unit will give it a floating appearance.

If you have a small kitchen, you can use directional spotlights pointed at cabinets or walls to give the illusion of additional space. Because the light is reflected back into the room rather than being aimed straight down, it increases the sense of space.

Take control of your lighting

By combining spotlights, wall lights and ambient illumination you can bring a three-dimensional atmosphere to your kitchen. And if you control each lighting element separately, you have the flexibility to produce a variety of different moods. Dimmer switches also help you to adapt the illumination to the situation.

Taking this a step further, you could choose to control your lights via your smartphone, tablet or PC via your Wi-Fi system. This way, you can adjust the brightness and type of beam without moving from your chair.

Would you like to create a unique ambience in your kitchen with clever lighting?

Then give us a call.

At K Interiors Kitchens, we’re dedicated to delivering a seamless experience from initial project planning and kitchen design through to ordering, delivery and install.

Why not book a FREE kitchen design consultation and let us show you how we can transform your kitchen?

Call us on 01525 851830 or email: sales@kinteriorskitchens.co.uk