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Lighting up your Kitchen
A Kitchen Lighting Plan should be Part of
Every Kitchen Design
By Mark J. Donovan
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Lighting up your kitchen sufficiently should be part of any kitchen
remodeling plan. Kitchen lighting is essential for creating a functional and
aesthetically appealing kitchen. With every kitchen lighting plan there
should be general overhead lighting as well as targeted spot workspace
lighting. Multiple overhead lighting fixtures, such as recessed can lights,
should be used to create the general overhead ambient lighting. Recessed can
lights can also be used for work area lighting and for kitchen accent
lighting. Pendant light fixtures, lights that drop down from the ceiling on
rods, are the perfect choice for spot workspace lighting and for lighting up
a kitchen island.
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Pendant light fixtures are also perfect for over eating areas of the
kitchen, again over a kitchen island with an eat-in bar, or over a kitchen
table.
LED track lighting is another lighting option ideal for kitchens, and in
particular kitchen cabinet lighting. LED track lighting can be placed either
under or over upper kitchen cabinets to create a warm glow. Placed underneath
the upper kitchen cabinets LED track lighting also helps to provide general
workspace kitchen lighting.
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When coming up with your kitchen lighting plan make sure to
strategically place spot workspace lighting such that no shadows will be
created when people stand at the workspace area. To do this place the
light fixtures, be it recessed can lights, high hats, or pot lights,
just in front of where the person would stand at the spot workspace
area. Pendant light fixtures also work well for spot workspace lighting
as they can be positioned directly over the workspace and their light
fixtures themselves can be placed closer to the work space, e.g. 2 to 3
feet away from the surface. |
In terms of light bulb technology there are a lot of options available
to you today besides the standard incandescent light bulb. There are
Halogen and Xenon light bulbs, as well as LED, fluorescent, and compact
fluorescent light bulbs. Each has their unique pros and cons.
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The only bulb type I would avoid in the kitchen is the compact
fluorescent light bulbs, even though they are highly energy
efficient. The main reason for this advice is that compact
fluorescent light bulbs are not meant to turn on and off frequently.
The more they are cycled on and off the faster they wear out. In
addition, they take time to light up to full brightness. LED light
fixtures, on the other hand, are just as energy efficient as compact
fluorescent light bulbs and can produce immediate intense lighting.
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When it comes to controlling your kitchen light fixtures I highly recommend
using 3-way switches for the ambient kitchen light sources. This way you can
turn on the lights from two different entrances to the kitchen. I would also
suggest having separate light switches for turning on the spot workspace
lighting so that you only burn these bulbs when necessary. You may also want to
include dimmer switches for the kitchen accent light fixtures to set various
lighting moods.
For more
help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Kitchen
Remodeling Bid Sheet.
The
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get
the finished kitchen you are
looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.
How to Finance your Kitchen Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related information on Kitchen Remodeling
Additional Kitchen Design Resources
Kitchen Lighting from Amazon.com
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