How to Choose the Proper Lighting for a Kitchen

Choosing the proper lighting for a room involves taking the time to determine your needs. By truly assessing your needs before making any purchases, you will be able to determine what you need while you are at a lighting store. Otherwise, you may choose lighting that ends up being inefficient and find yourself needing to make one or more returns.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. View the light in your kitchen at various times of day. Be sure to position your blinds or drapery as they will be on the average day at different times in the kitchen.
2. Take note of dark spots in the room that may need to be illuminated. For example, if you have a small desk in your kitchen for paying bills, etc., and the desk area does not receive light when you typically use it, consider installing a desk lamp or overhead desk light.
3. Task lighting is particularly important in a kitchen. Can lights over food-preparation areas are a good example of task lighting used effectively.
4. You will want overhead light to be bright and cheery in the kitchen.
5. You may enjoy having a ceiling fan over the table if you eat in the kitchen. Kitchens often become hot during food preparation and a ceiling fan can help keep everyone comfortable during a meal.
6. Allow as much natural light into your kitchen as possible. Natural light is beautiful and can bounce off of shiny objects such as the faucet when the lights are not on and the kitchen is not in use.
7. Pendant lighting over an island is especially stylish today.

Tips & Warnings

• An interior decorator can help you make decisions about lighting in your kitchen. If you have never attempted this task before, you may want input from a professional.

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