How to Compare Under Cabinet Lighting
Under cabinet lighting adds the functional aspect of additional lighting to your space, but it also adds an element of drama because it highlights the decorative details on your backsplash and it makes your kitchen look bigger than it actually is. Incorporating under cabinet lighting is a great investment of both your time and money. Before you determine the kind of lighting you want, compare under cabinet lighting so you understand all your options. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose the voltage you prefer for your under cabinet lighting: AC or DC. If you want to run the wires through your wall, AC voltage is your best bet. This makes it easier to hide your transformer and, when tied into a GFI outlet, poses minimal risk. If you want to add under cabinet lighting and need to run wires outside your kitchen walls, consider a 12-volt or 24-volt DC system. Installation is easy, but you do need to find a place to hide your under cabinet lighting transformer.
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Shop for under cabinet lighting that fits your personal style. Task lights are rectangular lights that range in size from 9 to 36 inches long. Puck lights, sold in sets, are 1 7/16 inches tall by 2 9/16 inches across. Strip lights are metal strips that display several exposed bulbs for under cabinet lighting. Compare each type of light and try to see each one on display in a showroom so you can determine which style you prefer.
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Determine the type of light bulb you want to use in your under cabinet lighting system. Fluorescent bulbs are cheap to run, but they give off a blue-tinted light that many people find unflattering. Incandescent bulbs make good temporary lighting options but their brown-tinted color makes them unappealing for use under cabinets. Halogen bulbs burn hot, but they produce a color similar to the color of sunshine. Halogen bulbs can help your kitchen look outstanding when you use them as under cabinet lighting. Halogen bulbs last about 2,000 hours each. Xenon bulbs last about 10,000 hours each, and they have one of the best colorings available. They offer the same "wow factor" in your kitchen as halogen bulbs, but these bulbs don't burn as hot.
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