With the kitchen these days used very much as the hub of the home for all sorts of social interaction, it’s hard to remember that once things were very different. Not so long ago the typical kitchen was a fairly drab space used in the main for chores such as cooking and cleaning.
Accordingly, while attention might have been paid to decor and lighting in other parts of the house such as the lounge and bedrooms for example, the kitchen was regarded as purely functional and often illuminated with quite harsh fluorescent tubes or similarly stark lighting. Practical perhaps, but appealing and inviting it most definitely was not.
These days however the idea of entertaining friends and family in the kitchen is no longer an alien concept. In fact most people prefer the informality (not to mention the aroma) and of course it also means that whoever is doing the cooking is no longer shut off from their guests. Perhaps we’ve just got more laid back over the years.
If your kitchen lighting is still stuck in a rut from eons ago though then you’re missing out in a big way on making the most of the space. There’s no getting away from the physical fact that when the light emanates from above, you will always cast your own shadow in front of you – like having your own personal bit of gloom wherever you go. Seeing what you’re doing with your hands becomes a bit of a strain.
Kitchens that are built keeping in mind modern design elements and using contemporary features are full of interesting and eye catching shapes and curves. But to properly show of good design techniques also requires proper lighting that differentiates a mundane kitchen from a well built and attractive modern kitchen.
Make a start with under-cabinet lights to bring the counter tops to life (LED strip lights are brilliant (no pun intended) for this). After all, what’s the point in spending good money on say a beautiful marble work surface if you’re not going to actually see the sparkle that’s naturally present in the material?
LED lights are in high demand these days and perfectly suited to the kitchen area. These types of lights can highlight the hidden features of your kitchen. A key features of LED lighting is that it allows you to use the lighting to suit your needs by varying the colors. Furthermore LED lights do not heat up, which means that they are more safe and durable.
In addition to high-tech LED lighting, don’t forget that more traditional elements such as simple pendant lights can be very effective for delineating key areas such as the kitchen table or an island unit. And just because you’re using loads of accent lighting it doesn’t mean you can entirely dispense with overhead lighting. A certain amount of ambient light will always be needed and recessed (LED) spotlights are a great alternative to the old fashioned fluorescent tube.
For much more on this topic try these recommended additional articles about kitchen lights and kitchen cabinet lights.