Light Up Your Kitchen With Over Sink LEDs
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where we gather with loved ones to cook, eat, and spend quality time together. Good lighting is essential to fully enjoy and utilize this important space. Installing LED lights above the kitchen sink is an easy yet transformative way to illuminate your most-used workspace.
Over sink LED lighting offers focused brightness right where you need it most. As you wash dishes, prep ingredients, or tidy up, having a well-lit sink area makes all the difference. The benefits of dedicated task lighting over the sink go far beyond basic function. This simple upgrade also makes your kitchen safer while saving energy and enhancing style.
What is Over Sink LED Lighting?
Over sink lighting refers to any light fixture installed directly above the kitchen sink. This provides targeted illumination for the sink area and immediate countertop workspace. While many kitchens rely solely on general overhead lighting, focused task lighting is hugely beneficial.
LED technology allows over sink lighting to be extremely energy efficient and long-lasting. LED stands for light emitting diode. LED bulbs provide the same brightness as traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs but use up to 90% less energy. They also last over 20 times longer with a lifespan of up to 25,000 hours.
Benefits of Over Sink LED Lighting
Installing dedicated LED lighting over your kitchen sink offers many practical and aesthetic benefits compared to simply using general kitchen lighting. Here are some of the top reasons to install over sink LEDs.
Energy Efficient
LED bulbs use significantly less electricity than old-fashioned incandescent or halogen bulbs. This can add up to major energy savings over months and years, reducing your environmental impact and electricity bills.
Long Lifespan
You'll replace LED bulbs far less frequently than other bulb types. This saves you time, hassle, and replacement costs down the road. Fewer bulb changes also means less waste ending up in landfills.
Customizable
LED lighting is available in a range of color temperatures, dimmable capabilities, and specialty shades or shapes. You can select over sink lighting to match your exact preferences and decor style.
Enhanced Visibility
The sharply focused beam of LED task lighting provides excellent visibility over the sink area. This makes washing dishes, prepping ingredients, and other kitchen tasks easier and more enjoyable.
Accentuates Decor
Stylish over sink pendant lights or track lighting can enhance your kitchen's aesthetic. It adds a decorative focal point and visual interest over what's often a bland space.
Types of Over Sink LED Lighting
There are several types of LED fixtures well-suited for mounting over the kitchen sink. Consider the size of your space, existing lighting, and overall decor style when selecting over sink lighting.
Pendant Lights
Pendant lights hang directly from the ceiling over the sink area. They come in an array of colors, sizes, and materials from industrial metal to glass globes. Pendants work well over island sinks or any sink with open overhead space.
Track Lighting
Track lighting offers a modern, minimalist look. Individual spotlights can be pointed for directed illumination. Tracks can be mounted on the ceiling or underside of wall cabinets.
Recessed/Can Lighting
Recessed can lights provide focused beams perfect for a task area. The unobtrusive fixtures blend into the ceiling. Some are adjustable or come with eye-catching trim rings.
Under Cabinet Lighting
Under cabinet lighting uses LED strips or fixtures mounted to the bottom of upper cabinets. This bounces light off the countertops for uniform lighting. It works well with limited ceiling space.
| Lighting Type | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Pendant Lights | Allow for open overhead space, work with all sink types |
| Track Lighting | Low profile, easily positioned, modern style |
| Recessed/Can Lights | Focusable beam, discreet built-in, adjustable |
| Under Cabinet Lighting | For limited headroom, built-in diffuse lighting |
Key Considerations for Installation
Proper installation is important to maximize the benefits of over sink LED lighting. Here are key factors to consider:
Hiring an Electrician
Unless you're very handy, hire a professional electrician to install built-in lighting. This ensures it's wired safely and according to codes. Improper electrical work can create fire and electrocution risks.
Placement
Lighting should be centered over the sink basin and primary counter workspace. Measure the area and fixture size to optimize coverage. Allow proper clearance from the bottom of the cabinets or ceiling.
Accounting for Space
Factor in the existing ceiling height, pendant lengths, and required clearance when selecting lighting. Make sure it fits the space without interfering with cabinets. Over sink lighting works best with at least 18 inches of open space.
Controlling Features
Choose bulbs with appropriate wattage and light color for task lighting. Opt for dimmable fixtures compatible with smart homes. Select any accent colors, shapes, or extra features.
Energy Efficiency Savings
One major incentive for installing over sink LED lighting is the long-term energy savings compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs use at least 75% less electricity to produce the same light output. Here are some of the numbers:
- A 75W incandescent bulb produces 1,100 lumens, while an 18W LED bulb produces the same brightness for 80% less energy.
- Replacing just 5 incandescent bulbs with LEDs can save about $75 per year in electricity costs.
- LEDs last up to 25 times longer than incandescents, meaning far fewer replacements over the years.
- Reduced energy use decreases associated greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
While LED bulbs have a higher upfront cost, the investment pays for itself through decades of energy savings and exceptional longevity.
Customizable LED Options
One great perk of LED over sink lighting is the diversity of options for customization. With LED technology, you can select:
- Color temperature - from warm white (2700-3000K) to bright cool daylight (5000-6000K).
- Dimmability - pair lighting with dimmer switches or smart home technology.
- Specialty colors - for a pop of accent color that matches your decor.
- Unique shapes - like round globes, long cylinders, or modern angular.
With the right over sink LED lighting, you can control brightness throughout the day and achieve perfect lighting for food preparation tasks that require accurate color matching.
Improved Visibility for Kitchen Tasks
Have you ever strained and squinted just trying to see if your dishes were actually clean? Dim lighting, shadows, and glare in the sink area make kitchen tasks more difficult. The correct brightness and color rendering of LEDs solve these issues.
LEDs emit very little heat outward, so they can be placed close to surfaces without creating glare. The light color better illuminates colors compared to yellowish incandescent bulbs. This makes food preparation safer and more enjoyable. Over sink LEDs provide the visibility needed for precision kitchen work.
Eco-Friendly Benefits of LEDs
Beyond just saving energy directly, LED technology offers eco-friendly advantages over traditional lighting:
- Contains no toxic materials like mercury found in fluorescent and CFL bulbs.
- Emits no UV or IR radiation which produce unnecessary heat.
- LED lifespans lead to much less waste from replacements.
- Lower energy use reduces fossil fuel emissions from power plants.
By installing LEDs throughout your home, including over the kitchen sink, you can reduce environmental impact and electricity usage for years to come.
Installing dedicated over sink LED lighting can make a world of difference in your kitchen. The focused task lighting illuminates your main workspace to make cooking safer and more fun. Over sink LEDs also provide eye-catching accent lighting and long-term energy savings.
It's easy to find over sink lighting that matches your decor. Take your kitchen up a notch with this simple upgrade that offers brightness exactly where you need it most.