Love How Your Kitchen Looks with LED Lighting Makeover

Imagine prepping dinner in your sleek, modern kitchen as warm, inviting light radiates from the stylish new LED fixtures overhead. The cooked chicken breasts look juicy under the bright recessed lights over the stove, while the fresh salad greens pop with color under the accent lighting over the kitchen island. You feel completely at ease in this well-lit, energy efficient space you've created by upgrading from outdated fluorescent lighting to new LEDs.

If your kitchen is still illuminated by fluorescent tubes that flicker and hum, it may be time to bring your lighting into the 21st century. Fluorescent lighting was common in decades past, but LED technology has since revolutionized the lighting market. Upgrading to LED can transform the look, feel, and function of your kitchen.

Reasons to Upgrade From Fluorescent Kitchen Lighting

Fluorescent lights were once very popular, but they have some distinct drawbacks that make LED a better choice today:

• Fluorescents are outdated and energy inefficient. LED lighting has surpassed fluorescents in efficiency.
• LEDs offer better light quality and brightness. Fluorescents can have a harsh, cold tone.
• LEDs come in more styles like recessed, under cabinet, and pendant lighting to fit your design.
• LED bulbs have greater longevity, lasting up to 25 times longer than fluorescents.

The reasons to upgrade keep piling up. By replacing fluorescent kitchen lighting with LED fixtures, you'll enjoy a brighter, more stylish, and energy efficient kitchen.

Step 1: Remove the Old Fluorescent Fixtures

The first step in upgrading your kitchen lighting is removing the existing fluorescent fixtures. This involves:

• Turning off power at the circuit breaker to ensure lights are off when working.
• Taking down the fluorescent fixture itself. Surface mounted ones can be unscrewed, while recessed lights will take more work to pry out of the ceiling.
• Capping off old wiring once you detach the fluorescent fixture.

Work slowly when taking down recessed fluorescents to avoid damage to ceiling drywall. Have a stepladder handy for reaching fixtures mounted to the ceiling. Removing the old fluorescent kitchen lights is the necessary first step before new LEDs can go up.

Step 2: Choose Your New LED Fixtures

Now comes the fun part - selecting your new LED lights! When shopping for LED fixtures, consider factors like:

• Size - Match similar dimensions as the old fluorescent.
• Style - Recessed, under cabinet, pendant, track lighting.
• Light spread - Narrow spotlight or wide floodlight.
• Color temperature - Warm white to cool daylight.

Ensure any recessed LED lights match the existing hole size. Check that new fixtures match the same voltage as well (120V or 12V). Planning your layout will help determine what LED lighting to buy. Mix and match different styles as desired - the options are endless!

Recessed LED Lights

Recessed downlights are a popular choice to provide ambient overhead lighting. LED recessed kits come in different diameters, trims, bulb shapes, and more. Eyeball trim designs allow the direction of light to be adjusted. New construction housings can be installed if cutting new holes.

Under Cabinet LED Lighting

Under cabinet lighting provides directed task lighting for food prep areas. Hardwired or plug-in LED strip lighting can mount beneath upper cabinets. Choose color temperature and brightness appropriate for cooking tasks.

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights hang from the ceiling to illuminate islands, sinks, or dining tables. Farmhouse, industrial, modern - pendant light styles abound! Check pendant height and adjust chain length to fit your space.

Step 3: Connect the New LED Fixture Wiring

With new LED lights purchased, it's time to install them. Wiring steps include:

• Connecting new LED wires to existing wiring inside the junction box.
• Following directions included with new fixture for wiring specifics.
• Ensuring all wire connections are secure.

If uncomfortable dealing with electrical wiring, consult a qualified electrician. But if you take proper precautions, the wiring process is very straight-forward.

Step 4: Install the New LED Lighting

To complete the LED lighting upgrade in your kitchen, the final step is mounting the fixtures:

• For recessed LEDs, cut ceiling drywall to size and install housing.
• Attach pendant lights and under cabinet strips securely.
• Test that all new LED lights turn on once connected to power.

Take time positioning recessed and pendant lights to get the perfect placement. Enjoy watching your kitchen come to life as you flip the switch to reveal your new, gorgeous LED lighting!

Step 5: Enjoy Your Bright, Energy Efficient Kitchen Lighting

With the LED upgrade complete, it's time to reap the benefits! Your kitchen will be illuminated with quality lighting that shows off colors and textures beautifully. No more humming or flickering fluorescents.

The bright white light of LEDs is perfect for food preparation tasks like chopping, cooking, and reading recipes. And you'll slash your energy bill thanks to the high efficiency and longevity of LED bulbs.

Add dimmers to your new LED fixtures for greater control over the ambiance. Dim mood lighting sets the tone for a romantic dinner. Boost to full brightness for cleaning up afterwards.

Bask in the glow of your new lighting and enjoy the style and illumination LEDs bring to your freshly updated kitchen!

LED Lighting Options for Your Kitchen

Beyond the most common types of LED fixtures, there are even more options to consider for your kitchen lighting design:

Track Lighting

Track lighting provides flexible, directional lighting and allows bulbs to be aimed. Tracks can be mounted to ceilings or walls.

Hardwired vs Plug-In

Hardwired fixtures are installed directly to existing wiring. Plug-in options like under cabinet lights don't require wiring alterations.

Motion Sensor Lights

LED lights with built-in motion sensors automatically turn on when detecting movement. Convenient for pantries, closets, and garages.

Smart Lighting

Smart LED bulbs can be controlled remotely via app and voice control when paired with a smart home hub. Set schedules, dimming, and tuning of color temperature.

Tips and Considerations

To ensure your kitchen LED upgrade goes smoothly, keep these tips in mind:

• Hire an electrician if you're uncomfortable doing electrical work yourself.
• Space new fixtures appropriately based on brightness and light spread.
• Position lights at optimal height over sinks, counters, and islands.
• Select bulb color temperature and lumens appropriate for kitchen tasks.
• Look for ENERGY STAR rated LED bulbs for guaranteed efficiency.
• Group control of lights allows you to adjust ambiance for activities.

Carefully planning the layout and selecting the right LED bulbs will enhance both the beauty and function of your new kitchen lighting.

Outdated fluorescent kitchen lighting can make your cooking space feel dull and lifeless. With some planning and electrical elbow grease, you can upgrade to gorgeous new LED fixtures that make food prep a joy.

From picking the perfect pendant lights to wiring recessed cans and enjoying your bright, efficient kitchen, we've covered the full process of transitioning from fluorescents to LEDs. Your kitchen will look fabulous illuminated with stylish new energy-saving LED lights.

So go ahead, get started on your LED lighting makeover. You and your kitchen will both shine brighter once the project is complete!