Love Your Kitchen Lighting With These Bright Under Cabinet Lights
Who doesn't love a beautifully lit kitchen? The right lighting can make all the difference in creating a functional, inviting atmosphere for cooking and entertainment. Under cabinet lighting offers focused illumination perfect for kitchen tasks, while also enhancing the room's ambience.
From sleek light bars to flexible puck lights, discover how to choose fixtures that provide both form and function.
Benefits of Under Cabinet Lighting
Illumination Where You Need It
Strategically placed under cabinet lighting shines light exactly where you need it most in the kitchen - on the countertops and prep areas. Eliminating shadows leads to better visibility for chopping, cleaning, and meal preparation. No more squinting or eye strain trying to see if your surfaces are clean!
The focused beam of under cabinet lights also helps highlight decor details along your backsplash and cabinets. The fixtures themselves can even become an attractive decorative feature.
Energy Efficiency
LED under cabinet lights consume far less energy than older fluorescent or incandescent lighting. Energy savings are even greater if you install lights with built-in motion sensors or dimmer switches.
With some dimmable LED under cabinet fixtures, you can lower the brightness by 50% or more when you don't need full power. Multiply these individual energy savings by the number of lights installed, and it really adds up!
Enhanced Ambience and Beauty
The right lighting can make a kitchen feel warm, inviting and almost magical. Under cabinet lights add a beautiful glow for evening dinners and entertaining. Go for a cool crisp white for a modern flair, or install fixtures with a softer yellow hue to feel homey and relaxed.
Strategically highlight decorative tilework, collections of heirloom china, or your prized copper cookware by focusing light on these features. What decor details in your kitchen deserve some spotlighting?
Choosing Under Cabinet Lighting
Consider Light Intensity
Consider lumens (brightness) needed when selecting under cabinet fixtures:
- Task Lighting: For food prep areas, choose brighter, high lumen lights rated at 1800+ lumens.
- Accent Lighting: For cabinets with glass doors displaying collectibles, softer 450-800 lumen lights work well.
Light Appearance and Color Tones
Determine the look and feel you want to achieve with your under cabinet lighting. Cool white lighting in the 4500-5000K color range lends a very modern, crisp feel - great for contemporary kitchens. If you want something warmer and more relaxing, consider 3000K fixtures instead for a traditional ambiance.
Assess Available Power Sources
Consider if you want plug-in under cabinet puck lights for flexible placement, or if you prefer streamlined light bars that directly wire into kitchen electrical:
- Hardwired lights have a seamless built-in look.
- Plug-in lights don't need professional installation and can be moved easily if needed.
Battery-powered and rechargeable under cabinet lighting is also increasing in popularity for its convenience and cord-free versatility.
Best LED Under Cabinet Light Recommendations
Sleek Hardwired LED Light Bars
Linear LED light bars are an increasingly popular choice because of their seamless, built-in aesthetic. Available in a range of lengths like 12, 18 and 24 inches, light bars mount directly under cabinets shining bright, uniform light across the entire area.
Full-length installation provides complete work surface illumination. The sleek contemporary style lends itself well to modern kitchen designs. Choose dimmable light bars for even greater control over brightness and ambience.
Flexible Plug-In LED Puck Lights
For small or awkward under cabinet spaces, versatile puck lights maximize usable light. Compact LED pucks fit tidily between pipes, brackets or walls where light bars won't work. Puck lights angle to directly illuminate specific zones like sink basins.
Many puck lights simply plug in without needing professional installation. This flexibility in placement means you can move them anytime for changing kitchen needs. Dimmable puck light kits allow customizing brightness.
Super Easy Peel + Stick LED Tape Lighting
Stick-on LED tape lighting couldn't get much simpler to install. Just measure, cut, peel and apply the adhesive backing directly under cabinets. With no junction boxes or wires to deal with, even novices can transform a kitchen.
Battery-powered LED tape lights offer the most flexibility since no electrical outlet is needed. Look for waterproof outdoor-rated tape light options as well to install in covered patios and porches.
Getting the Most Out of Under Cabinet Lighting
Layer Lighting for Maximum Impact
Mixing lighting fixture styles creates visual interest and depth. For example, install puck lights over a kitchen sink, with linear LED light bars along the remaining cabinets. Or supplement tape lights by adding some recessed ceiling lights.
Varying the direction, intensity and color temperature of layered light enhances the versatility of your kitchen lighting. Experiment with light combinations until you find the perfect balance suitable for both tasks and atmosphere.
Put lighting adjustments at your fingertips with dimmable under cabinet lights. Why stick with one static brightness? Have the option to spotlight a decorative backsplash, then dim to a relaxing glow for evening entertaining.
Task lighting over prep areas can also dim when full brightness isn't essential. Dimmers empower you to customize scenes perfect for everything from chopping vegetables to casual family meals.
Take your kitchen's lighting to the next level by installing dimmable under cabinet LED fixtures. Wouldn't it be marvelous to set just the right mood and brightness every time you enter your kitchen?
The decision process might seem difficult with so many benefits to consider. But armed with the information above regarding light intensity, color tones, power options and more, you're now equipped to confidently upgrade your kitchen's light. Happy illuminating!