Replacing Fluorescent Boxes with Stylish Kitchen Lighting
Outdated fluorescent lighting doesn't do our kitchens any favors. The harsh lighting casts unflattering shadows across our faces while we cook, the persistent buzzing drones on in the background, and the frequent need to replace flickering tubes makes maintenance a chore.
But transforming our kitchen lighting doesn't have to be difficult or expensive with today's lighting options. By replacing old fluorescent boxes with energy efficient LED fixtures, we can infuse our culinary workspaces with soft ambient glows or bright, focused task lighting to suit our needs - all while saving on our electricity bills.
Assessing Your Current Kitchen Lighting Setup
First, take a look at exactly what fluorescent lighting you currently have installed. Common types of fluorescent kitchen lights include 2x2 or 2x4 recessed troffers, circular can lights, under cabinet fixtures, and long tube lights mounted in some way across the kitchen ceiling.
Check your fluorescent kitchen lights for any persistent issues like annoying buzzing sounds from the ballasts, uneven lighting or dark spots from dying tubes, flickering that strains the eyes, and a generally cold or sterile feel from the blue-tinged fluorescent lighting that feels more appropriate for an office than a home kitchen.
Consider Your Kitchen's Layout
Also consider how well your current fluorescent kitchen light fixtures are arranged to illuminate your full working space.
- Are there issues with shadows or dark areas around kitchen islands, sinks, or countertops due to poorly placed overhead lighting?
- Is the only lighting directly overhead, casting unflattering light on whoever is cooking below?
- Could additional task lighting be added in work zones?
Making notes on lighting deficiencies that fluorescent boxes create can help determine lighting requirements when selecting new fixtures.
Pick Your Style: Kitchen Lighting Design Options
The stylish lighting options for kitchens today range from sleek tracks and rails, to graceful pendants, to practical under cabinet lights. Determine what lighting styles could work for the size, layout, and aesthetic of your kitchen.
Track Lighting
Track lighting offers incredible flexibility to highlight specific kitchen work zones. With adjustable spotlights on tracks that can be mounted to ceilings or walls, we can create pools of light over prep areas, islands, tables, or decorative elements.
For a clean, contemporary look, black or nickel tracks disappear against darker ceiling and wall colors. Or make a design statement with visible metal tracks and pendant mounts in oil-rubbed bronze, brushed brass, polished chrome, graphite, and more.
Pendant Lights
Nothing jazzes up kitchen decor faster than pendant lighting. Hanging lights add stylish illumination precisely where we need it most over islands, sinks, tables, or chef zones across our kitchens.
The range of pendant lighting options fits any kitchen aesthetic - from classic globe or cylinder pendants with metal detailing and cloth cords, to sleek angular silhouettes in matte finishes, to drum shades wrapped in natural wood veneers.
Under Cabinet Lighting
One of the most indispensable yet subtle lighting techniques is under cabinet lighting. By installing slim LED strip lights or compact fixtures underneath wall cabinets or lower cabinets, we can brightly illuminate counter spaces for meal prep, cooking tasks, and more.
Flicker-free and energy-efficient LED under cabinet lights now feature color adjustable strips to customize shades of white. Or add accent lighting with strips adorned with warm copper or rose gold finishes.
Recessed Ceiling Lights
Recessed downlighting is an established kitchen lighting technique that continues trending because of how seamlessly the fixtures blend into ceilings. LED recessed lighting comes in all finishes, sizes, lumen outputs, and beam spreads to accommodate any kitchen.
Adjustable trim kits allow directional lighting control. Wall-mounted light rails give flexibility for repositioning spotlights. And flangeless designs result in near-invisible ceiling openings for an uninterrupted expanse overhead.
Taking Down The Old Fluorescent Boxes
Once we decide on our replacement fixtures, it's time to remove the outdated fluorescent boxes. This does require working carefully around exposed wires. Be sure to turn off the circuit breaker to the fluorescent kitchen lighting before beginning.
Materials Needed
- Ladder
- Screwdriver
- Work gloves
- Electrical tape
Start by detaching the fixture housing from the ceiling. Remove fluorescent tubes and the plastic light diffuser panel. Then remove ballast covers and disconnect ballast wires and lamp wires.
Make sure wires are capped off with wire nuts or electrical tape so they are contained while the ceiling opening remains exposed. Thoroughly clean out old fixture housing and dispose of fluorescent tubes and ballasts properly.
Installing Your New Stylish Fixture
With the blank canvas of an empty ceiling and opened wall, exciting new kitchen vistas emerge! Now we get to install our energy efficient LED fixture that aligns with our renewed kitchen lighting design.
Wiring the New Fixture
Our dazzling new track heads, sleek linear banners, glowing ceiling medallions, or custom mounted pendant lights will likely come with manufacturer instructions for wiring and installation. In most cases, it's as simple as:
- Connecting the incoming live wire to the black lead wire
- Connecting the neutral ceiling wire to the white lead wire
- Grounding with a pigtail wire
Then mount the new LED light base securely within the ceiling or wall opening and enjoy brighter, stylish kitchen illumination!
Extra Touches: Personalize the Lighting
Beyond fundamental fixtures, we can incorporate extra flourishes to really make our new kitchen lighting system pop.
Smart Lighting Controls
Today's LED fixtures often packaging lighting controls like dimmers, motion sensors, and timer scheduling right into stylish designs. Or add smart switches, panels, bulbs, and assistants allowing voice and app control.
Natural Light Sources
Supplementing artificial lighting with natural light always invigorates home kitchens. Can sizes, locations or new openings be cut into walls for new windows? Or perhaps we can install tubular or dome-style skylights into ceilings?
Reflective Surfaces
A simple way to maximize LED lumen output involves painting kitchen walls white and choosing light-hued cabinets. Gloss or semi-gloss finishes add sheen that bounces indirect lighting around the entire space.
Task and Accent Lighting
Creatively placed lighting prompts kitchen moments. Clusters of pendant lights over a kitchen table inspire lingering conversations. Strip lighting shining down a backsplash highlight display areas. Tiny LED tap lights twinkling under a kitchen island's overhang make midnight snacks an adventure!
Banishing buzzing fluorescent boxes no longer relegates our kitchen lighting to dull but necessary overhead glare. The stylish and energy-saving LED kitchen lighting fixtures available today can help create kitchen spaces as invigorating and inspiring as the meals we craft within them.
Follow our guide above for assessing your lighting needs, exploring design styles, removing old fluorescents, installing new LEDs, and personalizing with extras like smart controls and supplemental lighting. With some thoughtful planning and strategic upgrades, your kitchen lighting can shift from bland to beautiful in no time.