Brightening Up a Kitchen with Cabinet Lighting

Effective kitchen design is not just about aesthetics. A homeowner has to be conscious of functionality and lighting as well. Every kitchen remodel expert must plan for the lighting fixtures to ensure that they are well-layered to get the most out of them. Under, inside, and over the cabinet are some of the areas where designers can install lighting fixtures to improve the appearance and visibility in the cooking area of the house. A range of fixtures to select from are available when it comes to lighting cabinets, but why should a homeowner even consider them in the first place?Additional IlluminationMost people focus on the overhead lighting too much and forget that they can boost its efficiency with cabinet light fixtures. In a large kitchen where the overhead light does not provide sufficient illumination, under- and over-cabinet lighting come in handy. Cabinet lights are useful when aiming for focused lighting in the kitchen; they increase illumination in a particular work area to improve visibility. The extra lighting on the underside of the cabinet makes it easy to read cookbooks without straining.Enhance SafetyA good number of accidents occur during food preparation, and one way to avoid such outcomes is to have better lighting at the work surface. Under-cabinet lighting is the most appropriate for this requirement. Even with bright overhead lights, cabinets cast shadows on the work surface, making it harder to see. The right under-cabinet light fixtures will eliminate the shadows and highlight the backsplash to give adequate illumination.AmbianceCabinet lighting can spruce up a kitchen design by providing mood lighting that adds warmth to the place. Installing lights inside the cabinet is perfect for displaying unique china and stylish cabinet glass surfaces. The type of light fixtures dictates the mood that they create in the room. Some lights will give a futuristic feel to the place, while others will act as accents to a contemporary interior theme. Designers and homeowners have to work together to pick the most suitable lighting option to produce the required ambiance.Lower Energy CostsWith cabinet lighting, the overhead light does not always have to be on. At night, for instance, the cabinet lighting can stay on when the area is not in use, negating the need to switch on the overhead bulb. Doing this minimizes the power consumption of the main lighting fixtures. Energy efficient cabinet lights such as LEDs consume low amounts of power, which results in major cost savings, not to mention the fact that they are highly durable.Layered lighting should be a priority in any kitchen design due to its ability to illuminate and beautify the space. By using cabinet lighting creatively, a designer can achieve ambient or task lighting without having fixtures protruding all over the place.