Properly selected lighting plays one of the key roles in the interior. A thoughtful lighting scenario adds aesthetics, brightness, comfort to the interior, and also performs the role of zoning.
There are people who turned out lucky enough to have a huge comfort space for a kitchen, but not everyone has the same luck. In both ways it is important to organize kitchen lighting correctly. Even if the room is too small or has errors in the layout, with proper lighting, you can visually enlarge the space or focus attention on something or, on the contrary, hide something
How to organize kitchen lighting and the most common lighting mistakes in the kitchen are as follows.
While decorating the kitchen interior the most common mistake is to provide only one source of light. Here are practical tips on how to organize kitchen lighting and the most common lighting mistakes in the kitchen are as follows.
- Plan your lighting ahead of your kitchen design project: in the midst of repairs, it’s too late. The most optimal thing is to determine the number and location of lamps when you have outlined the main functional areas.
- You’d better install all the switches, lamps, wires at least 60 centimeters from the sink and water utilities for safety purposes.
- Various lightning: use more than one lightning source. Be sure to provide illumination of the work surface. If there is a dining area, the ideal option is a lamp above the dining group or a sconce for softer lighting. Even better if you add light and illumination of hanging cabinets.
- Use lightning to adjust the space: in case your kitchen has architectural flaws and, for instance, you want to improve the geometry of a narrow kitchen, then place the lights along one wall. The lamps located along the middle line of the ceiling, on the contrary, visually “stretch” the room.
Wall sconces with upward light will visually raise the low ceiling and for a very high ceiling, pick up a massive chandelier.
- Keep in mind to adjust the brightness of the general lighting: in that case use modern LED lamps to give light in a variety of colors and shades. Why is it so crucial? Because it is better to cook with the maximum natural light, thus choose a cooler shade of lamps for the work area. And on the contrary, use more warm and soft light: owing to this approach will definitely provide a better look of your food and enhance an appetite.
- Don’t forget about energy saving: LED lamps reduce energy consumption up to 90%, and their service will last up to 15 years. Besides, you should consider to install a switch with a dimmer, so you can adjust the right level of illumination depending on your mood and at the same time reduce energy costs. As a plus, while having dinner with a family, when you want to relax and just have a joy, a switch with dimmer will make the light more cozy and subdued.
In case your kitchen is combined with the living room
- Main approach – functional zoning: you can literally turn on and off different zones with lamps. A central chandelier in the living area and spot lighting in the kitchen is the great option. And do not forget about the recreation area: if you want to read in an armchair, a floor lamp with a directional light might come in handy.
- Hanging lamps above the bar counter will delicately zone the space. With the kitchen light turned off, they will create a more intimate living room space – nothing will distract you from your rest.
- Dining table lighting: pay attention to the dining zone that should be accompanied by a large pendant lamp with a beautiful shade or lampshade, located above the center of the tabletop. It will create a solemn atmosphere for your guests and a romantic one – for a date. (Picture 1)
If you do not like a large lamp, then you’d better choose a few elegant pendants. Basically, for a standard dining table 2-3 mini lamps are quite enough. They can be hung in one group or distributed along the central axis of the table at the equal distance from each other. (Picture 2)
- Decorative light: table lamps, sconces, floor lamps are responsible for a relaxed atmosphere and focus your attention on the decor. Directional light fixtures with multiple types (built-in, wall, ceiling models) will easily help you to highlight paintings, vases, dishes.
Once again, light is a great tool for space transformation. If your kitchen seems too small to you, be sure to work with its lighting. Even if you use at least a couple of implemented techniques from those listed in our article, it will help you shift the emphasis from the shortcomings of the layout to the advantages of the interior and other attractive features of the room.
