Under cabinet lighting has surged in popularity in recent years. It’s great anywhere you need more light while you work, such as in the kitchen. There are many options for under cabinet lighting, and each type has its own set of pros and cons. Let’s go through each option.
Puck lighting
Puck lights look very much like their name reflects — they’re similar in appearance to hockey pucks. They’re small and oval or round-shaped and easy to mount.
Puck lights are great to accent various areas of the home but are particularly efficient as under cabinet lighting in the kitchen. They’re great in the kitchen because they highlight areas of the counter as you prep meals.
They come in different intensities and are available in dimmable options. Puck lights have a soft glow that enhances the features it illuminates. If you have granite countertops, puck lights will highlight their beauty in a superior way to other lights.
But puck lights don’t just lend their use to practical applications. Puck lights also work as spotlights for a favorite decorative piece, whether under a cabinet or elsewhere. In addition to under cabinet use, puck lights are great inside cabinets, in the pantry, or over a favorite reading nook.
Puck lights come with popular LED bulbs and halogen or xenon bulbs. The best option depends on how you plan to use puck lights and which style you prefer.
Xenon and halogen bulbs deliver a high degree of color purity. But, LED bulbs are long-lasting and generate very little heat.
The only real cons with puck lighting are that the light isn’t evenly distributed, and when halogen bulbs are used, it can get pretty hot. LED puck lights are an excellent alternative to solve that problem.
Xenon Under Cabinet Lights
Xenon lighting is one of the oldest types of lighting, particularly where under cabinet lighting is concerned. But because xenon lights render color in a superior way, it is still a favorite for many homeowners.
If you have a granite or marble countertop in your kitchen or bathroom, xenon lighting will make it pop! The light is clean and snow white and makes for beautiful lighting.
But the downfall of xenon under cabinet lights is that it can get super hot. If you’re working in the kitchen, that’s a huge thing, particularly considering Texas’s tropical summer climate.
Xenon lights do come in dimmable options or high/low/off functions, which can help you control the heat some. But, overall, there are cooler lights out there than xenon lighting.
If you’ve fallen in love with the purity of xenon light, it’s best to limit it for task lighting rather than use it comprehensively throughout the home.
LED Under Cabinet Lighting
Even though they’ve been around a few years, LED lights are the newest kids on the block. They’re also the most energy-efficient option you can find for your under cabinet lights. LEDs last for years and require very little maintenance.
The beauty of LED countertop lights is that they come in nearly any color temperature you could want. LED lights also offer various levels of brightness. Some come with a three-way switch for off, low, and high functionality.
If you want to keep your home and your kitchen cooler, LED under cabinet lighting is the best option. Like the other options, LEDs also come in dimmable options. LED lights are available as fixtures and light bars. Fixtures tend to light smaller areas, while strip lights and bars more evenly illuminate a larger area.
LED lights used to cost a lot more initially, but make up any outlay over time. These days, LED under cabinet lighting prices have come way down. Considering everything, they’re a favored option for many homeowners.
Fluorescent Under Cabinet Light Fixtures
If you want classic under cabinet lights, fluorescent fixtures will do the trick. Today’s fluorescent lighting uses smaller bulbs than they once did, and they render less heat than halogen or xenon lights.
If you prefer lighting that’s more basic and doesn’t offer any bells or whistles, fluorescent lights might be what you want.
It’s also easy to connect fluorescent bulbs to distribute more even lighting. They’re also a brighter option than most if you really want to light an area.
But for some tasks, the color rendering may fall short. And considering they come in about the same price range as LED lights, you may as well go with LED because LED lighting has so many options.
The Takeaway
What type of under cabinet lighting do you prefer? We’d love to chat with you about it. Drop us a note or call us at 713-863-1133.
Whether it’s puck lights, xenon lighting, or fluorescent lights, under cabinet lighting options are sure to add functionality and style to your home. LED options are more energy efficient and render less heat.
Our lighting design gurus can help you decide which under cabinet lightings can work well in your home. We’d love to be a team player in your lighting project!
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