Under Cabinet Lighting For Today’s Trendy Kitchen

Under Cabinet Lighting For Today’s Trendy Kitchen

 

Homeowners used to illuminate their kitchen by raising the window blinds or opening the curtains to allow natural sunlight into the room. A single fluorescent light fixture likely hung from the center of the room and that was that. But we’ve come a long way, baby, and today’s trendy kitchen lighting solutions are about more than light itself. And, at the center of it all is under cabinet lighting.

Under Cabinet Light Sheds Light in All the Right Places

The 21st century has brought about newer ways to bring light into the home, and in particular, the kitchen. Under-cabinet lighting is particularly popular because it checks all the boxes where ambiance, functionality, and safety are concerned.

 

There are so many options and choices, as well, a stark contrast to the generic lighting styles of decades past. Today, you can not only choose which style fixture you want but also the type of bulb, color, intensity and lighting tone. You can also choose to add a dimmer or not, though, these days, it’s a pretty commonly desired feature. A customized lighting plan for your kitchen is exciting and delivers the exact light you need.

 

Consider which tasks will be performed and where before settling on a lighting plan. A top concern is that light gets just where you need it, especially where preparing meals is concerned. If your family also eats meals in the kitchen, rather than the dining room, it should be factored in when installing light.

 

And, of course, the lighting should provide a warm atmosphere where your family will feel comfortable and secure.

 

When taking all of these things into account, it’s easy to see that simply installing under cabinet lights won’t do. It takes forethought, planning, and a keen understanding of how light and shadow play together to result in the perfect kitchen lighting. This is where the services of an experienced lighting designer can pay off and transform your kitchen to the one you’ve dreamed of.

Under Cabinet Lighting Options for Your Kitchen

LED Lighting

LED lighting has surged in popularity over the past 35 or so years. The main benefit of LED lights in the kitchen is that it’s much cooler than traditional lights. When you’re cooking, this can make a huge difference because you won’t be adding more heat to the room. It’s a great option for under cabinet lighting as well as the most energy-efficient type of lighting for your home and kitchen.

Xenon Light

Xenon light is of high quality and bright. The clean, white bulbs are in the family of incandescent bulbs and last longer than the other types of incandescent under cabinet lights. Homeowners love them because they’re bright and offer a warm, serene atmosphere at the same time. Many xenon fixtures are also dimmable. But, they’re not as energy efficient as LED lights and also put out a little bit of heat. Still, if your home is otherwise easy to keep cool, you may opt for xenon in your kitchen.

Fluorescent Lighting

Thankfully, today’s fluorescent lights are not the same fluorescent lights of the early 20th century. It’s one of the more energy-efficient choices, after LED lighting. It puts out less heat than xenon and halogen lights and it doesn’t cause an epileptic seizure by flickering or humming like the fluorescent bulbs of yesterday did. All in all, they make great under cabinet lights.

Halogen Lights

Halogen lighting offers pure and excellent quality illumination. But, halogen generates a lot of heat and the bulbs don’t last as long as LED lights. When you’re slaving over the stove for two hours, heat from halogen lights can really warm things up. All in all, it may not be the best choice for the kitchen, especially when you consider how hot it gets in Texas.

Other Under Cabinet Options

Homeowners sometimes opt for puck lights for their under cabinet lighting. You can get them with xenon, LED, or halogen bulbs, but they’re not the best solution for all scenarios. An under cabinet lighting specialist can help you decide if it’s right for your needs and your kitchen.

 

A newer option is strip lighting. It’s not used so much for task lighting as it is for accent lighting. It creates a warm, soft glow where there tends to be foot traffic near the cabinets.

The Takeaway

The best under cabinet kitchen lighting solution will not only make your kitchen beautiful, but it’ll also make it functional and safer when navigating in the evenings. It offers bright lighting for tasks right where you need it, but also adds illumination while creating a warm atmosphere.

 

The lighting design experts at Illuminations Lighting Design can help with your kitchen lighting needs, especially where under cabinet lighting is concerned. We can help create a kitchen lighting design that fits your needs and falls within your budget.

 

Call us a 713-863-1133 for your free consultation so that we can move one step closer to your kitchen lighting project. We serve Houston and all of the surrounding areas of Texas including San Antonio, El Paso, Austin, Beaumont, Midland, Dallas, and more.