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Tips for Lighting Countertop Space in a Kitchen
When working in the kitchen, it can really help if the countertop area is well-lit. One of the easiest ways to do this is to add under cabinet lighting to your kitchen cabinets. There are different varieties of these lights available, which vary according to style, brightness and voltage.
Installation Tips for Under Cabinet Lighting
The construction style of most kitchen cabinets lends themselves to the installation of under cabinet lighting. Most kitchen cabinets have a recessed area underneath of a little less than an inch, which is the perfect amount of space for installing this style of lighting so that it doesn't show. This allows you to have the lighting shine down to illuminate the countertop without actually seeing the exposed light fixtures. Low voltage lighting is easy to install, especially if you have the wiring installed during new kitchen construction. However, it is also possible to add the wiring and transformers yourself for lighting in a finished kitchen. The compact transformer can even be placed inside the cabinets themselves, keeping it hidden, or you can run it down to a basement wall in a similar fashion to how your doorbell is wired. However, always make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning the placement of the transformer, and the amount of air space that is needed. Heat must be allowed to dissipate properly otherwise a fire hazard could result. The under cabinet lighting can then be plugged into this transformer. The actual installation of the lights themselves is generally a simple process. However, it is necessary to devise a method by which the lights will be turned on and off. You might opt for a separate switch for these lights, or get an electrician to join the wiring so that they can be turned on and off with the other lights in the kitchen, using the light switch.
Considerations for Selecting Under Cabinet Lighting
There are various styles of under cabinet lighting, but the smaller diameter round low voltage lights are often an excellent choice. You can either install these directly in the recessed area under the cabinets, since they won't really show, or you could even opt to fit the cabinet bottoms with a thin piece of plywood with holes cut in it so that it resembles recessed lighting. Either way, you will want to allow a light for about every 30 inches of counter space. This is a good spacing so that you have adequate lighting without there being countertop areas that aren't fully lit on your countertop. The number of lights you need to illuminate your total countertop area will need to be taken into consideration when selecting the transformer. The necessary size of the transformer will increase proportionally with the number of lights you need.
Style Considerations
Under counter lighting can be especially attractive if you have natural countertop surfaces such as granite or stone, because of the way the lights catch the mineral crystals in the countertop. They are also very effective when you have a glass tile backsplash area, as the reflection of the light off the tiles is very dramatic.
About the Author:
Award-winning freelance writer Jessica Ackerman works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com and shares her wealth of knowledge on wall hanging wine racks and flower wall vases.
About the Author:
Award-winning freelance writer Jessica Ackerman works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com and shares her wealth of knowledge on wall hanging wine racks and flower wall vases.
