Let there be light

To satisfy your needs, your kitchen must be well lit and the light must be aimed at the right spots. Remember that what’s important here is not quantity, but positioning!

Let’s start with your kitchen countertop. Lighting under the cabinets is indispensible. It helps you work without that shadow caused by the central light. If this is something you are looking for, many options are available to you.

First, the traditional neon lights work well, are inexpensive, but can be noisy. Neon lights with electronic ballasts are also an interesting option, because they last long, are thin, silent and easy to replace. As for halogen lights, they will provide lighting that can resemble natural light, but the bulbs produce heat and are a little difficult to replace for a person with a weaker eyesight. As for the latest trend, the LED lights, they are small, provide good lighting and can last for up to 15 years in a kitchen. You will never replace a bulb; you’ll probably change the fixture first. These bulbs seem pretty expensive at first, but are cost effective in the long run.

Let’s talk about your ceiling now. For some kitchens, a central fixture can be sufficient. In this case, built-in spotlights are a good way to go because they can be installed exactly where you want them. Halogen lights, with or without a transducer, can be of various colours, as well as fixed or moveable. You can even install a dimmer. What’s important here is the possibility of using these lights wherever you want them, thanks to multiple interrupters.

If your cabinets have glass doors, lighting can definitely accentuate your glasses or decorative objects. A light on top of your cabinets will add some ambiance and can be combined with another light so you can see more clearly. Same goes for a light under the counter.

If you have a kitchen island with stools, some nice lamps could add a little something to your decor and still be pretty useful.

The lighting in a kitchen has nothing to do with the one in a living room where, if you don’t like a lamp, you can easily replace it. Because we spend a lot of time in the kitchen, if the lighting is not to your liking, you will never be comfortable. This is why you must learn about different products and their energy consumption and rely on the right people to shed some light on it all.

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