To make the right lighting in the kitchen, it is not at all necessary to order an expensive project from designers.
By following certain steps and rules, you can independently calculate the required number of light sources and choose the best option for combining them with each other.
Any lighting in an apartment or house has three main functions:
- light to see - general lighting
- light to see - accent lighting
- light to look at - decorative lighting
The main lighting in the kitchen is a chandelier or spotlights
Let's start with general lighting in the kitchen. The light to see is actually a central ceiling light. 
It should evenly fill the entire room with light. How to choose the right lamp or chandelier?
First, determine the electrical wiring outlet on the ceiling for it. Many people mistakenly place this lamp exactly in the center, not paying attention to the kitchen unit or refrigerator. It is not right. 
Take a plan with the arrangement of furniture and draw a rectangle, stepping back from the edge of the kitchen unit. Next, find the center and this is where you make a conclusion for the ceiling lamp. 
If the kitchen is narrow or long, then the central chandelier can be replaced with spotlights or built-in lamps. 
To do this, also find the center of the ceiling, moving away from the kitchen unit, and place the lamps along the kitchen furniture. 
If the room is large and has an elongated shape, you can place light sources in two rows. 
What types of lamps may not be suitable as the main light and why? For example, modern popular models are so-called track lamps, moving on a rail or tracks. 
Although they have a rotating design, plus they move under voltage to any point, it is better not to use them for kitchens with low ceilings. 
The design will look too bulky and create the feeling of a technical room.
However, in some interiors they look very good. 
For the loft style it may be suitable, but for other styles it’s an acquired taste.
Kitchen accent lighting
When you have decided on the conclusions of the main light, you can begin designing the location of the accent light. That is, light to see. 
Why do you need accent lighting? To illuminate the kitchen work surface while cooking.
For this purpose, it is best to use two levels of lighting. The first level is located on the main ceiling or in a constructed box above the upper cabinets. 
These are spotlights or surface-mounted recessed lamps. The depth of the upper kitchen cabinets is usually 35 cm, and the lower ones - 60 cm.
Therefore, to illuminate the tabletop, it is necessary to place the outlets at a distance of 45cm or 47cm from the wall.
Also, do not forget to take into account the diameter of the lamp itself. If it is large, then the distance from the wall also increases.
The first level of lighting should not be used if the kitchen is narrow and you have already chosen spotlights as the main lighting. 
The second level of accent lighting is located at the bottom of the wall cabinets. Previously, these were only point light sources, but today LED strips are increasingly used here. 
They are very easy to install. They do not require replacing bulbs, and are also unnoticeable. 
Many may have a question: if there is a first level of accent lighting, then why make a second one?
Firstly, it is necessary for people with poor vision. Secondly, in many kitchens there are no windows at all and, accordingly, there is not enough light. 
And thirdly, the more light in the kitchen, the better. It’s unlikely that you’ve heard complaints that someone has too much light in their kitchen. But more than once we have been faced with a situation where it is sorely lacking.
How to correctly calculate the number of light points, and not make mistakes in this matter, by trusting various online calculators, read below. 
It is worth especially noting that it is better to mount the LED strip in a special profile and use a waterproof design. 
Location of switches and sockets
How to provide lighting if the kitchen furniture is still at the order stage? The most important thing here is not to forget to draw a conclusion for this lighting, approximately at a height of 160 cm from the finished floor level, in the place of one of the upper kitchen cabinets. 
You can provide a separate switch for this backlight or use a built-in switch that responds to movement or touch.
You can learn in detail from the article below where to correctly place sockets in the kitchen in compliance with all distances and standards. 
Decorative lighting
This lighting is needed for eating, drinking tea, having a romantic dinner, or just having a pleasant conversation in the kitchen with your friends or relatives. 
Decorative lighting should be in the dining area. There are three main options for table lighting:
- long cord pendant lights
They are suitable if the main lamp is a ceiling lamp and not a pendant lamp. Also, if you do not plan to change the location of the table in the future. 
Pendant and spotlights are also ideal for placement above the kitchen island. 
- table sconces
They will illuminate not only the dining area, but will also serve as wall decor near the table. Sconces are suitable if the dining table is placed close to the wall.
- desk lamp
This option requires a console or chest of drawers located near the dining table.
Once you have decided on the location and purpose of the lamps in the kitchen, you need to begin choosing the design and characteristics of each light source.
Traditionally, in our country, the kitchen is not only a place where food is prepared, but also a place for eating and private gatherings. Therefore, lighting in the kitchen should not only be practical, but also beautiful and comfortable.
Principles and requirements
A kitchen is a room in which there are at least two zones with different purposes - a work area for cooking and a dining area. Different purposes also lead to different requirements for kitchen lighting: the work area should have bright lighting, allowing you to see everything clearly, and the dining area should have softer lighting.
But zoned kitchen lighting does not exclude the presence of a chandelier. Its functional significance is small, since the light spot is obtained in the center of the room, which remains mostly empty. But from the point of view of leveling out uneven illumination, this method is very good. As an option, you can use several spotlights, as in the photo above, or install built-in ceiling lights if the ceiling is suspended or suspended.
You need to think about lighting the kitchen even at the renovation stage, when the wiring is being assembled, the wiring is being installed, and the installation locations for sockets and switches are marked. Later, after the repair is completed, this is very problematic - you have to lay the wiring on top or in.
Illumination standards
When you are just planning lighting in the kitchen, the question arises of how many lamps are needed and what power. It's simple: there are lighting standards for each room for the kitchen - 150 Lux per square meter of area. Calculating illumination in Watts is no longer relevant, since a 7 W LED lamp can produce light like a 50 W incandescent lamp or 650 lm.
For example, let’s calculate how much light is required for a kitchen with an area of 12 m2. To do this, we multiply its area by the norm: 12 m2 * 150 Lx = 1800 Lx. And since 1 Lux is equal to 1 Lumen, it is necessary to install light bulbs that in total give at least 1800 Lm.
If you decide to do zoned lighting, that is, the work surface will be illuminated separately, there will be a light source above the table, it makes sense to count everything separately. To do this, the kitchen plan must be divided into zones, the area must be calculated, and based on these figures, the number of lamps and lamps for them must be selected. Just keep in mind that two 50 W lamps in total will not give as much light as one 100 W lamp, but about 1/3 less.
Lamp type, color and light
Another important point. When selecting lighting, it is best to choose lamps of the same type: halogen, LED, daylight. As a last resort, you can combine two types, but it is better not to use all three. They provide different lighting and it is almost impossible to get a sane result. We are not talking about incandescent lamps, since they are used very rarely: they require too much electricity, producing a small amount of light.
In addition to the type of lamps, you need to choose lamps that produce light of the same color, which is also called the color temperature of the lamps. They can produce light with blue, yellow, and white tints. Basically, it’s up to you to choose, but the best option is natural or neutral. It is better for the eyes and for color perception.
General lighting in the kitchen
Now let's see how you can create general lighting in the kitchen. The traditional option is a chandelier. But it does not fit into every modern interior; nevertheless, it has its place.
Traditional general lighting - a chandelier in the middle of the ceiling
Often kitchens are not square, but rectangular in shape. In this case, you can find a chandelier that is elongated. For a long and narrow room, this is the best option that will provide optimal light distribution.
If the ceilings are low, you won’t be able to hang a chandelier—it will get in the way. The solution is to find a lamp that is almost flat. It can be square or round - whichever is more suitable for the chosen one.
If you are going to make a suspended or suspended ceiling, you can “scatter” spotlights over the surface or create some kind of pattern from them (read about ways to place spotlights and more). You can also make lighting around the perimeter of the “central” zone. Such lighting in the kitchen visually helps to raise the ceiling and make the room a little more spacious.
All these methods can be combined, so the number of options is very large. But it is important not to forget that there is also lighting for two other zones and to look for lighting fixtures for this area as well, because they must match in style.
Dining area lighting
The light near the dining table can be made in only two variations: a story sconce, one or several lamps on a long cord from the ceiling.
You can use the sconce if the table is near the wall. When choosing the location of a wall lamp, we are guided by two considerations: the level of illumination and convenience. The lamp should not interfere, for which it is placed at a height of 60-80 cm above the tabletop. In order for it to illuminate the entire table, it is advisable to find a model that allows you to move the lamp away from the wall.
To ensure that the lighting in the kitchen is not only bright, but also beautiful, all chandeliers and sconces are selected in the same style, which should also be in harmony with the overall design style.
Work surface illumination
There are more nuances in lighting the work area in the kitchen. First of all, you need to decide where to place the lamps, then choose their type, type and shape of lamps.
Choosing a location
When illuminating a work area in a kitchen, lamps are usually placed on the underside of hanging cabinets. And this is the best possible option. Because everyone else is much worse. For example, if the light source is on the ceiling (position 1 in the photo), standing with your back to it you block the light. Even if the lamps are located along the line, but high - on the ceiling or slightly above the level of the upper cabinets (position 2) - only a narrow part of the working surface at the edge is illuminated, the rest is in the shadow. That’s why the work area in the kitchen is illuminated by fixing the lighting fixtures to the bottom of the cabinets. Then the lighting in the kitchen has a pronounced zonal character, but it is much more convenient to work this way.
Here again there are options: lamps can be placed closer to the wall, in the middle, closer to the outer edge of the cabinets. The best option is closer to the outer edge (position 4). This way the lighting is more efficient with fewer shadows in the work area. The third option is also not bad. It is somewhat worse in terms of illumination, but more practical to implement.
So that the lighting in the kitchen does not interfere
If you illuminate the work surface in the kitchen at the bottom of the cabinets, other problems arise:
- Not everyone is satisfied with the appearance of the lamps attached in this place.
- The light hits the eyes of people sitting at the table.
Both of these problems have one solution: you need to install a decorative strip that will cover the lamp and limit the spread of light. It turns out that the lighting in the kitchen is softer and the lighting fixtures themselves are not visible.
The location of the bar, its height, and the position of the lamp must be selected on the spot: light sources have different heights, different brightnesses, the luminous flux can also be directed differently. Therefore, you select the bar parameters experimentally. Ideally, the light will not even fall on the floor, but will only illuminate the tabletop.
Alternatively, the bar can be designed as a small shelf for various kitchen items. Usually decor or jars of spices are displayed here. If you don't like this idea, just do a plank. If you think that even the plank spoils the appearance or it simply does not fit into the style, make a double bottom in the cabinets, hiding light sources inside. In this case, you can install frosted glass, which will soften the light.
In this case, the door is made along its entire length, although this is not necessary. To avoid problems with fixing the glass, you can install an aluminum corner around the perimeter of the bottom, on which you can simply lay a piece of frosted glass or translucent polycarbonate cut to size.
Spot lighting
When organizing lighting in the kitchen in the work area, you must immediately decide what type of light sources you will use. There are two options - point and tubular. In the case of using spot lights, you get a kind of “zebra”, the contrast of which can be negated by more frequent installation of light bulbs.
The advantage of this solution is that the lamps are quite decorative and such lighting looks beautiful. The downside is that it is not always convenient when cooking. Another drawback: spotlights are quite high and can only be installed with a second bottom in cabinets.
If you choose this method of lighting in the kitchen, take LED lamps. Now they are the most economical - with low power consumption they provide a lot of light and last a long time. In this case, their undoubted advantage is that they practically do not heat up, so there is no threat to the furniture. The option is a little worse - halogen lamps (they heat up and draw a little more electricity), an even less economical one - fluorescent lamps with a regular socket, and the worst option - incandescent lamps.
Linear light sources
When using linear lamps, the illumination is almost uniform, since lighting devices can be mounted with a distance of a couple of centimeters between them.
When choosing light sources for linear illumination, there are even more options and the range is expanding all the time. Perhaps there are already new means that few people know about yet. In the meantime, there are three of them: LED strip, LED and fluorescent lamps. There is also neon lighting, but it is quite difficult to install and costs more. That’s why lighting in the kitchen is almost never done with neon tubes or flexible hoses.
LED Strip Light
The strip and LEDs can be simply mounted on furniture, as it has an adhesive layer. But this layer is unreliable, so they prefer to secure it in some way - with double tape, with staples made of . If you plan to attach the tape directly to furniture, choose models with a high level of protection - IP44 and higher. But it’s better not to take those that are sealed in a tube - at home they overheat (especially in the kitchen), quickly fade, and soon burn out. For this case, it is better to take types filled with varnish or other protective composition.
When choosing an LED strip to illuminate the work surface in the kitchen, you need to pay attention to the brightness and size of the crystals. You need to choose the largest 50*50 or 50*75, and it is better if they are located in two rows. Their total power should produce no less light than was determined in the calculations. Read about the types of LED strips and the rules for their installation.
You can install the LED strip in special profiles (they are also called cable channels or trays). They are usually made of aluminum and have a transparent or translucent removable front panel. There may be a shelf inside on which the tape itself is attached. These are the most convenient types, but in others you have to be a bit tricky.
The advantages of installing LED backlighting in such a tray are that there is no point in worrying about the degree of protection of the tape, it looks decent. The disadvantage is that the light is less bright, so the power of the crystals must be greater than the calculated one. In any case, kitchen lighting using LED strips is becoming increasingly popular. This is due to ease of installation and low power consumption.
LED kitchen lights
LED lamps can be not only spot or ordinary - in the form of a pear with a standard base. They are also available in the form of tubes.
They are installed on clips - plates that are attached to furniture into which tubes are inserted. Some can be mounted with magnets. The corresponding metal plates are attached to the furniture (you can use double-sided tape), and the lamps are simply attracted to them due to the magnets built into the body (Sensor model).
Fluorescent lamps
Tubular fluorescent lamps are a traditional lighting method. They are good because they are switched directly to 220 V, while LED ones require a special adapter that will provide the required voltage.
The disadvantages have been known for a long time - pulsating light, which has a negative effect on the eyes. There is one more not so pleasant point: LEDs are more economical. They consume very little electricity and last longer. Their service life is calculated in thousands of hours. Fluorescent lamps have to be changed much more often (every five times), but they cost less. In general, it is up to you to decide what type of lamp you want to use when lighting your kitchen.
Fluorescent lamps for kitchen lighting can be stylish
If you decide to illuminate your kitchen with fluorescent lamps, the optimal size is G13 base (diameter 26 mm). In length they can be 60 cm, 90 cm, 120 cm, 150 cm. Today there are different models - from the usual to quite nice (as in the photo above).
You can, as described above, hide such lamps in a double bottom by installing light-diffusing glass. In this case, you can buy the most inexpensive lamps. But it is unlikely that you will be able to save money - the costs for the profile for installing glass and the glass itself are either equivalent or may even be higher.
As you can see, it is better to make lighting in the kitchen multi-zone, and at the moment it is better to use LEDs. The lamps are quite expensive, but they are economical, shine brightly, work for a long time and do not get hot.
The kitchen should be filled with light. But when this cannot be achieved through windows, ceiling lights come to the rescue.
Varieties
There are many types of ceiling lamps, but they can be divided into three main groups.
Chandelier
In modern kitchen interiors it is no longer used as extensively as before. But it still has a place in classic interiors. Also, you can’t do without it in large kitchens, where a separate area is allocated for the dining table, which requires separate light. Many will say that a chandelier is inconvenient, it hides the space, but this is not entirely true. Modern designers are developing various forms of chandeliers. These are not only lampshades hanging overhead, which are not very suitable for small kitchens, but also various lamps stretched along a horizontal plane that will not disturb you. A chandelier, of course, will not be able to illuminate all the far corners, but it can be combined with local lighting.
Spotlights
This type of lamp is perfect if your kitchen has suspended or suspended ceilings. In most cases they are used as local lighting. But there are design options when spotlights are used to illuminate the entire kitchen as a whole. This is especially often used in a small kitchen.
Pendant lamps
As in the previous group, they are most often used to illuminate the work area and the area above the table where food is eaten. Most often, this is a group of the same spotlights that are installed on a common panel, which in turn is attached to the ceiling. They shine well, but for some reason they are not widely used.
There are also a lot of varieties of light in lamps.
- Incandescent. These are ordinary lamps that are screwed into spotlights or a chandelier. They don't shine very brightly, but they consume enormous amounts of electricity.
- Halogen. They shine brightly and are used, just like incandescent lamps, in chandeliers and spotlights. Electricity consumption is on par with incandescent lamps. It is dangerous to use in PVC ceilings due to the fact that they get very hot.
- Luminescent– these are energy-saving lamps, their range of applications is the same as the two previous points, but their energy consumption is 5 times less.
- LED. This type is a strip with many LEDs that can also be mounted on the ceiling to illuminate the work area, or to highlight different levels of the ceiling. They shine brightly, consume a minimal amount of electricity, but are not cheap.
According to the type of installation, they distinguish
- built-in;
- invoices;
- hanging;
Recessed are models of spotlights. Their name speaks for itself. They are built into suspended or suspended ceilings. There are built-in directional or rotating lamps.
Overhead lamps - screwed to the ceiling. The main requirement is a rigid foundation. They come in round (square) or rectangular (oval) shapes. With a rectangular overlay, the lamp will visually stretch out the space.
Hanging ones are installed in large kitchens, usually in the dining table area. They are hung on a hook in the ceiling and are the main lighting fixture in the interior.
Features and Benefits
Kitchen lighting not only plays a role of illumination, but also has an aesthetic component. Not only the convenience of cooking, but also your comfortable stay in the kitchen will depend on the quality of the chosen lamps. That's why you need to be careful when choosing kitchen lighting fixtures.
Each type of lamps described above has a place on the kitchen ceiling.
Hanging chandeliers are suitable for large kitchens, but they will clutter small ones, concealing an already small space.
Overhead lamps, on the contrary, are suitable for a small kitchen. They will not take up space, and if you choose an oval or rectangular shape, they will expand it.
Spotlights are installed in suspended ceilings, in the illumination area of the work area. In a small kitchen they can also be installed as the main light, then the best option would be to connect the cooking area to a separate switch.
In the work area, it is better to install lights with a turn so that you can direct the light directly onto the cutting table.
Lamps with LEDs will help not only save electricity, but also illuminate a multi-level ceiling, thereby visually enlarging the space.
Based on the style of your kitchen, you can choose warm or cool light fixtures. It is worth remembering that warm light increases the sharpness of colors, and cold lighting can distort their transmission. So, blue may turn out to have a greenish tint, and red will turn into brown. Therefore, choose the colors of decoration and furniture more carefully if you decide to use cold lighting. By the way, food will look more appetizing in warm light.
Colors
Basically, standard colors of lamps are used in the kitchen. The case is made in gold and silver, white is also not uncommon. They can be either glossy or matte - it all depends on your preference. Lampshades, if we are talking about overhead and pendant lamps, can be of any color scheme. The main thing is that they fit harmoniously into the overall interior of the kitchen.
If you want to make an accent and liven up a boring kitchen, for example in black and white, then install a deep red chandelier on it. This will help create a very stylish interior.
Materials
The materials used in the lamps are standard - metal, glass. But it is also acceptable to use designer items. For example, a wicker lamp will look great in a kitchen space. You can also use various wooden and cork parts in chandeliers. It all depends on your interior and flight of fancy.
The choice of ceiling lights for the kitchen is very large, and how can you find exactly what you need?
First of all, you need to take this seriously, with a clear idea of what you want, and make the lighting in the kitchen comfortable, no matter what you do there.
- You cannot limit kitchen lighting to one lamp in the middle. Be sure to illuminate the work area. Otherwise, standing with your back to the light, you will block all the lighting, and it will not reach the cutting table.
- You can’t buy lamps before you decide on a kitchen set. First you need to draw up a kitchen project, determine where and what kind of light is needed, run the wires, and only then purchase lighting fixtures.
It would be nice to provide a switch in the kitchen with the ability to adjust the lighting level, or at least divide the lighting mode of the lamps into two switches. This will not only help you save on electricity, but will also make it possible to create a more intimate environment if necessary.
Usually it is illuminated with pendant lamps of unusual shapes, less often with overhead lamps.
The most effective placement of such lampshades is 1.5 m from the lamp to the table. You can hang one large lampshade, but it is also possible to place several throughout the table.
If the table is moved towards the wall, you can light it using sconces or spots.
DIY installation
Ceiling lamps of suspended and surface-mounted types are not difficult to install yourself.
The pendant chandelier only needs to be hung on a special ceiling hook, having previously been connected to the wiring.
Overhead lamps are screwed to the ceiling using a drill and dowels.
With built-in lamps everything is more complicated. They are installed by the same specialists who install the ceiling. For lighting, places are first designed and wires are pulled, then, when installing the ceiling, holes are cut and power is connected to the lamps themselves.
How and where to place
To make the ceiling beautiful and effective, you must first draw up a design for the placement of lamps.
In this case, it is necessary to take into account:
- geometric shape of the kitchen;
- parameters of its natural light and darkness;
- is it planned to zoning the space;
- Will there be a chandelier in the kitchen, or just lamps?
How to decorate
With chandeliers the situation is different. Here you can turn on your imagination and play with color schemes, shapes, and materials. The main thing is that the chandelier is made in the same style as the kitchen in general. An example for decorating a hanging chandelier could be a lampshade made of Soviet porcelain, which will look great in an interior designed in the style of the 80s. (0)
Overhead lamps can also be decorated in an interesting way; glass-shaped lampshades will look great on the kitchen ceiling.
The choice of interesting stylistic solutions is very large, and in this variety everyone can find a suitable option for themselves.
Here are some interesting solutions for selecting lamps for the kitchen ceiling
- A lampshade made of copper wire, reminiscent of a wicker basket for an overhead lamp in a work area, is perfect for decorating a rustic-style ceiling.
- A bright accent on the ceiling will help turn the hospital look of a white kitchen into a stylish design project.
Recently, spotlights for the kitchen have become an alternative to the classic chandeliers we are used to. They provide almost limitless possibilities for home creativity and implementation of design solutions.
The use of these devices allows you to create ideal lighting, make the ceiling a stylish and thoughtful decorative element, and at the same time obtain truly unique compositions.
Advantages of spotlights
- Huge selection. Due to the fact that spotlights have a variety of shapes and sizes, they can be equally successfully selected for rooms of absolutely any style.
These styles may include modern, luxurious classics or modern minimalism, or many others.
- Compact and beautiful. Due to the fact that such devices are small in size, they can fit elegantly and stylishly into any room.
You can use luxurious lamps with crystal inserts or the smallest lighting fixtures. In all cases, they will look great against the background of your interior. - Such lamps exist in many varieties.. Their purpose can be suspended or suspended ceilings; accordingly, for such ceilings it is possible to use overhead and thin lighting devices.
- Functionality and convenience. Based on your tastes and needs, you can place lighting fixtures in the kitchen, thereby answering the question of how to arrange the appliances to make it most convenient and functional.
- Economical. In addition to the fact that this kind of lamps have an attractive appearance, their use allows you to save money.
Their light output is maximum, but due to the small size of the devices, electricity consumption, on the contrary, is minimal, which provides financial savings.
Design features of spotlights
These lighting devices conquered our market not so long ago, about 15 years ago, and almost immediately became very popular. The reasons for this popularity are described above. You can add the fact that they can be used as main light sources, as well as additional ones, and of course, as decorative ones.
A large number of designers use these lamps when creating their design projects. These devices easily highlight certain interior details and draw attention to them.
Structurally, spotlights are divided into two types: those that are rigidly fixed, and those that can be rotated. With fixed light sources, the radiation has a constant direction.
Rotary lamps have a moving part that can rotate around its axis by 30-40 degrees. Which is a very convenient and practical function for the case when any interior detail is emphasized.
Selection of spotlights
- Manufacturer country.
The bulk of the lamps that are on the electrical goods market are made in China. But among them it is necessary to distinguish those products that are produced for European countries, on which there is a mark - by Europe. The parameters of these products are often higher than those of their European counterparts, but the price and quality are approximately the same.
There is a very wide range of spotlights made in Poland. And of course there are devices manufactured in Russia and Ukraine.
- Quality.
Not so long ago, the assortment was very small, but today, due to the existing variety, it is quite difficult to make the right choice. Nowadays spotlights suit almost any taste and any budget. This is a simple stamped cheap tin on the one hand, and a lamp inlaid with stones from Swarowski, the cost of which is very high, on the other.
- Colors and shades of lamps.
You can often encounter a situation in which lamps, belonging to the same batch, having the same article number (serial number), differ in color or shade. This is especially possible if the frame is made with imitation of natural stone. If the devices are located a short distance from each other, then this difference in colors and shades will be very noticeable.
Advice: When deciding on the purchase of a spotlight, choosing a specific type, you should consult with a specialist, a salesperson in a store.
Also, if you do not install them yourself, then consult with the installer who will do it.
Together you can make the right choice.
Kitchen and spot lighting
The use of spotlights in the kitchen is convenient because they can provide bright light if it is dark outside, and directional lighting early in the morning. Installing these lighting fixtures in the kitchen has become a simpler task than attaching a central chandelier to the ceiling or an additional one above the table.
Placing spotlights in the kitchen area
There are a large number of options for geometrically precise shapes in order to implement spot lighting in the kitchen. But most people have a desire to create something original and unique in the kitchen.
The most important thing is to complete the zones: the one where food is prepared and where it is consumed. The area where food is prepared requires bright lighting and excellent color rendering.
For the dining area, it is possible to organize various lighting options using switches. For example, above the dining table, all the spotlights that are available, or some part of them, can be turned on. This creates a romantic atmosphere during dinner, as well as the opportunity to protect your sleepy eyes in the morning.
Kitchen work area lighting
Real housewives know the importance of prompt use of all resources in the process of preparing dishes. To use key moments in the cooking process, rotating spotlights that provide directional light, located in the area of the worktop, stove and sink, help.
Tip: To avoid making a mistake when choosing a spotlight, choose simpler models that do not contain glass or crystal. It is easier to protect them from dirt and dust.
So, using spotlights in the kitchen is stylish, effective, convenient and, of course, profitable. Using the switch you can adjust the lighting in the kitchen areas. The use of LED lamps will allow you to save a lot.
And our portal provides video instructions and photo materials that will help in deciding to make the kitchen ergonomic and modern.
Choosing the right lighting in the kitchen is not an easy task. With the help of light, you can visually expand the space, make it cozy and pleasant to stay. Then cooking will be a joy, the food will taste better, and gatherings with friends in the kitchen will become a tradition.
To achieve the “wow” effect, it is enough to follow the basic rules:
- The kitchen should be light. Everything here is simple and banal - it’s nice to be in a well-lit place.
- Don't overdo it. It is important to find a middle ground, since too bright lighting hurts the eye and is uneconomical to use.
- Multi-level lighting. It will allow you to organically distribute light in space and create a unique kitchen style.
- The more light sources, the less their power.
- Yes - simple forms. For lampshades, it is better to use simple, smooth shapes without sharp corners, bends, or curls, because the kitchen is a highly polluted area, and an intricate chandelier will soon be covered with a layer of grease and will require considerable effort to wash it.
- Big - with small. Large lamps go well with spotlights.
- Freedom of imagination. Don't be afraid to experiment, and the end result will definitely please you!
Multi-level lighting on
The combination of large lamps with spotlights on
2. Work surface lighting
Lighting options:
1. Built-in lighting under wall cabinets.
2. Lighting in the ceiling along the work area (table top).
3. Lamps built into the cornice.
4. Lamps with automatic switching on when the door is opened, built into cabinets with glass fronts.
5. Lighting above wall cabinets.
Example on
LEDs are most often used as kitchen lighting, as they consume little electricity and are durable. The LED strip, protected by silicone, is not afraid of water, which is a significant advantage in the kitchen. Halogen and fluorescent light sources are also used.
3. Dining area lighting
Often the main light source is deliberately placed above the table. Today chandeliers with long cords have become fashionable. A single lampshade or several in a row look impressive and create a unique atmosphere of comfort and warmth.
You should not place the chandelier directly above the head of the person sitting. The number of lamps should be proportional to the size of the table.
As chandeliers for the kitchen, lampshades of simple shapes are mainly used: rectangular, cones, balls, made of glass, plastic, crystal.
Single lamp over the dining area
4. Lighting in a small kitchen
The peculiarities of Khrushchev buildings are that the lighting of which has its own nuances.
- Large ornate chandeliers and lampshades on long bases would not be appropriate here. The dimensions of lighting fixtures should be proportional to the size of the room.
- There is no need for a large number of light sources. In a small kitchen, a compact single chandelier in the center of the ceiling in tandem with LED lighting for the work area will look great.
- To visually raise the ceiling, you can build LED light bulbs into it, and direct the light from them not downwards, but onto the ceiling itself. Directed in this way, it will give the ceiling the effect of floating in the air.
5. Lighting in the kitchen living room
Often the problem of a small kitchen is solved by combining it with the living room. To visually divide the space into two functional zones, you can install a dining table or bar counter at the border. Both require their own backlight. This could be a pendant lamp, a large chandelier, or spotlights.
The living room area should be lighter than the kitchen. An excellent solution would be built-in spotlights in a multi-level or single-level living room ceiling. If the kitchen and living room are separated by a difference in floor heights, you can install light sources at this difference. This technique will visually delimit the space and become the highlight of the interior.
Backlight on
Lighting built into the floor height difference
6. Types of lamps
- LED bulbs. The main advantages of LED lamps are low energy consumption, durability, lower body temperature compared to incandescent lamps, ease of installation, small dimensions, and high mechanical strength. Also, an LED lamp is one of the most environmentally friendly light sources; its disposal does not require special conditions.
The disadvantages include the high cost (however, this is offset by a long service life and low energy consumption); if one of the elements fails, the lamp is unlikely to be repaired. In cheap LEDs, burnout sometimes occurs due to overheating, especially in closed lampshades.
- Incandescent lamps. The main advantages of incandescent lamps include low cost, small size, lack of fear of low and high ambient temperatures, and condensation. Incandescent lamps can also be found in a variety of voltages.
The main disadvantages are low light output, relatively short service life, fragility, high heating during prolonged operation, which causes a fire hazard.
- Halogen lamps. The main advantage of halogen lamps compared to incandescent lamps is their compactness, longer service life and efficiency.
The negative side is high sensitivity to grease and strong heating during operation. When installing such lamps, do not touch them with your hands, as fingerprints quickly burn out during operation, leaving black marks. In case of accidental contact, wipe the lamp with a clean cloth (for example, microfiber) and alcohol.
IRC-halogen lamps. A special feature of such lamps is a special coating of the bulb, which transmits visible light, but delays infrared radiation, returning it back to the spiral. Due to this, heat loss is reduced, and as a result, energy consumption is reduced and service life is increased.
- Fluorescent lamps. The positive side of such lamps is based on high luminous efficiency, long service life (compared to incandescent lamps), diffused light and a variety of shades.
The disadvantages include chemical hazards (fluorescent lamps contain mercury), low lamp power factor, uneven spectrum, unpleasant to the eyes.
7. Cost of lighting for the kitchen
Now let’s try to figure out the cost of all the beauty described above. It turns out that “cheap” and “beautiful” can be combined!
As an example, let's take a small-sized kitchen of 7 square meters:
- The basis of the lighting is a five-light chandelier located above the table. Since the kitchen is small, it illuminates both the dining area and the entire room as a whole. The cost of such a chandelier ranges from $80-200.
- Next, we evaluate the illumination of the work area. Three to five recessed LED or halogen lamps will be quite enough. This is another plus of $60-150.
- If you want something unusual, then tabletop lighting in the form of an RGB LED strip will be just right. A kit consisting of a five-meter waterproof tape, a control panel and a power cable costs about $30-50.
For rational and harmonious lighting of a 7 sq.m kitchen, $170-400 is enough.
