{"id":2991,"date":"2019-03-29T02:56:03","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T02:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/?p=2991"},"modified":"2022-10-20T07:02:33","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T11:02:33","slug":"how-to-light-a-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-light-a-kitchen\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Light a Kitchen Effectively"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to Light a Kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2994\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/how-to-light-a-kitchen-compressed.jpg\" alt=\"how to light a kitchen\" width=\"660\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/how-to-light-a-kitchen-compressed.jpg 660w, https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/how-to-light-a-kitchen-compressed-300x182.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The kitchen is the focal point of the home. It is where family and friends get together and spend most of their waking hours. Kitchens are often the key to selling your home and can also add value if done right. It is for these reasons why learning how to light a kitchen effectively is critically important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are so many options when it comes to kitchen lighting. This article is not about which light fixtures in particular to choose because that is really a personal decorative choice for you. I will take you through the important elements of how to light a kitchen and from there you can decide which method is best for your kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The Key Elements to Light a Kitchen Effectively <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-3369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-to-Light-a-Kitchen-Effectively-147x300.jpg\" alt=\"how to light a kitchen\" width=\"147\" height=\"300\" data-pin-description=\"How to Light a Kitchen #kitchenlighting #lightingforthekitchen #homelighting #homedecor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-to-Light-a-Kitchen-Effectively-147x300.jpg 147w, https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-to-Light-a-Kitchen-Effectively-502x1024.jpg 502w, https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/How-to-Light-a-Kitchen-Effectively.jpg 735w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 147px) 100vw, 147px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes to lighting a kitchen, you need to balance your lighting to fit the various needs in all corners of your kitchen. You will likely have different lighting needs over your kitchen island vs your kitchen table. Therefore, it is critical to consider the following key elements:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Total Coverage<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Ambient Lighting<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Task Lighting<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Accent Lighting<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Layering your Kitchen Lighting<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Adding Dimmers<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>Total Coverage<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 The most important thing is to cover the entire room with some type of lighting with no dark spaces at all. It is okay for a family room to have a darker area of the room but not a kitchen. This is not to say that the entire kitchen will be lit up like a baseball stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you are trying to avoid are areas of the kitchen that are extremely dark. Do not skimp on the number of recessed lights. Choose more fixtures and use bulbs with lower lumens if needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>Ambient Lighting<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Ambient lighting is what typically provides most of the total coverage in your kitchen. It is usually the recessed lighting that is evenly or strategically spaced and provides the base lighting for your entire room. Kitchens with just one or two lights near the middle are not providing adequate light. Then, when you are standing at the counter you are likely blocking the light needed to see on the counter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although the ambient lighting is bright enough to see, it does not provide the bright, focused task lighting needed in certain areas of the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>Task Lighting<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Task lighting provides light that is bright enough to manage the various tasks in your kitchen such as chopping vegetables or cooking over our stove. The areas where <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/what-is-task-lighting\/\"><strong>task lighting<\/strong><\/a><\/span> is most important is your kitchen island, over your stove and also at times on the counters beneath your cabinets. These are the areas where the work gets done. One may also add the kitchen table to the task lighting list.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>Accent Lighting<\/strong> <\/span>\u2013 Accent lighting is where you can get creative and let your imagination take over. This lighting is for visual effect only and does not serve to provide either ambient or task lighting. Accent lighting will add that final touch to your kitchen making it look spectacular.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Some examples of accent lighting are kick plate lighting below your lower cabinets, lighting inside of glass front cabinet doors, a lit tray ceiling and even lighting that turns on inside of your drawers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Read our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/kitchen-accent-lighting\/\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">kitchen accent lighting<\/span><\/strong><\/a>. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-3445\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/kitchen-lighting-ideas-2-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"kitchen lighting ideas\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" data-pin-description=\"kitchen lighting ideas #kitchenremodel #kitchenideas\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/kitchen-lighting-ideas-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/kitchen-lighting-ideas-2.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>Layering your Kitchen Lighting<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Consider layering all of the lighting types referenced above to achieve the maximum effect and benefit from your kitchen lighting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Layering with recessed lighting, pendant lights, under cabinet lights and then some additional accent lighting provides the atmosphere that you often see in the most expensive homes. The good news is you do not have to spend too much on light fixtures to have the same effect in your kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Remember to pair the various lighting fixtures and the kelvin color temperatures to either be consistent across the entire kitchen or be very close to one another in temperature. Example, if you have 3500k recessed lights, then your pendants should be within 500k of your ceiling lights. You can have lights that are brighter (more lumens) but the temperatures should all be consistent.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Dimmer Switches to Tie Your Kitchen Lighting Together<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first thing to plan when designing your kitchen lighting is to have all of the various fixtures on different switches. Recessed lighting on one switch, pendants over the island on another, and the under cabinet lights should have their own switch too. Even the lighting over your kitchen table should be on its own switch. If that is also recessed lighting, then have the lights over your table on an independent switch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, these should all be dimmer switches. Dimmers allow you to create an ambiance for every occasion. This is true for recessed lights, pendants and under cabinet lights. There will be instances where you need something different than full brightness from your lights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In our home, we always have the kitchen lights dimmed down in the evening. It creates such a cozy atmosphere. Who wants to have a romantic dinner with recessed lights beaming down like a hospital room?\u00a0 You will want to dim them way down and them maybe light a candle on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I suggest reading <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-choose-a-dimmer-switch\/\"><strong>how to choose a dimmer switch<\/strong><\/a><\/span> before making your final lighting decisions. Remember to choose both fixtures and bulbs that are compatible with dimmers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Recessed Lighting in the Kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The majority if not all ambient light in the kitchen will come from recessed lighting. It is the most efficient and modern way to accomplish this today. Although you can customize a bit with various types of recessed lighting trim, this type of lighting primarily serves the purpose of adding ambient light and is typically not for decorative purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Unlike other rooms, recessed lighting may not always be installed uniformly throughout the kitchen. Instead, there may be more of a strategic placement of the recessed lighting cans in the kitchen. When designing your kitchen lighting layout, you will start with the placement of your pendants if you plan to use those. Then, you can add recessed lighting throughout the rest of the kitchen to fill in where needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To help plan your recessed lighting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-layout-recessed-lighting\/\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">read how to layout recessed lighting<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a> before making any final decisions. This will help to give you some ideas on how to light a kitchen with recessed lighting. The photo below is just an example of what I am referring to.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2762\" style=\"width: 670px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2762\" class=\"wp-image-2762 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/kitchen-recessed-lighting-layout.jpg\" alt=\"kitchen recessed lighting layout\" width=\"660\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/kitchen-recessed-lighting-layout.jpg 660w, https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/kitchen-recessed-lighting-layout-300x227.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2762\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>How to light a kitchen with recessed lighting<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recessed lights can be added in multiple locations with various switches controlling them. For example, you may have one switch controlling one recessed light over your sink (if that is how you decide to light your sink), one for the lights over your kitchen table, one for lights that may be over your island, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If for some reason you are unable to add recessed lighting into your kitchen ceiling, then you can go with flush mount fixtures. These are not the most optimal when it comes to creating ambient light for your kitchen. If you have to choose this method, then add multiple smaller flush mounted lighting fixtures in\u00a0 your kitchen rather than one large one in the center of the room. This will provide more of the coverage that you need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes time to shopping for recessed lighting, take a look at <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/recommended-products\/recessed-lighting\/\"><strong>our recommended recessed lighting fixtures<\/strong><\/a><\/span> before you make your purchase. These have been fully vetted and you can use and install with confidence. The cost associated with recessed lighting is minimal and should not impact your kitchen remodel budget.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Pendant Lighting for the Kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pendant lights are extremely popular right now and there may be more <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/pendant-lighting-options\/\"><strong>pendant lighting options<\/strong><\/a><\/span> than any other type of lighting. You will see hundreds of thousands of photos of <span style=\"color: #666699;\"><a style=\"color: #666699;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/lightingtutor\/pendant-lighting-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pendant lighting ideas on Pinterest<\/a><\/span> and other places.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pendant lights are likely where you will be able to add some design, flair and character to the lighting in your kitchen. Although pendant lights serve a function by providing some task lighting over important work surfaces, they also allow room for your creativity. This is where I would spend a little more money in selecting the perfect pendant lights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pendant lights allow you to deviate a bit from the color scheme in your kitchen. It is okay to add something that has wild colors or is an interesting shape. The great part about pendant lights is they are never permanent. These are easy to replace at any time and can be done by the average homeowner who has the basic ability to work with electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pendants are typically used over the kitchen island and sometimes over the sink. At times, they are also used over the kitchen table. These are all great areas to accessorize with unique and conversation starting pendant lights.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Under Cabinet Lights<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Under cabinet lighting will bring your kitchen to life if done right and should be considered for all kitchen remodels. Adding under cabinet lighting is also a great way to upgrade an older kitchen that you would like to give a small facelift to. The added element they bring to the room is absolutely amazing<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They are available in hard wired versions as well as battery operated. They have dimmers and can also come with multiple kelvin color settings. We put together a <\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/under-cabinet-lighting-options\/\"><strong>list of recommended under cabinet lighting options<\/strong><\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> which have been tested here.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The goal is to provide ample lighting across your counter surfaces while also highlighting your backsplash. However, there is an art to doing it in a way that delivers both task lighting as well as ambiance at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We have talked about <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/best-lighting-for-granite-countertops\/\"><strong>choosing the right lighting for your granite countertops<\/strong><\/a><\/span> in the past. It comes down to selecting the right kelvin color temperature to match not only the other lights in the room but also to bring out the beauty of your counters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Your options for under cabinet lighting will be:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hard wired LED linear fixtures<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wireless LED light bars<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Puck lights<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tape lights or strip lights<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Read all about the various <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/under-cabinet-lighting-options\/\"><strong>under cabinet lighting options <\/strong><\/a><\/span>to help you with your decision. If you are a DIY person, then you may want to read about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-install-under-cabinet-lighting\/\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">how to install under cabinet lighting<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>. This is a project that you can absolutely tackle yourself if you are comfortable working with electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Kitchen Island Lighting<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When we say that the kitchen is the gathering place in the home, the kitchen island is the place where most people gather in the kitchen. When we have guests over we often stand around the island with drinks in our hands, having some food there and just talking for hours. The lighting over your kitchen island will be critical in making that space work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The size of your kitchen island will truly determine how many light fixtures you will need for coverage. I recommend reading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-light-a-kitchen-island\/\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">how to light a kitchen island<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a> to get our full explanation and plan. The goal here is to provide task lighting while you are working at the island, but then transition that lighting to add ambiance when the island is being used for more social settings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>There are ways you can light your kitchen island:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Recessed Lighting<\/strong> \u2013 You can add recessed lights above your island and they can be the only lighting provided for your island. If you choose this route, I recommend placing recessed lights that are specific to the island only. This means they may be smaller in size or have more lumens. They also should be on their own switch and with a dimmer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you do not like pendants, this could be the way to go. This does however take the decorative benefits out of the equation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Pendant Lighting<\/strong> \u2013 Pendant lights are the most popular way to provide lighting over your kitchen island. Although it is so tempting to shop for them based upon how the look, you need to make sure they are also delivering the light you need. \u00a0Pendant lights should hang at least 30\u201d-36\u201d above your counter depending upon your ceiling height. The higher the better.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/recommended-products\/pendant-lighting\/\"><strong>review our recommended pendant lights<\/strong><\/a><\/span> for some ideas. In the end, there are so many options and it will come down to your personal taste.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Linear Fixtures<\/strong> \u2013 Linear lighting fixtures are used quite often over kitchen islands. They have a series of lights which means choosing the right light bulbs will be extremely important. You do not want to over-light your room.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Something else to consider is how the linear fixture is directing the light. I often see a linear fixture over a center island that is directing the light up to the ceiling with little task lighting hitting the counters. In the end, this is nothing more than a decorative piece and is not providing the light needed to work at the kitchen island.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lighting over the Kitchen Sink<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are three lighting options for over your kitchen sink. Regardless as to which of these options you choose, they all should be on their own light switch. This is actually the one light that does not have to be on a dimmer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Pendant Lighting<\/strong> (best)\u2013 one pendant light strategically places above the sink is the most popular and decorative option to choose. This is the optimal choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Recessed Lighting<\/strong> (good) \u2013 one recessed light over the sink is likely the second choice. This brings no element of design or fashion and simply delivers the light needed to work at the sink. This light oddly enough is also often left on all night or when people leave the home in the evenings. It is almost like a kitchen security light. Not sure how we evolved to that over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Flush Mounted Fixture<\/strong> \u2013 This is the least desirable of all lighting options over your sink. Flush mounted fixtures are yesterday\u2019s news and if I were remodeling a kitchen I would not consider this. They also usually have a lens over the light which diffuses that light and minimizes the lumens that should be directed down towards the sink.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lighting over the Kitchen Table<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The area of the room where the kitchen table is should be treated almost like it is a different room. We talked about having the recessed lighting on that side of the room on a different switch. If you only have recessed lighting there, then place them over the table if at all possible. If you are likely to move the table around, then obviously just place the lights in a way to get maximum coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pendant lights are a great addition over the kitchen table. Here, you will likely use larger pendants than what you may have over your kitchen island.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Linear fixtures are extremely popular over a table and can also be used in conjunction with some recessed lights in that area. Definitely have these lights on a dimmer switch as mentioned earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I recommend not trying to match the light fixtures to the table. My mother in law had a wooden country table and then one of those wagon wheel light fixtures over the table. Once she updated the table to something more modern, the light fixture needed to be changed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Choosing the Right Light Bulbs for the Kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There will be many light sources in your kitchen and earlier I mentioned that each of those lights need to be in harmony with one another. If you have very cold\/blue under cabinet lights and then have very warm\/yellow recessed lights, it will look like you are wearing two different color shoes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The temperature is important to capture the right mood and color for the cabinets and counters. They need to be in sync with one another. Visit other homes or kitchen show rooms to see how the various models are lit based upon the color schemes of the kitchen. You will likely be targeting 3500k for the majority of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make sure you select bulbs and fixtures that are compatible with LED dimmers. You should also read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-choose-a-dimmer-switch\/\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">how to choose a dimmer switch<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a> for more information on that topic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you still have questions, read my article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/how-to-choose-the-right-light-bulb\/\"><span style=\"color: #666699;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">how to choose the right light bulb for every room<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Kitchen Light Switch Placement Location<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The best place for your light switches is the spot where you enter and exit the room. If you currently have switches under your cabinets or in some other inconvenient place, then relocate them during your remodel. If you are designing a new home, then carefully consider this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You should have a hub at the room\u2019s entrance for all of the lights. In some instances, you will want a three-way light switch. Example is the light over the sink where one next to the sink and one at the entrance to the room would be perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you have two main entrances into the kitchen, then add three-way switches there as well. The additional work and cost in wire that it will take to make this happen will be well worth it for years afterwards.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Kitchen remodeling and design is not cheap which means you should not go cheap on your lighting if you have the money to spend. If you are on a tight budget with a kitchen makeover, you can still bring that kitchen to live with beautiful lighting without spending a lot. Lighting may be the best value when it comes to spending money to update the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Related Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What is the best kelvin color temperature for a kitchen?<br \/>\n<\/strong>The most common kelvin temperature used for the kitchen is 3500k. It is probably the most neutral color temperature that you can use and likely will look good in most kitchens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How many lumens do I need to light a kitchen?<br \/>\n<\/strong>The optimal amount of ambient light for a kitchen is 20 lumens per square foot. Therefore, if your kitchen is 200 square feet, then you will need 4,000 lumens for your ambient light. This does not include any additional pendants or under cabinet lighting that will deliver additional lumens to the room.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What size can lights should I use in the kitchen?<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">For your main recessed lights, a 4 or 5 inch can is optimal. You can use smaller ones for accent lighting in certain areas or even over your island.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Related Articles<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/is-recessed-lighting-going-out-of-style\/\"><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><strong>Is Recessed Lighting Going Out of Style?<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/best-lighting-for-granite-countertops\/\"><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\"><strong>Best Lighting for Granite Countertops<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/under-cabinet-lighting-can-increase-home-value\/\"><strong><span style=\"color: #99cc00;\">Can Under Cabinet Lighting Increase Home Value?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3830 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Kitchen-Lighting.jpg\" alt=\"Kitchen Lighting\" width=\"400\" height=\"1000\" data-pin-description=\"Kitchen Lighting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Kitchen-Lighting.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Kitchen-Lighting-120x300.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Light a Kitchen The kitchen is the focal point of the home. It is where family and friends get together and spend most of their waking hours. Kitchens are often the key to selling your home and can also add value if done right. It is for these reasons why learning how to light a kitchen effectively is critically important. There are so many options when it comes to kitchen lighting. This article is not about which light fixtures in particular to choose because that is really a personal decorative choice for you. I will take you through <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2994,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"modified_by":"The Tutor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2991"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2991"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3831,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2991\/revisions\/3831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightingtutor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}