Kitchen Lighting Design Tips

The lighting in your kitchen needs to be both functional and mood-setting. Here are some tips for creating a well-lit, cheerful spot.

1. Overhead lighting pours light over the entire room. Ceiling-mounted fixtures, track lights, and recessed cans provide good overall illumination. Scatter fixtures throughout the kitchen so they pool light where you need it most: over the sink, near the oven, and on countertops.
2. Windows and skylights bring natural light inside. Install curtains or blinds so you can control the amount of light coming in. Windows also give a view of the outdoors, which can be pleasant when you're rolling out dough, chopping veggies, or washing dishes.
3. Task lighting, such as small pendants or individual recessed cans over an island or sink, throws a spotlight on the work at hand. Pendant lights can be ornamental as well as practical. Recessed cans with eyeball trims can direct light to specific areas.
4. Undercabinet lights function as task lighting for the countertop. Low-voltage halogen "hockey puck" lights or rope lights can be hidden in the undercabinet recess; track lights also work. An inexpensive option uses slim fluorescent fixtures; be sure to install warm-white bulbs for a more natural look.
5. In-cabinet lights show off the contents of glass-door cabinets -- usually pretty dishes and glassware. These lights keep glass-door cabinets from looking like black holes and make the whole kitchen glow.
6. Side lighting is the most commonly ignored type. Wall sconces that diffuse light outward can eliminate harsh shadows from ceiling fixtures and provide flattering light.
7. Ambient lighting, produced by fixtures in the soffit or above upper cabinets, creates a rich glow. Ambient lighting can highlight a striking ceiling treatment or merely supplement the main overhead lighting.
8. Dimmer switches are a must for kitchen fixtures. At suppertime, keep them bright to ward off the darkness outside. At night, when the kitchen is not in use, lower them for ambience -- and to guide children looking for a glass of water.