Lighting for the Kitchen: Tips and Recommendations

The kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but also for dining. In order for the space to be convenient, the lighting should be multi-level, zoned, and bright enough. Before ordering a kitchen project, it is important to carefully consider the lighting down to the smallest details.

Basic Principles of Kitchen Lighting

During daylight hours, it is best to use natural lighting as much as possible and only add artificial light if necessary. This is especially important for ground floors in multi-story buildings, where windows may need to be closed at times. Keep in mind that light-colored furniture and walls reflect up to 80% of the light, while dark materials absorb up to 88%, requiring an increase in the brightness of lighting fixtures.

When choosing lighting fixtures and their placement, please consider the following points:

• The overall illumination of the kitchen should be at least 150 lux or 150 lumens per square meter.
• If using zoned lighting, this measurement should be calculated separately for each zone, with a lower level being acceptable for the dining area.
• To evenly distribute light, lighting fixtures should be placed at multiple levels.
• It is better to use lamps of the same type and with the same color temperature for different zones and levels (LED, halogen, or fluorescent).
• Minimalist light fixtures are easier to clean and maintain.
• Install light fixtures at least 60 cm away from water sources, and use moisture-resistant models near the sink.
• A light fixture with adjustable brightness would be a great solution for the kitchen.

General Lighting

During the day, natural light can provide general lighting, but if there is not enough, the used area is also lit up. In a small kitchen, one ceiling fixture in the center is often enough, although adding spotlights also helps. If the kitchen space is elongated and narrow, a row of pendant lights can be used instead of one ceiling fixture.

Spot lighting can complement or even replace a chandelier. Popular options:

• Perimeter lighting;
• Two rows of fixtures at a short distance from the walls;
• Fixtures around the chandelier in the shape of the kitchen space;
• Placement of fixtures in a multi-level ceiling;
• Even distribution across the area, in rows or in a checkerboard pattern.

Work Zone

The workplace needs functional lighting. Usually, these are fixtures under hanging cabinets. If the cabinets are too high, lighting can be placed on the apron, using swivel spotlights, sconces, or linear fixtures on rails – especially relevant in modern interiors. Surface mounted fixtures are easier to install than recessed ones and can be mounted at the junction of the cabinet and apron, closer to the facade or in the middle. The least amount of shadows is given by lighting that is closer to the edge.

Under the cabinets you can install:
• Round spotlights;
• Tube or linear luminaires;
• LED strip;
• Small swivel luminaires.
Linear fixtures and LED strips provide uniform lighting, while spotlights allow for directing light to the desired location.

Dining Area

The optimal height of the luminaire above the table is about 60 cm to illuminate the entire surface. If the table is in the center, pendant lights with adjustable hanging length are an excellent solution: during meals, they can be lowered for a cozier atmosphere, and when needed, raised for general lighting.

Lighting options:

• Suspended lights above the table;
• Mid-level wall sconces directed downwards if the table is located near the wall;
• Track system suitable for modern interiors;
• Spotlights along the perimeter of the drywall structure above the table.

Additional lighting

To create accents in the interior of the kitchen, you can add decorative lighting. This can be furniture lighting or colored LED strip.

You can accentuate:

• Niches with decorative elements;
• Furniture fronts, attaching ribbon at the base or under the countertop;
• Glass elements of furniture, illuminating them from the inside – matte or stained glass looks especially impressive.
Additional lighting can also be functional: built-in lights make it easier to find things in cabinets, and lighting for the stovetop can be conveniently mounted in the range hood.

Organizing the lighting requires an individual approach to each functional area of the kitchen, using lights of different sizes and brightness, located at different heights. In addition to the main lighting, decorative accents create an atmosphere, but it is important not to overload the space. It is best to plan the lighting at the stage of kitchen design, when the arrangement of furniture and functional areas has already been thought out.

Nova Tech specializes in creating custom kitchen furniture. We design kitchens, combining ergonomics, functionality, and style, so that each detail serves as an important element of the interior, regardless of its features.