SPOTLIGHT ON IDEAL KITCHEN LIGHTING PART 2

​Last week’s post introduced half of the most frequently asked questioned when deciding which light will work best in your dream home’s kitchen. The primary focus of this post is to shine light on ideal kitchen lights, including those under cabinets, and the replacement of fixtures.

The adorne™ Under-Cabinet Lighting System features plug in LED under-cabinet lights to make the dark places shine.

Which light bulbs are best for kitchens?

Making amazing meals and performing daily kitchen tasks is best done under light bulbs with a high CRI (Color Rendering Index).  Compact fluorescent light bulbs are ideal because of the variety of color temperatures and CRIs above 80 (natural sunlight has a CRI of 100). Specialty incandescent light bulbs with a high CRI are best for ovens.

People who love to cook tend to choose compact fluorescent light bulbs with a color temperature of 5000K because it shines a neutral light and they can still easily see the ingredients and food they are preparing. The temperature near stoves naturally heats up when it is in use, so using compact fluorescent light bulbs are ideal because they are energy efficient and therefore do not emit a lot of heat. LED light bulbs are also a good option since, like compact fluorescent light bulbs, they are available in a variety of color temperatures.

Which lights and bulbs are ideal for under the cabinet lighting?

When it comes to lighting for underneath your cabinets, don’t worry about the light’s actual appearance since it will more than likely be hidden. Instead, select based on function, illumination style and energy efficiency. Bar lights contain a row of individual lights so they work well because they are available in a variety of lengths to fit varying cabinet lengths.

Under cabinet bulbs are available in fluorescent, halogen, LED and Xenon. LED lights are most popular because the quality is as good as Xenon and once again, no heat is generated from them. Although they cost twice as much as Xenon bulbs (also known as high-intensity discharge HID lights), LEDs offer great light, low power and long life so they are worth the higher price-tag. Avoid using halogen lights in the kitchen because they produce a significant amount of heat and are fickle—small deposits of skin moisture on the bulb while being replaced can affect their performance.

How complicated is it to replace fixtures?

Replacing an existing fixture for a new one is an easy job for an electrician though it will cost $60 – $125 per hour depending on where you live.   If you or a family member is somewhat handy, try it as a DIY project. Newly purchased fixtures normally include mounting hardware and instructions.   A handy person can even convert a recessed light into a flush-mount, semiflush or a pendant with a recessed conversion kit.

If you want to install a hanging fixture where there is none, consider a swag, which has a long chain that you can hang on a hook. The cord plugs into a wall outlet; you can also find plug-in sconces that work on the same principle.

Article by: Jennifer Elkow