| Basic lighting design guidelines always describe layering | | | | pattern and one that does not have a hard defined |
| light to achieve your desired effect. For the kitchen, | | | | beam pattern otherwise it will cast hard shadows, |
| this means combining general ambient lighting with | | | | which would make it a poor choice for a task light, |
| task lighting and accent lighting. Using energy efficient | | | | but excellent for accent lighting. PAR30 lights are |
| light bulbs you can transform the kitchen's aesthetics | | | | often used in recessed cans and can be found readily |
| as well as reduce the monthly energy bill. Using LED | | | | as LED bulbs. |
| (LED MR16 bulb emitting diode) light bulbs gives you | | | | Ambient Lighting |
| that energy efficiency and bulb options that compact | | | | Once the task lighting has been chosen, it is time to |
| fluorescent lights (CFLs) don't provide. | | | | choose the fixtures that will provide the ambient light. |
| In order for CFLs to last the life time rating printed | | | | Ambient light is the general light that is used for |
| on their packaging, they have to be left on at least | | | | casual activities in the kitchen. It fills in shadows, |
| 15 minutes at a time. If not they will burn out a much | | | | reduces contrast, and lights vertical surfaces to give |
| quicker rate. CFLs also need this time to warm up to | | | | a brighter feel. A kitchen with light colored surfaces |
| their full brightness. LED light bulbs on the other hand | | | | and lots of windows has a lot of ambient light during |
| turn on instantly, and do not need to be kept on to | | | | the day, but as soon as the sun sets the kitchen |
| keep their full rated run time (which is usually 50,000 | | | | must rely on fixtures that produce general lighting. |
| hours). | | | | If your current kitchen uses fluorescent tubes, they |
| Along with their long life and energy efficiency, LED | | | | can be replaced with tubes of LED bulbs. These LED |
| GU10 bulb also come in flood and spot light options. | | | | tubes last much longer. With an average of 50,000 |
| CFLs aren't able to produce focused light without | | | | hours, the rated lifetime equates to about 10 years |
| relying heavily on the fixture it is placed in to do the | | | | of usage if you calculate it being on 12 hours a day. |
| light focusing. With more bulb options, it is easier to | | | | This is especially great if you often neglect to change |
| get the lighting look that you want. | | | | your used fluorescent tubes, which consume |
| Start with the task areas. | | | | electricity even when burnt out. Choosing a warmer |
| Good kitchen lighting from a functional and decorative | | | | color temperature somewhere between 3000K and |
| aspect incorporates ambient lighting and task lighting. | | | | 5000K will produce a nice inviting light. |
| Task lighting is used to light up workspace areas such | | | | LED sconces are also a great way to add ambient |
| as the counters, sinks, and tabletops. The lighting | | | | lighting to the kitchen. Mounted to the wall, light is |
| should be bright and shadowless with the fixtures | | | | usually directed upwards, but some fixtures shine |
| mounted close to the task areas. Mounting lights to | | | | both up and down. They are generally mounted so |
| under the cabinets that sit over the kitchen counter | | | | that the center of the sconce is 5 feet 6 inches |
| is a great place to put some task lighting. LED options | | | | away from the floor. If you have space between the |
| include light bars and flexible LED strips that mount | | | | top of your cabinets and the ceiling, LED strips or |
| flush against the bottom of the cabinet keeping | | | | light bars can be used to bounce light off the ceiling |
| hidden, while providing useful task light, as well as light | | | | to add more general lighting. |
| to enhance the look of stone counter tops. | | | | Accent Lighting |
| In the cases where there are no overhead cabinets, | | | | Accent lighting is what gives your space that extra |
| such as the kitchen island, hanging pendant lights can | | | | dimension. It is used minimally to highlight certain |
| be used to bring light close to the work area. As a | | | | objects in the room adding to the elegance of the |
| general guideline, pendant down light should hang | | | | space. LED spotlights can be placed to direct light to |
| approximately 5 feet 6 inches off the floor (based on | | | | artwork, architectural details in the kitchen. LED bars |
| a 36-inch high kitchen island), and the kitchen dining | | | | or flexible LED strips can be embedded in display |
| area light should hang approximately 5 feet 4 inches | | | | cabinets to illuminate fine China, glassware or other |
| off the floor or between 30 to 36 inches from the | | | | collections. |
| table top. The fixture selected should also be 12 | | | | With proper down light, any old kitchen can be |
| inches narrower than the top of your table. If | | | | upgraded and transformed into not only a new |
| hanging lights are not possible, then light can be | | | | cooking space, but a central area of the house |
| projected from the ceiling using track or recessed | | | | where casual activities occur. Using LED GU10 bulb |
| lighting. | | | | with the upgrade will also benefit the environment |
| The most effective light bulbs for track or recessed | | | | and your pocket book. |
| fixtures are directional lamps that shine in a particular | | | | For more information about LED MR16 bulb and |
| direction. Many of these fixtures use MR16 type | | | | photos of some kitchen fixtures described in this |
| bulbs. Find an LED MR16 bulb that produces a flood | | | | article, refer to this site. |