The right kitchen lighting can elevate your industrial design. Read on to learn more about the various types of lighting and how to choose the best ones for your space.
Flush mount lights sit flush on the ceiling and are popular for kitchens with medium-height ceilings. These light fixtures are often simplistic with a round or square design.
Identify Your Lighting Needs
Many people consider their lighting needs a single type of fixture, such as a chandelier or pendant. However, the reality is that your space requires a variety of different types of fixtures to create the right mood and functionality.
Identifying your industrial kitchen lighting Kansas City needs begins with determining how much natural light you get and what areas in your home are used for specific tasks. For instance, task lighting is necessary for kitchens to help you work safely and efficiently. This can be done with recessed lighting in the pantry or above the kitchen island, LED strips, and even hanging lights.
Additionally, it’s important to determine how many lights you want on one circuit so you don’t overload it. This can result in lights not working properly or causing electrical issues that may be dangerous. A qualified electrician can help you with this, but you can also find helpful online resources that explain how to calculate circuit capacity.
Plan Your Lighting Layout
Identifying your lighting needs and determining what fixtures you want in your space will help you develop a comprehensive plan. Start by listing the activities you’ll be doing in your kitchen, and then consider any features you want to highlight.
Ideally, you’ll use recessed lights as the foundation of your lighting scheme since they provide the most even light distribution. You can easily plan out a grid of these fixtures by dividing the ceiling height by two and using this as your spacing guide.
You may also add accent lighting to accentuate certain aspects of your room, like storage cabinets, a special work of art, or the fireplace mantle. These can be accomplished with pendants, surface-mounted fixtures, or wall sconces. They’re a great way to add style and function to your kitchen. Often, these are also on dimmers, giving you the option of changing the mood with just a flick of a switch.
Choose the Right Fixtures
Whether you use your kitchen for cooking, dining, or entertaining, the right lighting design will ensure your space feels functional and visually appealing. The type of fixture you choose influences style, while the bulbs you select affect functionality and brightness.
When selecting your fixtures, pay special attention to lumens — the unit of measurement that indicates how bright a bulb is — and color temperature. Cooler-colored lighting — 3000 to 4000 Kelvin — provides adequate task lighting and complements a clean, contemporary aesthetic, while warmer-toned fixtures — 2000 to 3000 Kelvin — create a cozy, inviting atmosphere and are best used over dining tables.
Be sure to measure your ceiling height accurately when shopping for light fixtures, especially when purchasing pendants or chandeliers. The height of your ceiling will determine the distance you should leave between each fixture and the surface above it. For example, if you have an 8-foot ceiling, aim for pendants 12 inches narrower than the height of the countertop or table.
Install the Lights
The best industrial kitchens value raw materials and simple forms, but they’ll look dull without proper lighting. Adding the right light fixtures will highlight these natural elements and make your entire space feel brighter.
Consider lighting that blends in with the rest of your room’s décor. For instance, wall lights are a great way to illuminate your walls while staying true to the kitchen style. They’re available in various colors and styles so that you can find the perfect match for your space.
If you have a high ceiling, installing recessed lights instead of chandeliers and long pendants may be necessary. This type of light is also more energy-efficient, saving you money even if you use your kitchen all day.