Good Kitchen Lighting: Aesthetics And Function In The Heart Of Your Home

The kitchen is one of the most visited rooms in a home. This makes good kitchen lighting crucial so that the overall feeling and aesthetics are both improved. The implementation of good lighting is now a popular project among homeowners, with some installing the systems all on their own. Sans the guidance of the electrician, though, you could end up with bigger problems in the future so why not choose from these kitchen lighting types with the electrician in tow?

Task Lighting – Purposeful Illumination

This is a directed light beam with the sole purpose of illuminating the operating areas in a kitchen. Task lighting is most useful in areas where vegetables, meat and other kinds of food are being chopped. It is equally useful in areas where ingredients are being measured and where utensils are being kept.

Illuminating areas such as those that are under the cabinet is a serious option that you should think about. This kind of lighting can significantly enhance the appearance of your kitchen while decreasing the possibility of accident occurrence.

Fluorescent and LED lighting are highly energy-efficient but if you want to achieve a great ambient glow in your kitchen, then ask the electrician to install halogen bulbs. Halogen’s glow is unmistakably elegant so use it where you want both task and ambient lighting.

An electrician is also trained to place lighting where they will not cast shadows or cause activity delays.

Ambient Lighting – Achieving a Unique Look and Feel

Ambient lighting, as the name suggests, is all about the proper utilization of light so that the ambiance is improved. This does not just improve ambiance, though, since this kind of lighting can also have major functions.

Accent Lighting – Giving Emphasis to Beauty

Accent lighting is chiefly used to highlight architectural features in the kitchen. This can also add an ideal depth and dimension to any kitchen. Breakables and collectibles are often highlighted by accent lighting. Even nook lighting or cabinet lighting can accentuate the elegance factor inside this room in your home.

Lighting Installation in a Nutshell

• The installation guidelines differ according to the location of the light as well as the type of fixture that will be used. A lot of under-cabinet lighting units are plug-in devices that can be easily used with an electrical socket. Ceiling fixtures can be wired directly to an electric control panel with its own circuit.
• Let’s use lighting fixture installation as an example. Next, locate the circuit if there has been no fixtures previously installed. Find out which circuit will be powering the bulb. Use a voltage tester to find out which wiring the fixture will be installed in. Have someone turn switches on and off as you do the tests. As soon as you determine the circuit location, mark the breaker there then turn it off. Have a label that instructs everyone to not turn on the breaker.
• As soon as the breaker has been turned off, check the wire once more using the voltage tester. This is the best way to make sure that no current is running through the exposed wiring. Remember that live wires are often deadly.
• Assemble the new lighting fixture according to the manufacturer’s directions. Connect it to the base of the ceiling using a screwdriver or drill. Connect like-colored wires together then use wire nuts to cap the project. Mount the new fixture to the hardware base or brace.
• Tighten all connections before powering up.

Kitchen lighting installation can be an easy task but just to make sure that safety is strictly observed, have a professional take on this job. The money that you save serves as an insurance of sorts since only quality work will be done.