Lighting Advice From The Experts At Ferguson

As the heart of the home, the kitchen is a space that needs to be fashionable, welcoming, and properly illuminated. Kitchen lighting is one of the few opportunities to deliver a clear style and a bit of personality into the room. Look for pieces that will stand out in the space.

Kitchen lighting doesn't have to sacrifice style. Consider lining up a large, rectangular light fixture over a kitchen island or lining up a trio of pendant lights above a bar area. In fact, a kitchen island lighting fixture is a great way to infuse a pop of style and color in a room that can otherwise be challenging to decorate because it is so functional.

For members of the home that enjoy midnight snacks, consider adding under-cabinet lighting to your kitchen design. These lights can help brighten up areas that are typically in the shadows of the upper cabinets.

Many dining room light ideas are compatible for use with dimmers, making chandeliers or pendant lights adjustable for different times of the day or occasions. Wall sconces are another popular dining room lighting solution, especially in more traditional homes. Updates for more modern features are often just a matter of switching in the new fixture and can be a quick job with a high impact.

As you complete your interior lighting design, take into consideration the sight lines of the home. With open floor plans, it's essential that all the different lights featured within the same sight lines look cohesive in finish, material, and overall design style.

With such a vast selection of lights for your rooms available, it's easy to find interior lights for homes of any size and design. Make the interior lighting design a reflection of your client’s style and the lights in the room will become a focal point of the overall design.

Which Types of Kitchen Lights to Choose

There are many different styles of kitchen lighting to choose from, ranging from utilitarian under-cabinet lighting to statement-making island lights. Evaluate the kitchen at various times of day to determine the lighting needs and select fixtures designed to provide both fashion and function to the space.

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights are a versatile choice for illuminating any kitchen. They range in size and direct light down on the space below. A single pendant light can hang above the kitchen sink, or can be lined up in multiples down the length of a countertop.

Ceiling Lights

Casual, eat-in dining areas with low ceilings become a bright place to gather when topped with ceiling lights.

Island Lighting

The island is the focal point of the kitchen, especially when properly illuminated with island lighting. If the kitchen is short on storage space, lighted pot racks can provide an excellent alternative, combining pot storage with necessary lighting.

Chandeliers

Create a glamorous focal point over an eat-in dining table. A chandelier that coordinates with the rest of the kitchen lighting will help tie the look of a kitchen and dining room together in an open floor plan home.

Fluorescent Lighting

When it comes to spreading bright light across a space, fluorescent lighting makes a traditional choice.

Under-Cabinet Lighting

Prepping meals safely is easier when you install under-cabinet lighting. These low-profile lights hide from view when they are not in use and are often battery-operated for a wire-free design.

Track Lighting

Direct light in multiple places by installing track lighting. Each of the lights supported on these tracks is easy to position, allowing you to point the light where it is needed the most.

Wall Lighting

Bring layers of light around the space by installing wall lighting that casts light up or down on the wall for added ambiance. 

Recessed Lighting

Add unobtrusive light over every work area in the kitchen by installing recessed lighting. Recessed lights over the stove, sink, island, and dining area provide the brightness needed for safe cooking and prepping.

Kitchen Ceiling Fans

Illuminate the kitchen and help to keep the space cool by installing a kitchen ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can also help to move air around the space, keeping the room smelling fresh and helping to eliminate strong food smells.

Tips for Selecting Stylish Kitchen Lighting

Once the type of lights needed for the kitchen is determined, narrow down the available selections to the perfect lighting fixture by taking into consideration a couple of key features. Evaluate the overall design style of the kitchen and surrounding rooms and select a fixture that speaks to that aesthetic. The size and finish should be appropriate for the space. To keep operating costs and the overall carbon footprint of the home as low as possible, select an energy-efficient fixture utilizing LED light bulbs.

 Fixture Factors

For a well-rounded lighting story, make sure to have a combination of bright task lighting and dim ambiance lighting.

• Size

• Style

• Finish

• Bulb Type

• Hanging Height

• Energy Efficiency

Look for fixtures with dimmers to get both functions in one design. With so many different styles and types of kitchen lighting fixtures to choose from, it is easy to find the ones that elevate the design of your space.

 For more great lighting advice from our friends at Ferguson visit Build.com