Lighting is important in every room, there is no doubt. But in the kitchen, which is both a family meeting point, a place for preparing meals and a relaxation area, you cannot count on a single light point for all situations. Are you planning your new kitchen? Have you already thought about its future lighting?
If so, have you thought about how the light will illuminate the different areas, including those you need for all day-to-day tasks? If not, you should really spend some time on this so you don’t get bothered by too dim or too bright lighting or shadows getting in your way while you’re preparing your favorite dish! And then you do not want to leave a finger because of bad lighting conditions? Then read the 8 common mistakes in kitchen lighting instead and see how to avoid them.
1 – Light only the center of the kitchen
If you only illuminate the middle of your room by hanging a light source in the middle of your ceiling, don’t expect your worktop to be perfectly illuminated. On the contrary, there may not be enough light, or even shadows. Which is not practical for cooking efficiently with pleasure. Because the shadows reduce well-lit areas but they also tire the eyes more quickly.
Which solution ? On the one hand, you need a ceiling light that illuminates your entire kitchen. On the other hand, you need lighting in the place of preparation, often above the work surface and in the place of cooking. You can get help from a professional kitchen designer to establish the right locations. It will perfectly adapt your lighting to the configuration of your kitchen, in particular to the position of your worktop.
2 – Not considering the different areas of the room
It is important to choose the right lamps for each area: you need very bright light in the kitchen and the worktop area, while the dining area – if you have a central island for example, maybe a little more comfortable. Low-maintenance ceiling lights or built-in lamps are recommended for basic lighting. With swivel spotlights you are sure not to make any mistakes either.
3 – Mix the colors of lights
With LED light, it is particularly important to find the right “temperature” of light. And apply it everywhere in the kitchen. Because marrying more or less yellow light with more or less white light will create an absence of harmony in the room.
4 – Leave too big a gap between recessed spotlights
Are you sure you have installed your spotlights in the right places? It often happens that we realize a mistake after having made it! You thought your spots were well installed and then, wham, it seems to you that the distance between each is too great. This can create a weird effect on your countertop and end up straining your eyes. In absolute terms, it is necessary to count between 60 and 70 centimeters between each spot
5 – Do not worry about switches
Which switch for the kitchen? When planning your kitchen lighting, don’t forget your switches! Are your current switches sufficiently modern and, above all, functional? There are many ways to intelligently control your lighting these days. There are sensor switches: you just have to hold your hand 5 to 10 centimeters in front of the sensor and the light turns on. It’s perfect if you place a lot of importance on hygiene and an advantage if you enter the kitchen with a heavy load, because you can simply stand near the switch to turn on the light.
6 – Light an open kitchen like a classic kitchen
Indirect lighting is particularly important in open kitchens. This way the kitchen is subtly lit when not in use. For example, lines of LEDs on the cupboards, spotlights that illuminate the ceiling from the cupboards or mine backlit walls are perfect in an open kitchen.
7 – Do not dare design light sources
Complete your kitchen design with decorative lamps. Impressive suspensions create a unique atmosphere. The more expressive the design, the more “eye-catching” the personality of your kitchen. With lamps and lights, you can punctuate the decoration of your kitchen and refine its furnishings. A lamp in gray concrete look or black aluminum, for example, will go perfectly in a kitchen with an industrial style design. A lamp with a wooden look and made of light and natural materials, on the other hand, will be better suited to a Scandinavian-style kitchen.
8 – Choosing lighting that is too bright or over-illuminating
We are all sensitive to light. Ask anyone who works in an office with intense, bright lighting what effect it has on them: they will tell you that excessive lighting can cause headaches, nausea, anxiety and fatigue. So be sure to use multiple levels of lighting to give your kitchen a balanced atmosphere that is suitable for both preparing your meals and relaxing.