How to Properly Light Your Kitchen Counters

One of the best parts of redesigning a kitchen is getting to start with a completely blank slate. Whether you’re a fan of a dark and moody aesthetic or prefer a bright and modern kitchen, you get to piece together the different elements that bring your vision to life. From cabinets and floorings to fixtures and countertops, there are a lot of decisions to be made. If you don’t select the right type of kitchen lighting, you may be doing yourself a disservice! Not only do you need ample lighting to showcase your beautiful new countertops, but you need adequate lighting to create a safe and functional space. Follow these design techniques to properly light your kitchen counters.

Illuminate Your Countertops

When determining where your light fixtures should be installed, many homeowners mistakenly illuminate the aisles of the kitchen instead of functional workspaces such as your countertops, stove, and sinks. Because these areas of your kitchen are where you will be spending the majority of your time preparing tasty meals for your family, you need the proper amount of lighting. Without it, you may have difficulty seeing what you’re doing which can lead to safety issues.

To avoid creating harsh shadows with your kitchen lighting, we recommend installing recessed lighting directly over the center of your countertops. This might mean your lighting should be installed in the ceiling, while in other instances you may opt to install recessed lighting underneath your cabinets. Focus on illuminating the prep areas that will be used more frequently, as well as lighting up the perimeter of the kitchen. With the adequate placement of your lighting, you’ll be able to see what you’re doing at your work without worrying about dark spots impeding your meal prep.

Avoid Creating Shadows

Even with a moody aesthetic, you don’t want to create unnecessary shadows in your kitchen because of poorly placed lighting fixtures. If you originally planned to have a few recessed lights throughout the kitchen to illuminate the countertops, you may want to consider switching up your plan. Instead of utilizing a few large light fixtures, rely on a higher number of smaller light fixtures to provide more even lighting across your counters. By incorporating a few additional recessed downlights along the ceiling, you’ll create a functional, comfortable, and well-lit space with minimal shadows.

Install Lights Under Shelves or Cabinets

For mood lighting or practical lighting, one of our favorite places to install recessed lighting underneath your cabinets or open shelving. By incorporating a line of recessed lights, you can have peace of mind knowing that your countertops are illuminated. Not only will this make it easier for you to meal prep, but will allow you to highlight different appliances or other elements placed on your counters for decoration. Depending on your lighting needs, you may even consider installing strips of lights instead of recessed lights. This allows for an even distribution of light along your counters.

Light Up Your Kitchen’s Workspaces

Safety is key when it comes to your kitchen. With so many people moving in and out of the space, you need to set it up for success. Without adequate lighting to properly light your kitchen counters, you may find yourself in danger of getting hurt from a variety of sharp kitchen tools. Whether you’re prepping food with sharp knives or handwashing kitchen tools in the sink, you shouldn’t be relying on a single recessed light overhead to provide you with the lighting you need. Instead, opt for multiple recessed lights or larger light fixtures over top of your kitchen workspaces, including your range, counters, or sink. By doing so, you’ll be making it much safer for you and your family to work together in the kitchen to prepare your meals.

Add Mood Lighting with Dimmers

Take your kitchen lighting to the next level by installing dimmer switches! For an affordable price point, you’ll be able to create an elevated space that suits whatever mood you’re in. When you’re prepping a meal in the kitchen and need ample illumination on the counters, you can have the dimmers turned up. However, once you’re sitting down to enjoy a home-cooked meal, you may prefer to sit in a relaxing environment. There’s no easier way to create a comfortable and relaxing mood than by dimming your kitchen lighting! Whatever mood you’re in, you’ll be able to adjust the lights to deliver the ideal amount of lighting to your kitchen. From full illumination to having the lights turned down very low, you have complete control of the brightness in the space.

Don’t Ignore the Island

While planning where your kitchen lighting is going, you need to make sure you don’t forget about illuminating your kitchen island. Because we recommended moving your lighting from the kitchen’s aisles to over the top of the countertops, you’ll need to consider installing recessed lighting or statement fixtures above your island to ensure it also receives adequate lighting. If forgotten, you’ll lose out on the abundance of extra counter space your island provides because you won’t be able to safely prepare your meals in the shadows or darkness of the island. However, if you decide on statement fixtures over recessed lighting for your kitchen island, you need to make sure they are both attractive and functional. It can be easy to choose a statement fixture that looks the part but doesn’t live up to its end of the deal and provide you with the amount of light you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What height should lighting be above the kitchen island?

You need to be mindful of the distance between the kitchen lights and the island — if they hang too low they can make the space feel much smaller than it is. The ideal distance from the countertops to the bottom of the light fixture is about 30 – 36 inches.

What is the best light for your kitchen?

The ideal lighting for your kitchen is dependent on your desired aesthetic. If your space utilizes recessed lighting, opt for incandescent lighting that offers a soft, warm yellowish glow. When you prefer cool tones over warm tones, you may want to consider halogen lights which provide a crisp white illumination — perfect for task lighting.

How much lighting is needed in a kitchen?

The size of the room will determine how much lighting is needed. The recommended amount of light for a standard room is 10 – 20 lumens per square foot. However, a kitchen requires more lighting because of the various work areas that need to be illuminated. The kitchen requires 70 – 80 lumens per square foot.

Are LED lights good for a kitchen?

Yes, LED lights not only provide ample illumination in your kitchen, but they also offer greater energy efficiency. This means you’ll receive adequate lighting while lowering your electric bill.