Elevate Your Kitchen’s Ambiance with LED Strip Lights

Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s where you create countless family memories ? from family game nights to creating culinary delights. But without proper lighting in your kitchen, you may find that it’s lacking in both functionality and ambiance. You can easily elevate your kitchen’s illumination by integrating LED strip lights in a variety of ways. The best part? You can completely customize their look and feel to meet your own specific needs and goals.

If you’re not sure where to start with LED strip lighting installation, there’s no need to worry. The team at Kitchen Cabinet Kings has put together a list of our favorite creative ways to enhance your kitchen’s lighting, factoring in practicality and design.

In-Cabinet Lighting

Do you ever find yourself grabbing a glass of water in the middle of the night, only to be fumbling through the kitchen cabinets because you refuse to turn on the kitchen lights? If this sounds like you (or you’re just looking to add beautiful lighting to your cabinets!) consider installing in-cabinet LED lighting. By strategically placing LED strip lights within your kitchen cabinets, you can not only provide ample illumination but showcase your favorite kitchen items like wine glasses, dishes, and decorative items. You can place the LED strips horizontally on each shelf or run the strips up the interior of the cabinet in a vertical line. You may even want to consider installing dimmers to the LED strips which will allow you to easily adapt them to your needs in any particular moment.

Illuminate the Open Shelves

One of our favorite concepts for modern kitchens is the use of beautiful, open shelving in place of traditional cabinets. If your kitchen has modern open shelving, consider adding LED strip lighting to the shelves to create a one-of-a-mind focal point within your space. The strip lighting can be installed in a variety of ways, including underneath or on top of the open shelving ? both giving off different aesthetics, allowing you to customize the lighting to your desired look and feel. The discreet placement of LED strip lights to your open shelving adds an element of subtle sophistication, helping you find the perfect balance of functionality for task lighting and visual appeal.

Above-Cabinet Lighting

One of the best things about LED strip lights is their versatility and ability to be installed in a variety of areas throughout the kitchen. An easy way to add some flare and sophistication to your kitchen is to install strip lighting above your kitchen cabinets so they illuminate up, giving off a beautiful glow. By doing so, you’ll create a soft, diffused glow above your overhead cabinets that can be used alongside your normal kitchen lighting or on its own. This area of the kitchen is often untouched and neglected and adding above-cabinet LED lighting to this area can transform this neglected area into a stylish focal point that helps enhance the look and feel of the space.

Under-Cabinet Lighting

Similar (but opposite!) to above-cabinet lighting, you may decide to install LED strip lights underneath your upper kitchen cabinets. Personally, cabinet down-lighting is one of our favorite options for a kitchen because it not only provides beauty but provides functional task lighting as well. The undercabinet lighting can offer the ideal nighttime illumination when you don’t want your overhead lights on, additional task lighting when you’re prepping dinner for the family, or a sophisticated focal point. You can even consider opting for LED strip lights that offer various color options so you can change the look and feel of the lighting based on your mood!

In-Drawer Lighting

This may come as a surprise, but another place that can be helpful to add LED strip lights is in your kitchen drawers. Installing strip lighting inside of your drawers is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It can increase the visibility of your drawers, especially deep drawers that you’re constantly searching through for your essential kitchen items. The lights won’t be on all the time but automatically turn on when the specific drawer is opened ? both effective and helping to keep your energy costs down.

Floor Cabinet Lights

Another great way to integrate LED strip lighting into your kitchen design is to install it underneath your lower kitchen cabinets along the toe kick. By doing so, you’ll create a magnificent enchanting glow around the entire base of your kitchen ? which pairs beautifully with LED strip lighting along the underside of your kitchen cabinets. Floor cabinet LED lighting is less about functionality and more about elevating the appearance of the space, however, it does make a great option as a nightlight in your kitchen when all the other lights are turned off. Whether you want to pair the floor cabinet lighting with the rest of your kitchen’s illumination to create a well-lit space, or you want a way to add subdued lighting to change the ambiance, this is the ideal lighting solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color temperature should I use for my kitchen LED strip lights?

When purchasing LED strip lights for your kitchen, you will want to make sure you choose the correct color temperature that matches your space’s existing ambiance. Warmer temperatures can create an inviting atmosphere, while cooler temperatures can create a more energizing feel. We recommend choosing a color temperature that pairs well with the existing mood and color temperature.

Can LED strip lights be dimmed?

Not all LED strips are dimmable but most are. When purchasing your strip lighting, look at a variety of customizable options such as dimming and color changing. This will allow for different moods in your kitchen.

Should LED strip lights be used in areas with limited ventilation?

If you are planning to install LED strip lighting in your kitchen, you want to be mindful of where it is being installed. While it is fine to be installed in most places, you should avoid planning it directly above or next to high-heat areas. Avoid placing it directly over the top of your stovetop or under your oven to ensure longevity and optimal functionality.

How long do LED strip lights typically last?

The last thing you want to deal with is LED lights that go out shortly after being installed. No one wants to spend their free time re-installing strip lighting. Luckily, LED strip lights have a long lifespan and, on average, will last anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 hours of continuous use.