As lighting technology becomes more sophisticated each year, it’s no surprise that cabinet light is a kitchen trend that is now more popular than ever. Integrated cabinet light sets a mood by adding splashes of warmth to the backsplash, counter surface, interior shelves, and even the floor. But arguably the most important reason to install cabinet lighting goes beyond appearances: a fully lit kitchen makes food prep much safer. Between slicing ingredients and arranging sharp cutlery, skipping out on quality task lighting results in a dimly lit work space which exposes the chef to a greater risk of injury.
Interested in modern kitchen lighting but not sure where to start? Here are some things to consider:
Placement of Cabinet Lighting
Cabinet lighting can be installed in several different areas:
Beneath Cabinets: This is probably the most common way to include cabinet lighting within the kitchen. As mentioned earlier, food prep is always safer on a well-lit counter space. Cabinets naturally cast shadows on the countertop, even when overhead lights are turned on. You can help make sure your fingertips stay intact by choosing the best under-cabinet lighting for your kitchen surfaces.
Inside Cabinets: Inner cabinet light is great for display. Within a glass front cabinet or an open shelf, that statement glassware looks especially beautiful with well-placed lighting inside. Inner light also doubles as a practical solution, making it easier to see the whole shelf. When every corner is lit, even dishes at the back are easy to find.
Toe Kick: Integrated toe kick lighting is a modern kitchen trend increasing in popularity as of late. Typically installed around the cabinet perimeter, this can create an ethereal glow in warmer tones or make for an especially bold look should you choose an uncommon color (read on for more tips on light temperature).
Fully Integrated Vs. Retrofit
Retrofit kitchen cabinet lights are installed after the cabinet is assembled. Commonly seen with custom millwork jobs, this can leave unsightly wires visible. In contrast, fully integrated cabinet light is installed at the same time the cabinet is built. This allows the lighting to be mounted into cabinets seamlessly. German kitchen engineers are quite skilled at integrating lights fully into the cabinetry.
Constant Vs. Dynamic
Certain situations may require dimmed lighting in the kitchen. You can create a mood for a romantic dinner or party by adjusting the brightness of dynamic light. Or maybe you just want to avoid waking the entire house at night! Constant lighting, on the other hand, is at a fixed brightness. It’s either on or off- no in between.
Light Temperature
Another great advantage to customized cabinet lighting is the ability to select the color temperature of your kitchen light. European kitchens typically use LED lighting because of its efficient energy usage. The cool tone of fluorescent light is a popular choice in Europe, but Americans tend to prefer the warmth of incandescent light. Some of the more innovative kitchen brands now offer the choice of light temperature.
Nobilia kitchens are particularly unique in their various light temperature options. The dynamic tone of cabinet light is controlled by the user on a spectrum between warm white and a cool blueish white. This is referred to as “emotion technology.” For an even more dramatic effect, Nobilia includes options for blue, green, yellow, and red kitchen light.
Types of Cabinet Lighting Fixtures
Lastly, the type of fixture is a very important choice for kitchen light. Lighting fixtures can be categorized into two main shapes: puck and liner.
Linear: Long, thin linear cabinet light is very popular because it provides even, well-distributed task lighting for the surface below. Integrated strip lighting is often installed on the cabinet underside, either in a non-intrusive outer fixture or a translucent panel, where the interior light shines through the bottom of the cabinet. The Leicht “Ambience” cupboard light system offers a glare-free option that can be easily fit within the interior shelf frame.
Puck: Puck light fixtures are a great choice for creating ambient light. The shape of each puck light can be round or squared. Installing puck light fixtures creates pools of light throughout the kitchen, which adds depth to shadowy areas like interior cabinets.
Hopefully this information shines more light on the options available for your kitchen. There is no right answer when it comes to cabinet light choices, as these decisions are ultimately a matter of preference. An experienced kitchen designer can help point you in the right direction, helping make sure your kitchen cabinetry is both safely lit and on-trend.