{"id":20114,"date":"2014-06-04T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2014-06-04T09:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/?p=20114"},"modified":"2022-08-31T17:18:18","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T16:18:18","slug":"maximise-your-kitchen-lighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/maximise-your-kitchen-lighting","title":{"rendered":"How to maximise your kitchen lighting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Time was when your kitchen\u2019s lighting would have consisted of a fluoro strip overhead and maybe a few halogen bars under the cupboards if you were lucky, giving most food an eerie yellow tinge. Fine for sweetcorn-based diets but not much else. Thankfully, things have moved on a bit and now the lighting you choose for your design can be considered almost as important as the kitchen\u2019s doors or worktops, both in terms of practicality and good looks. The best lighting schemes not only make it easier to see what you\u2019re doing while you prepare food and cook, they also help you to find what you\u2019re looking for inside cabinets, add layers of atmosphere and highlight beautiful details. What\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s what inside that counts<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How many times have you rummaged around at the back of a cupboard or drawer, trying to find the one pan or lid that might not be there? Good internal storage is key but so is an effective light source. The latest pull-outs come with optional LEDs that switch on as you open the drawer, so you can see what\u2019s inside at a glance. Then simply close to turn them off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"kitchen<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image Source: Nolte Kitchens <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brighten up your cooking with LED strips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The other practical place to put kitchen lighting is in a position where it shines on your worktops \u2013 and here\u2019s where LED strips below shelving and undercabinet solutions come into their own. It\u2019s easy to think of this kind of lighting as extra but it\u2019s actually essential \u2013 relying on ceiling spotlights may mean you end up trying to prepare food in your own shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image Source: Stuart Frazer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a space without any shelving or cabinets, a glass splashback with lights behind it is also a good option. They can be used to highlight the glass itself to create a decorative feature too, drawing attention to it if it\u2019s crackled, multi-coloured or a bespoke design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"kitchen<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image Source: Stewart Carr design Ltd<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n