With the nights drawing in and winter firmly on its way, the spotlight is (quite literally) thrown onto the lighting in our homes.
Of course, how we illuminate our homes is all a matter of taste. Some like a light and bright home, lit centrally, whilst others prefer things a little cosier, by using lamps to bring softer light to more focused areas. With eco-friendly choices becoming more widely available, including energy-saving light bulbs and low energy LEDs, our domestic lighting has changed dramatically over the years.
Kitchens have hardly been the most inspiring of spaces when it comes to lighting. Back in the 70s and 80s, a powerful strip light would be the lighting of choice in the kitchen, which emitted a weirdly comforting “blink-blink” noise as it warmed up and turned on.
These days, there is a much wider range of options open to the modern homeowner when it comes to lighting your kitchen, with more emphasis on style rather than function. So, to give you some bright ideas, here are 6 great kitchen lighting ideas:
Spotlights
Task lighting, which provides additional lighting for areas of your kitchen where you prepare and cook food, is vital from a safety point of view, which is why spotlights are a very popular choice in modern kitchens.
With multiple bulbs arranged either around a central fixture or arranged in a linear fashion, it allows you to angle the light where you need it most and can be strategically positioned to illuminate kitchen work tops.
Spotlights also have the added bonus of producing a contemporary appearance and work brilliantly well with industrial style decor.
Wall lighting
Less harsh than direct, overhead kitchen lighting, and much more elegant, wall lights give you the option to illuminate different areas of your room as you see fit.
Perfect for kitchens with awkward layouts and for lighting up specific features such as wall art or a noticeboard, wall lamps come in all shapes and sizes and can really add character to your decor.
Kitchen cabinet lighting
Make a feature of your cabinets and kitchen worktops with undercounter strip lighting. This innovative and fairly new kitchen lighting option will really add a modern touch to your interiors. Designed with miniature LEDS embedded in a flexible tube, it can be wrapped around edges and cut to size (just don’t attempt that part once it’s wired to the mains!)
Cabinet lighting can be used to highlight features such as a Welsh dresser or simply to add ambient light, creating a glitzy, glamorous feel to your home – perfect for an evening entertaining dinner guests, or for throwing a girl’s only cocktail night!
Lighting with built-in extractor fan
Many kitchens suffer from a lack of ventilation, meaning simply frying a bit of bacon ends up setting the smoke detector off and cooking fish is a no-no (unless you want to smell like a trawlerman for the next couple of days!). Get rid of nasty niffs and putrid pongs with a cleverly designed light and extractor fan combination.
Downlights
For a contemporary, minimalist appearance, downlights are a great option. Downlights are positioned flush to your ceiling and can be positioned at predetermined intervals to provide a consistent light source. However, they can also be used to supplement your main lighting, for example, when you need more focus on your laminate worktop, for close up work.
Pendant kitchen lighting
If you have a kitchen diner, or a large, open plan kitchen, it may be worthwhile investing in a funky pendant light. Hanging above your eating area, it provides plenty of illumination for you and your family to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Well, they do say the first bite is with the eyes, so a well-lit dining table is essential.
However you choose to light your kitchen, there are more options than ever before, so feel free to express your own personality.