The kitchen serves as the heart of the home – a centrally-located place where everyone can converge and relax and share meals together. Kitchens nowadays serve more than one purpose; they are places where family and friends can congregate, exchange stories, do some paperwork, and more. This is why the right lighting for the kitchen is essential – more essential, perhaps, than the other rooms in your home. So, whether you are planning to redecorate or refurbish your existing kitchen or are building a new kitchen from scratch, here’s how you can choose the best lighting for your kitchen.
Consider the functionality
First of all, think about functionality. Ask yourself what kind of lighting you need for your kitchen, and, more importantly, consider where you will place it. If, for example, you have a galley-style kitchen or a kitchen with a big middle island, then you may want to consider pendant lighting, which is ideal when placed above a kitchen island, or semi-flush mounted lighting, which works quite well with a galley-style kitchen.
Additionally, if you have a kitchen island, you probably use it for cooking, prepping, serving, and more. You can choose pendants for the space depending on its size, or you can also opt for a small chandelier placed directly above the island for a bit more illumination. Pendants can help you achieve your task lighting goal, and if you choose pendant lights with darker hues or shades, you can have the light directed downwards for enhanced focus. Here’s one more tip if you’re using pendant lighting: three is often the magic number, but if you have a smaller kitchen island, two could be a good choice too.
For lighting for your kitchen sink, you can choose a flush-mounted lighting fixture, whilst for an eating area in the kitchen, you can opt for a classic but straightforward statement pendant light or a chandelier such as those available from premier lighting suppliers like Diiiz.com.
Consider the design and style
When you have decided what kind of light to use and where to place it, it’s time to think about the proper design and style of the lighting. For instance, think of the light’s finish. The finish can make an impact on the overall style. A brass tone can add a bit of warmth to the space, and a shiny bronze finish can add precision and contrast. Polished nickel and chrome are also popular choices today, especially if you are aiming for a more contemporary, streamlined look for your kitchen.
You also have to think of the shade of the lighting, as the proper shade can complete the look of your lighting fixture. If you are going for something vintage, a schoolhouse shade is perfect, or if you want something more modern, sleek and geometric metal designs are a great option. If you wish, you can also go for fabric shades (they go best with an eating area), but make sure you don’t place them too close to the area where you do your cooking as the moisture and steam can affect the fabric. If you want brighter lighting, you can also go for glass shades which allow better light diffusion throughout the entire space. Good luck, and happy choosing!
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