Think about your perfect kitchen: you may have considered the cabinets, the appliances, worktops, flooring and colour scheme, but have you given much thought to lighting your kitchen?
Though it is something overlooked – we must say – when we are planning a new design, the thing is if we get it right, we’ll benefit from a brighter space which is a pleasure to work in.
Start at the beginning
Lighting is naturally space-enhancing and can make rooms of all shapes and sizes feel bigger and brighter. When it comes to lighting a new kitchen, firstly, we should plan ahead during the early stages of the design.
Take your time to consider your needs at this early stage and you can avoid mistakes, which would be costly to rectify later on. Wherever possible, try to budget as much for your kitchen lighting as you would your flooring. It’s just as important and can make or break a design.
Create zones
Consider each zone in the kitchen in turn and identify the best type of lighting for each area – directional and functional or dimmable to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Bouncing light off surfaces is also a good way of increasing light in the kitchen and the effect of lighting on glass or highly polished granite worktops can be awesome.
Plan
Lighting should not be fixed, but flexible enough to create a number of different effects, depending on the time of day or night and the mood you wish to create. Look at the room from different angles and at different times of the day. Effects can be achieved by using uplighters, downlights, spotlights, shelf lights and accent lights.
Decide if you want to hide the fittings or make a feature of them and discuss everything with your electrician and retailer well in advance of any decorative work. Technology is constantly changing, so ask what is available and shop around.
