The basics of kitchen lighting
The kitchen should be a bright and well-lit place. We know however, that choosing the best light source is not as easy as it may seem. This is why we decided to help you and gather some basic practical information concerning this subject. The effects of our work can be found below.
The kitchen should have a general upper light, as well as spot light, also referred to in terms of directional light or task light, that will provide light for places in which you perform your everyday tasks. On the ceiling you can hang a lamp, a chandelier or halogen lamps using special steel ropes or rails. This is a good solution, provided that the distribution of bulbs is well-planned and they have light diffusing fittings. The spotlight should focus the light on a chosen spot. The light shouldn’t be blinding, but the power should be significantly higher compared to the upper light.
What should be avoided when it comes to kitchen lighting? For general upper light, it is not recommended to use lamp bowls that block the light. Such solution will not provide enough light for the interior. The spot lights should not be installed directly above the head, because eventually instead of well-lit space, you will end up with a shade over your worktop. Instead, you can choose halogen lamps and install them under the cupboards. Installing them in the ceiling over the upper cupboards makes no sense because this too will cast a shadow over the worktop. We also recommend to avoid colorful lighting fixtures because they will falsify the colour of food products.
Colour, shape and material of light fixtures is of no lesser importance. Those made of opaque materials block the light and focus it on one point, therefore they are inappropriate for providing light for the whole interior. In order to brighten the kitchen, it is best to use open and transparent lampshades, which perfectly diffuse the light. If you would rather avoid sharp shadows and soft and delicate effect is what you are after, choose lampshades that direct the light onto the wall or ceiling.
The last issue we would like to discuss is the source of light. Traditional bulbs provide warm light with a yellowish tone. They are cheap, have different shapes and require different ranges of power supply. However, they will not provide strong light, they wear down very quickly and make regulation of the angle of incidence impossible. Halogens, on the other hand, provide bright, strong light of relatively high intensity. They have longer lifespan, they do not change colours and the angle of incidence can be modified. They are perfect for general upper lighting as well as for spot /task lighting. Then there are also Compact Fluorescent Lamps, which emit both warm and cold light. They are very bright, do not falsify colours and use about 80% less energy compared to traditional bulbs.
