Therefore, if you are reforming your apartment or decorating a new one, it would not hurt to take a look at certain kitchen lighting tips that can give you an idea to get the most out of it and make it as comfortable as possible to enjoy it as you deserve.

Tips and ideas for better lighting of your kitchen

The lighting of a kitchen plays a totally relevant role to get the perfect space to cook and spend the activities that, every day, we do in it.

No matter the size it has, nor its distribution or its design, a simple change in a point of light can totally modify the environment, aesthetics and functionality.

As a starting point, experts in kitchen lighting recommend being very clear about what its use will be, since it will not be the same to raise the light in one in which you only think about cooking, than another in which other activities will be developed, such as eating, having a relaxed coffee or, If you have children, they may like to do their homework and drawings there.

All this logic that we can all understand still does not solve the problem of how to light the kitchen, so let’s gather a series of tips and ideas that you can take into account to make the best decision. Started?

General notions to know how to light a kitchen

Let’s see first what the experts say about how the lighting of a kitchen should be:

• The light of a kitchen in work areas (taps, cooking zones or countertop) should be cold with about 3700 – 4000 K, and with a CRI (color rendering index) of at least 98%. In this way, the necessary comfort to work will be achieved and a good representation of the colors of the food that is handled is obtained.
• The best way to plan the lighting design of modern, or old, kitchens is to divide their different areas based on their operability. For this, the recommendation is the use of cold lights for work and warm areas (natural light, decorative lamps, lighting in showcases …) for those intended for enjoyment.

General lighting of a kitchen

For the general lighting of a kitchen, it is normal to design with a constant and uniform light.

To do this, forget the old fluorescent of our parents’ houses and bet on recessed spotlights (the so-called downlights), distributed by the ceiling, and that have a good focal aperture (a minimum of 60º), since in this way they have a better light expansion.

The recommendation is that one be placed every square meter.

Spot light in the kitchen

The food handling areas have to look good, they are the ones you are going to use the most and, therefore, more light level and less shadows should have. It is best to use white or neutral lights that have between 4000 and 4500 K of intensity.

A good idea will be to install LED strips “under furniture”, since their lighting meets these requirements and, in addition, they are protected against splashes by their IP.

Adjustable recessed spotlights can also be installed, if furniture is not available in these work areas.

Ambient lighting

There are many original and modern ideas in ambient lighting of kitchens that can be taken into account. And one of them is the use of LEDs in different areas, such as showcases, under furniture, or upper areas.

In addition to providing comfortable lighting, they are low consumption and do not give off heat at all.

The chandeliers, or ceiling baseboards, offer softened lights, perfect for indirect lighting and giving great ambient warmth. You can put them in those decorative places or that you want to highlight, or in that area destined to your special corner, where you can enjoy relaxing daily.

What about the kitchen table?

To enjoy a good meal, nothing better than natural light, but at night you must have dim lighting and sufficient light capacity.

Ceiling lamps perfectly comply with all this, and if they are between 2700 and 3000 K, they will give the perfect color temperature. If you choose this option, remember that its height has to be adequate so as not to dazzle diners.

Finally, let us give you one last notion about kitchen lighting.

The degrees Kelvin (K), to which we have made so many references in this article, are very important, and they are what determine the type of color that a point of light has. Up to 2700, they are considered warm lights (they tend to yellow), to be used in ambient lights or in the office. While the cold ones are those that exceed 4000 and tend to bluish tones.

These are best for work zones. We hope we have contributed to you creating the best environment for you and yours in your kitchen.