Kitchen lighting: how to do it right

Traditionally, in our country, the kitchen is not only a place where food is prepared, but also a place for eating and private gatherings. Therefore, lighting in the kitchen should be not only practical, but also beautiful and comfortable.

Principles and requirements

Kitchen - a room in which there are at least two zones with different purposes - a working area for cooking and a dining area. Different purposes lead to different requirements for the illumination of the kitchen: there should be bright lighting in the working area, allowing everything to be clearly seen, and softer in the dining room.

Lighting in the kitchen is best done zoned

But zoned kitchen lighting does not exclude the presence of a chandelier. Its functional significance is not great, since the light spot is obtained in the center of the room, which remains mostly empty. But from the point of view of equalizing uneven illumination, this method is very good. Alternatively, you can use several spotlights, as in the photo above, or install built-in ceiling lights if the ceiling is stretch or suspended from drywall.

You should think about lighting the kitchen even at the renovation stage, when it is going toswitch box, the wiring stretches, the locations of the sockets and switches are marked. Later, after the repair is over, it is very problematic to do this - you have to lay the wiring on top or in cable ducts.

Illumination standards

When you are just planning the lighting in the kitchen, the question arises, how many lamps are needed and how much power. It's simple: there are standards of illumination for each room for the kitchen - 150 Lux per square meter of area. It is no longer relevant to count the illumination in watts, since a 7 W LED lamp can produce light as a 50 W incandescent lamp or 650 lm.

For example, let's calculate how much light is required for a 12 m2 kitchen. To do this, we multiply its area by the norm: 12 m2 * 150 Lx = 1800 Lx. And since 1 Lux is equal to 1 Lumen, it is necessary to install bulbs that add up to at least 1800 Lm.

With zoned lighting, the amount of light required is calculated separately for each zone

If you decide to make zoned lighting, that is, the work surface will be illuminated separately, there will be its own light source above the table, it makes sense to count everything separately. To do this, the kitchen plan must be divided into zones, calculate the area and, based on these figures, select the number of lamps and lamps for them. Just keep in mind that two 50 W lamps in total will not give as much light as one per 100 W, but about 1/3 less.

Lamp type, color and light

Another important point. When choosing lighting, it is best to choose the same type of lamps: halogen, LED, daylight. As a last resort, you can combine the two types, but it is better not to use all three. They give different lighting and it is almost impossible to get a sane result. We are not talking about incandescent lamps, since they are already used very rarely: they require too much electricity, giving out a small amount of light.

When choosing lamps, you must take into account their color temperature

In addition to the type of lamps, you must choose lamps that give light of the same color, which is also called the color temperature of the lamps. They can give light with a blue, yellow, white tint. In principle, it's up to you, but the best option = natural or neutral.It is better for the eyes and for the perception of colors.

General lighting in the kitchen

Now let's see in what ways you can make general lighting in the kitchen. The traditional option is a chandelier. But it does not fit into every modern interior; nevertheless, it has a place to be.

Traditional general lighting - a chandelier in the middle of the ceiling

Kitchens are often rectangular rather than square. In this case, you can find a chandelier that is elongated in length. For long and narrow rooms, this is the best option to ensure optimal light distribution.

Install a long lamp in a narrow kitchen

At low ceilings, the chandelier cannot be hung - it will interfere. The way out is to find the lamp almost flat. It can be square or round - which one is more suitable for the chosen kitchen design style.

Recessed square luminaire

If you are going to make a suspended or suspended ceiling, you can "scatter" spotlights over the surface or create some kind of pattern from them (about how to place spotlights and more, read here). You can also make a backlight around the perimeter of the "central" zone. Such lighting in the kitchen visually helps to raise the ceiling and make the room a little more spacious.

The lighting can be done in a plasterboard ceiling or with a stretch ceiling

All these methods can be combined, so the number of options is very large. But it is important not to forget that there is still lighting of the other two zones and look for lighting devices for her at once, because they must match in style.

Dining area lighting

The light near the dining table can be made in just two variations: a story of a sconce, one or more lamps on a long cord from the ceiling.

It is important to maintain the style

You can use the sconce if the table is near the wall. When choosing the location of the wall lamp, two considerations are followed: the degree of illumination and convenience. The lamp should not interfere, for which it is placed at a height of 60-80 cm above the table top. So that it illuminates the entire table, it is advisable to find a model that allows you to bring the shade away from the wall.

An example of the location of the sconce above the dining table in the kitchen

To make the lighting in the kitchen not only bright, but also beautiful, all chandelier-sconces are selected in the same style, which should also be in harmony with the overall design style.

Work surface illumination

There are more nuances in lighting the working area in the kitchen. First of all, you need to decide where to place the lamps, then choose their type, type and shape of lamps.

You can organize the lighting of the kitchen in different ways.

Choosing a location

When illuminating a working area in a kitchen, lamps are usually placed on the underside of hanging cabinets. And this is the best possible option. Because all others are much worse. For example, if the light source is on the ceiling (position 1 in the photo), standing with your back to it, you block the light. Even if the luminaires are located along the line kitchen set, but high - on the ceiling or slightly above the level of the upper cabinets (position 2) - only a narrow part of the work surface from the edge is illuminated, the rest is in the shade. Therefore, the illumination of the working area in the kitchen is done by fixing the lighting fixtures at the bottom of the cabinets. Then the lighting in the kitchen has a pronounced zonal character, but it is much more convenient to work this way.

What is the best way to illuminate the working area in the kitchen

Here again there are options: lamps can be placed closer to the wall, in the middle, closer to the outer edge of the cabinets. The best option is closer to the outer edge (position 4). This makes the lighting more effective with less shadows in the work area. The third option is also not bad. It is slightly worse in terms of illumination, but more practical in implementation.

So that the lighting in the kitchen does not interfere

If the illumination of the work surface in the kitchen is done at the bottom of the cabinets, other problems arise:

1. Not everyone is satisfied with the appearance of the fixtures attached in this place.
2. The light hits the people sitting at the table.

Both of these problems have one solution: you need to install a decorative strip that will cover the luminaire and limit the spread of light. It turns out that the lighting in the kitchen is softer and the lighting fixtures themselves are not visible.

How to keep the kitchen lights out of the way

The location of the bar, its height, the position of the luminaire must be selected on the spot: the light sources have different heights, different brightness, the luminous flux can also be directed in different ways. Therefore, you select the parameters of the bar experimentally. Ideally, if the light does not even fall on the floor, but only illuminates the countertop.

Alternatively, the bar can be designed as a small shelf for various kitchen items. Usually, decor or jars of spices are displayed here. If you don't like this idea, just do the bar. If you think that even the plank spoils the appearance or it simply does not fit into the style, make a double bottom in the cabinets, hiding light sources inside. In this case, you can install frosted glass, which will soften the light.

Make a double bottom in the cabinets, install a fluorescent lamp inside, and fix the glass on aluminum corners

In this case, the door is made along the entire length, although this is not necessary. To avoid problems with glass fixing, you can install an aluminum corner around the bottom perimeter, on which you can simply lay a piece of frosted glass or translucent polycarbonate cut to size.

Spot illumination

When organizing lighting in the kitchen in the working area, you must immediately decide what type of light sources you will use. There are two options - point and tubular. In the case of using point, it turns out such a "zebra", the contrast of which can be canceled out by more frequent installation of bulbs.

When using spotlights, there are more and less light spots

The advantage of this solution is that the lamps are quite decorative and such illumination looks beautiful. The downside is that it is not always convenient when cooking. Another drawback: spotlights have a rather large height and can only be installed with a second bottom in the cabinets.

Kitchen lighting spotlights

If you choose this method of lighting your kitchen, go for LED lamps. Now they are the most economical - with low electricity consumption, they give a lot of light, they serve for a long time. In this case, their undoubted plus is that they practically do not heat up, so that the furniture is not in danger. The option is a little worse - halogen lamps (they heat up, "draw" a little more electricity), even less economical - fluorescent lamps with a conventional cartridge, and the most unfortunate one is incandescent lamps.

Linear light sources

When using linear luminaires, the illumination is almost uniform, since the lighting fixtures can be mounted with a distance of a couple of centimeters between them.

Illumination of the working area in the kitchen with linear lamps

When choosing light sources for linear illumination, there are even more options and the range is constantly expanding. Perhaps there are already new tools that few people know about. In the meantime, there are three of them: LED strip, LED and fluorescent lamps. There is also neon lighting, but it is quite heavy to install, and it is more expensive. Therefore, lighting in the kitchen with neon tubes or flexible hoses is almost never done.

LED Strip Light

The tape and LEDs can be mounted simply on furniture, as it has a sticky layer. But this layer is unreliable, therefore they prefer to fix it in some way - with double tape, staples from stapler... If you intend to fix the tape directly on the furniture, choose models with a high level of protection - IP44 and higher.But it is better not to take those that are sealed in the tube - in the home they overheat (especially in the kitchen), quickly fade, and soon burn out. For this case, it is better to take species filled with varnish or other protective compound.

Fastening the tape in a small profile

When choosing an LED strip to illuminate the work surface in the kitchen, you need to pay attention to the brightness and size of the crystals. You need to choose the largest 50 * 50 or 50 * 75, and it is better if they are located in two rows. Their total power should give no less light than was determined in the calculations. Read about the types of LED strips and the rules for their installation here.

You can install the LED strip in special profiles (they are also called cable channels or trays). They are usually made of aluminum and have a transparent or translucent removable front panel. Inside there may be a shelf on which the tape itself is attached. These are the most convenient views, but in others you have to be somewhat tricky.

Some types of trays for LED strips

The advantages of installing LED backlighting in such a tray - there is no point in worrying about the degree of tape protection, decent appearance. The disadvantage is less bright light, so the power of the crystals must be higher than the calculated one. In any case, lighting in the kitchen using LED strips is becoming more and more popular. This is due to the ease of installation and low power consumption.

LED kitchen lights

LED lamps can be not only point or ordinary - in the form of a pear with a standard base. There are also tubes.

LED kitchen lighting fixtures

They are installed on clips - plates that are attached to furniture, into which tubes are inserted. Some can be mounted with magnets. The counter metal plates are attached to the furniture (you can use double-sided tape), and the lamps are simply attracted to them due to the magnets built into the case (Sensor model).

Fluorescent lamps

Tubular fluorescent luminaires are the traditional way of lighting. They are good because they are connected directly to 220 V, while LED ones require a special adapter that will give the required voltage.

The disadvantages have been known for a long time - the pulsation of light, which has a negative effect on the eyes. There is one more not very pleasant moment: LEDs are more economical. They consume very little electricity and last longer. Their service life is calculated in thousands of hours. Fluorescent lamps have to be changed much more often (every five), but they cost less. In general, it's up to you what type of lamp you want to use in your kitchen lighting.

Fluorescent lamps for kitchen lighting can be stylish

If you decide to make your kitchen backlight with fluorescent lamps, the optimal size is the G13 base (diameter 26 mm). In length, they can be 60 cm, 90 cm, 120 cm, 150 cm.Today there are different models - from familiar to quite pretty (as in the photo above).

It is possible, as mentioned above, to hide such lamps in a double bottom by installing light-diffusing glass. In this case, you can buy the most inexpensive lamps. But it is unlikely that it will be possible to save money - the costs of a profile for installing glass and the glass itself are either equivalent or may even be higher.

Can be hidden behind glass

As you can see, it is better to do multi-zone lighting in the kitchen, and at the moment it is better to use LEDs. Lamps are quite expensive, but economical, they shine brightly, work for a long time and do not heat up.