If you want to transform your dark and gloomy kitchen space into a well lit cozy room, then you need to prepare an under-cabinet lighting plan for your cooking area. Brighten your kitchen area with LED under cabinet lights. The addition of under cabinet lights creates perfect clout inside the kitchen space and welcomes the guests.
The lights are easy to install, and the makeover is budget-friendly. The addition of energy-efficient LED lights enhances the beauty of the kitchen space and saves money on energy consumption. Before LED technology, choosing under cabinet lights was difficult due to conventional (fluorescent, halogen) lights.
Let’s now focus on the difference between traditional lights and LED under cabinet lighting.
Traditional under cabinet lights
Halogen under cabinet lights – Before LED lights, there were halogen counterparts for convenience and home improvement stores. The halogen lights were slowly phased out due to the following reasons.
90% of the energy used to get wasted in heat dissipation when the lights get switched ON. It means 10% of the actual energy was appropriately utilized in the form of brightness.
The lifespan of the halogen lights lacks when compared to LED lights.
Fluorescent under cabinet lights – These light fixtures were used in the early 90s. The downsides of fluorescent lights are –
There are harmful toxins present inside the fluorescent lights. It becomes a disposal challenge.
Continuous ON/OFF reduces the lifespan of fluorescent bulbs.
The lights first need to “warm-up,” and then they reach full illumination.
LED under cabinet lighting
The biggest reason the house owners are switching to LED lighting is their energy consumption and long lifespan.
The heat dissipation is significantly less when compared to traditional light mediums.
The lights come with high color rendering index for better color visibility. The brightness shows the actual colors of the surroundings.
Some of them come with dimmable sensors for better power utilization.
Types of LED under cabinet lights
LED under cabinet lights are the best task lighting for the cooks and the kitchen area and create a rich home environment.
Puck lights – If you require more focused brightness with a dramatic ambiance, then LED puck lights are the right choice available.
Strip lights – They are also known as rope lights or tape lights. LED strip lights are affordable and easy to install. These fixtures are flexible and can get fitted into small spaces. They are an ideal choice for decorative lighting. They can be cut to size or get fixed against the wall with the help of adhesive tapes.
Light bars – These light fixtures create uniform brightness inside the kitchen area and deliver the most professional look for the cooking area.
Things to consider when using LED under cabinet lights
Placement – Make sure the lights stay hidden under the cabinets. Prepare the measurements and install the lights accordingly. Choose the finish which matches the lights perfectly.
Use light bars that match the width of the kitchen cabinets.
Power source – After installation, one needs to plan the power source.
- Plug-in sources – They are easy to install and just plug in to operate.
- Direct wire – They are hard-wired to your kitchen space by lighting professionals. The light source is linked with a single switch to deliver optimum brightness.
Selection of the light source – Nowadays, the best choice is LED under cabinet lights. Earlier, fluorescent or halogen lamps were used for under cabinet lighting.
LED lights are efficient and save you money on power consumption. As these fixtures generate less heat, they are best for installation where food is stored.
Optional features – Dimming sensors and remote controls are some of the features that make the LED under cabinet lights power-efficient and robust. Features like switch ON/OFF, dimming, etc., make the tasks like meal preparation easy for the homeowner.
It is said that proper brightness is vital for any kind of kitchen design. The homeowners need decent light fixtures for better illumination. The LED under cabinet lights deliver ambient lighting to add a nice touch to the kitchen space. The LED under cabinet lights fits inside small areas and does not affect the overall lighting of the kitchen room. The placement of these lights is essential to provide a luxurious look to the kitchen space.