The kitchen is probably one of the most used and busiest rooms in any home. The long time we spend in it makes all the elements must be perfectly arranged at a functional, practical and aesthetic level. One of the aspects that has the greatest influence in this regard and that we must plan very well is how to illuminate the kitchen.
Whether you have the possibility -and the luck- to receive natural light in your kitchen as if, on the contrary, it lacks a window to the outside or simply overlooks an inner courtyard, you should pay attention to these issues. Doubts about how to illuminate the kitchen are frequent because we are not always able to imagine the final result, but there are certain guidelines that can not miss for these purposes.
How to illuminate the kitchen with different atmospheres
One of the main requirements when decorating and lighting a kitchen is the creation of different environments. You must keep in mind that it is a place that must present a well-defined work triangle -kitchen, storage and sink- and that, in many cases, it also serves as a dining room.
How to illuminate the cooking area
In the area dedicated to cooking it is important to have a powerful white light, which allows you to distinguish aspects such as quantities or colors without the slightest effort. In addition, it is convenient to complement this lighting with those that usually incorporate many extractors.
How to illuminate the dining room
If your kitchen includes a dining area, try to provide it with a warmer and more familiar lighting, with yellow light and not too powerful. In this way you will create a completely different atmosphere from the rest of the kitchen and much more welcoming.
How to illuminate storage
When we consider how to illuminate the kitchen, storage is usually one of the forgotten environments. While it is true that it may have less importance depending on the light it receives from the rest of the room, when we talk about pantries or cabinets with some depth, it never hurts to add LED strips to find more easily and comfortably what we are looking for.
General kitchen lighting
For the general lighting of the kitchen we should stay with the most powerful and important of the lights mentioned so far. The most advisable is to include a cold light, but not as powerful as that of the kitchen; however, in small or medium-sized kitchens, the same lighting will be responsible for presiding over the room.
Tips on how to illuminate the kitchen
Beyond the creation of different environments to feel at ease in any of the situations or activities that take place in the kitchen, it is important to take into account some tips that allow us to save, decorate and take care of our eyesight at the same time.
Plan your lighting needs
If you have read our previous points about the creation of different environments, you have probably thought that your kitchen does not offer space for so many types of light or, even, that in your case you need more environments. We have talked about the main ones, but the truth is that before making any lighting installation you should consider very well what your needs are and plan them to make them a reality.
Calibrate the amount and the hours of natural light that the kitchen receives
This is very important. At night you will need artificial lighting regardless of the outside light coming into your kitchen; but what if you don’t usually dine in the kitchen and you don’t usually prepare elaborate dishes at this time of day?
In that case, if you get a lot of outside light you are in luck, because you will not need too much lighting. If your circumstances are the opposite, you will need more artificial light and a clear distinction between environments.
Don’t forget energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is essential today, both for the environment and for your pocket. In other words, if you are currently considering how to light your kitchen or living room, one of your priorities should be to minimize energy consumption.
Use LEDs whenever possible
In relation to the previous point, you should not even consider options beyond LED. This type of lighting consumes between 80% and 90% less than traditional bulbs or halogen tubes -so common in traditional kitchens-. In addition, its useful life can be up to 20 times longer than in the previous cases, so the investment is more than worth it.
How to illuminate the kitchen without neglecting aesthetics and decoration
It depends on the type of lighting you need, the different environments you intend to generate and, above all, the type of decoration that your kitchen presents. In this sense, you could opt for ceiling lights embedded in the ceiling or hanging lamps in a more industrial style, but always taking into account the harmony.
Indirect light as a resource in the kitchen
A resource that is often forgotten when lighting kitchens is indirect or diffused light. A few LED strips in a warm tone surrounding a false ceiling or under a shelf or bar, or a few small spotlights that point to places of less prominence, for example, can give your kitchen a very different and aesthetic decorative touch.
How to illuminate the kitchen properly
To find out how to illuminate your kitchen just follow the first tip we have given you regarding planning and look carefully at the areas we have determined. Obviously, if you do not have a dining area in the kitchen, you should discard this option, or combine it with the general lighting of the room if there is a possibility that later you will install this functionality and you have space for it.
In any case, it is again convenient to make a balanced balance between your tastes, your needs and the possibilities offered by the room. With these recommendations it is not complicated to know how to illuminate the kitchen, but it is true that it is not a question that can be decided in haste or based solely on the economic factor.
