Kitchen Lights

The ever-helpful Apartment Therapy recently published a short, slightly intimate treatise on practical lighting. Highlighted are four common household areas that often need more light - and which are often overlooked in the overall renovation of a house's design or renovation. But these are the spots which, if properly lit, enhance the experience of daily life immeasurably. The one thing the post lacks is recommendations for good lights and links to, say, an independent British retailer - which we are glad to provide for our UK readers today. We've pulled quotes from Apartment Therapy, but the whole thing is worth a read, especially the comments thread, which as usual contains more than a few nuggets of wisdom.THE ENTRY (OR "LANDING STRIP") It's the first place your guests see when they enter your home, and the spot where you probably need the best organization as you dart out the door (hopefully with your easily accessible keys and phone). A warm light here sets a welcoming tone and makes your daily exit all the easier. The first room in the house - usually a hallway, but we remember a time we lived in a small flat with a room almost as big as the living room - is particularly tricky to light. You need to toe the line between functionality (being able to find everything on the way out) and atmosphere (welcoming you, your family, and/or your guests). Although your interior design tastes might differ, we think wall lights to complement the general light coming from the ceiling are a good all-around solution. You can go the recessed route or the surface route - both will look and feel great. The header image of this post comes from Apartment Therapy and features a pair of Parma 210 Uplight/Downlights, which are plaster and can thus be painted to match the hallway! Closets Sometimes it's the smallest spaces that need the best lighting. A good light in the closet will make even an undersized one more efficient.If you've ever rummaged around a closet or a wardrobe for an hour looking for that one mobile phone charger or that lucky sock, you'll understand this grievance. Luckily, we have a range of small, but powerful, wardrobe lights that transform a storage space. Better yet, we can make that closet lighting efficient: instead of a manual switch, why not install a "push-to-break" surface contact that will turn out the light when the door is closed? Or if the closet door might be blown open by a draught, a discreet motion sensor will activate the lights when someone enters the closet. Under-Kitchen Shelving Save yourself the squint wrinkles and install a few under-shelf/cabinet lights. When I remember to turn mine on, I slice like a pro. Plus, turning these on and turning off the overhead lights creates a nice ambiance.Task lights in the kitchen are some of our favorite things. Not just atmospheric but also incredibly useful - not to mention very helpful when slicing vegetables! This pyramid cupboard light is stylish in silver and fulfills whatever task light needs you have. Cooking in a tiny kitchen? That's no problem - we have one for corners, too. Bathrooms Ideally, you should use a mix of diffused lights. I like halogen for vanity lights and incandescent for overhead. The light should be soft enough to be flattering, but not so dim that you can't apply makeup easily. We should mention that bathroom lights need to be considered carefully: electrical items for use in wet rooms are IP-rated against water ingress, and there are 3 different zones in the bathroom depending on how much water they will come in contact with. Our bathroom lighting section has a great deal of information, coupled with some very attractive and stylish lights. Do you think Apartment Therapy missed anything? Are there other areas at home in which darkness can drive you mad?

Perhaps you made a resolution to read more books in 2013, or you just got a copy of Infinite Jest for Christmas and need to carve out some reading time. Maybe you've found a secret cave behind the bookcase of your new house. Whatever your reasons, you're thinking about setting up a home library or reading space, and you've come to us for inspiration on how to light it properly to illuminate it sufficiently while avoiding the dreaded eye strain. You have excellent taste. Lighting a Reading Room  Libraries tend to be remembered as cold, stale, uncomfortable places, lit by flickering fluorescent ceiling lamps. That doesn't have to be the case at home, though - you ought to be comfortable in your own space, perhaps even wearing a smoking jacket and swirling a glass of brandy. Warm light is generally the way to go, creating an aura of comfort in the new library (or the corner of the living room, depending on how much space you have), so aim for bulbs of a colour temperature between 2000K and 3000K. It will also need to be directed. This large Ark floor lamp can be adjusted as needed to point the light downwards, directly over the back of your ornate leather chair (or luxurious couch) and onto the page: it incorporates a cantilever system that makes that easy, even from a comfortable position. If there isn't room for a floor lamp, then a wall light is more than sufficient! We covered some great flexible reading lights on the blog a while ago, including LED options and uplights that can be bounced and diffused off the ceiling. Now your lights are in place, you can think about upscaling and personalizing your reading space lighting scheme. Personalizing Your Library Lighting Scheme Did your mother tell you not to read in dim light? Well, it turns out that although prolonged periods underneath insufficient light cause stress and a little bit of eye strain, those effects aren't permanent. Too-bright light can be even worse; why not invest in a floor dimmer switch that you operate with your foot? Fairly recently, we also talked about using LED strip lights to light up your bookshelf - even with programmable color-changing LEDs! But the truth is, almost any small under-cabinet lights will do the trick. If you are reading at a desk, rather than in a chair (not that we understand this at all), you can recreate the look of those libraries that only seem to exist in Hollywood movies with a warm, even table lamp that spreads the light around the desk evenly. Mounted on a great writing desk, the Flos Glo-Ball will do the trick. Have you got any tips for creating a comfortable, classic home library with lighting? Let our readers know in the comments!

The Importance of Brightening Up Your KitchenSome people think they can choose any lighting for their kitchen as long as they serve their purpose. The truth is, brightening up your kitchen serves many purposes. Here are some reasons why it's crucial:Improve visibilityOne of the main reasons you're installing proper lighting in your kitchen is to ensure you see everything. Lighting helps you quickly look for appliances, utensils, whiteware, and more. Most importantly, you want to ensure you don't hurt yourself when preparing food or cutting meat and vegetables. Proper lighting also allows you to cook more efficiently, especially when checking if your food is already done.Some people also enjoy eating in the kitchen. Can you imagine eating a delicious meal with poor lighting? How else can you enjoy your meal if you can't see what you're putting in your mouth? Good lighting can make your meals look more palatable and every bite more flavourful.Add beautyProper lighting also adds beauty and enhances the overall aesthetic of the whole kitchen. You can experiment with the different types of lighting mentioned below. For example, under-cabinet lighting can illuminate the area below it, highlighting nice kitchen worktops, whilst also making food preparation easier and faster. Furthermore, you can use accent lighting to highlight the décor in your kitchen or your collection of chic fine china for example.Lighting can also make your kitchen look more prominent. You can soften shadows, specifically those found between the ceiling and cabinets. Install uplighting on top of the cabinets to make the kitchen look roomier.Buy Black Under-cabinet LED LightSave on electricityDid you know that using proper lighting to brighten your kitchen can also help you save on electricity? For instance, a cabinet LED light or a USB rechargeable light can brighten your kitchen effectively without worrying about paying more for your electricity consumption when compared to using regular lighting. Most of them last longer too.Set the moodLike other parts of the house, the kitchen must be inviting and welcoming. It must be a place where you (and any guests) can feel comfortable. So how do you set the right mood? The answer is using the appropriate light to brighten your kitchen.Natural light from your kitchen windows can improve your mood and well-being. Some studies prove that brighter light can intensify one's emotions while low light can steady your emotion.You can utilize the sun's natural light during a sunny day to brighten your kitchen. But what about when it's rainy or cloudy? Most importantly, how do you ensure it stays bright at night? This is where different types of lighting come in.Types of Lighting to Brighten Up Your KitchenDid you know that you don’t need to give your kitchen a total makeover and spend more than necessary to make it brighter? Check out these lighting types that'll instantly bring life to your kitchen:1. DownlightA downlight is a type of light fixture that shines light downward to illuminate a space below. Typically, it is only partially visible because a portion is recessed into the ceiling. Downlights work well as kitchen lights.It is a terrific way to draw attention to your essential kitchen items. It can light up your kitchen island and food preparation area. There are a lot of options with downlights and they come in different subtypes and materials, too.2. Under-cupboard light  Under cupboard lighting, as its name suggests, refers to lights mounted beneath a cupboard, illuminating the space directly below a row or group of cabinets. It is most frequently used in kitchens as it provides additional lighting to help with food preparation.There are many kitchen lighting options with under-cupboard lights. Some of them are rechargeable through USB and come in different materials and colours. There are strip lights and round ones as well, such as these matte black, white, and brushed chrome, among many others.3. Strip lightYou can also incorporate LED strip lights in your kitchen using a self-adhesive strip light. These can also be particularly helpful for odd surfaces where it may be difficult to install conventional lighting. Strip lights can be attached onto almost any surface, thanks to the flexible nature of the strips and the adhesive base which make them incredibly versatile.They can also be fitted against a kitchen backsplash, and then hidden behind a cutlery or knife stand, or appliances to add a nice touch of mood lighting to the room. This could give a nice touch of elegance when entertaining guests or hosting parties in an open-plan kitchen/lounge space.Buy Rechargeable Cabinet LED Light with PIR4. SpotlightSpotlights in the kitchen aim their beam in a specific direction. These provide depth in the space and can highlight a particular area. They can be beneficial in smaller rooms because these lights also give the impression of spaciousness.Spotlights are placed onto the surface of your ceiling as opposed to downlights, which are recessed into your ceiling. Also, spotlights are far simpler to install and don't require any particular skill.In the kitchen, spotlights are quite helpful since they let you draw attention to a specific area, like the countertop where you chop vegetables. You can often regulate the direction and intensity of the light in your kitchen thanks to the fact that kitchen spotlights are frequently movable or dimmable. 5. Smart lightsDo you want to automate or control your lights remotely? Smart devices are becoming increasingly popular, and you can opt for smart lights too. Incorporating them increases the convenience of turning your kitchen lights on and off.Smart LED bulbs have software connected to an app, smart home assistant, or other smart accessories, eliminating the need for conventional wall switches. It will give your kitchen a modern, elegant, and relaxed atmosphere.