Kitchen lighting can be both practical and attractive. Aim for brightness and freshness to give a clean look.

The kitchen has always been the warm, bright heart of the home. It is not only where meals are cooked and eaten, it is also a place for conversing, studying, working and entertaining. Whatever you "cook up", be sure you have the right recipe for lighting!

Lighting Solution

The kitchen is in fact a sort of workshop and therefore needs virtually shadow-free general lighting. This should reach all surfaces, not only the horizontal work surfaces, but also the vertical ones to facilitate the task of finding things in the cupboards.

Recessed ceiling lights or uplighters can provide the basic background light. The number you will need depends on the size of the room. Strip lighting over work surfaces provides the bright light required for working. The luminaires are most often concealed under wall-mounted units. Positioned above the units, the light will have the effect of raising the ceiling. Spotlights can be used to highlight a feature, or provide a focused pool of light on a cooker or shelves with arranged plates or utensils. If you have a kitchen that doubles as a dining room, use lighting to soften and separate it from the cooking area. For example, a warm downlight low over the table will create an intimate space and draw people together around the table. Sidelights, table or standing lamps, perhaps with a beige or terracotta coloured lamp, will provide a completely different, softer dining atmosphere.

A final tip - halogen lighting makes the most of your food. The natural, white light really makes food look more colourful and appetising.