Kitchen makeover on a budget - lighting

This is part IV of how to beautify your kitchen on a budget.  Lighting is an extremely important part of any remodeling project, especially in the kitchen.  Lighting is not only needed for cooking and eating, but it also creates the mood in the kitchen.  Kitchens today function as the workplace for the family, as well as, a primary room for entertaining.  Lighting adds dimension to surfaces such as the cabinetry, counter tops and decorative accents.  Updating the lighting in your remodeled kitchen can create a more dramatic change to the room.

Under Cabinet Lighting

 There are three primary layers of lighting within the kitchen space; under cabinet lighting, recessed light and decorative lighting.  When you are doing a kitchen remodel adding all of the light layers is ideal, but having two of the three can work well too.  Under cabinet lighting works well for tasks done on the counter tops, because the light is close to where the work is being executed.  Recessed lights should be place around the kitchen to accentuate the cabinetry and any artwork.  Both the under counter and recessed lights can have dimmers in order to act as accent lighting.  Decorative lights are usually the pendant lights over an island or peninsula, or a chandelier over the dining table.  These lights will have a finish that works with the other hardware in the kitchen such as cabinet pulls or appliances.  These fixtures help to carry through the decorative style of the kitchen whether it is traditional or contemporary.  Again dimmers on these fixtures give you more flexibilty for their use, which is important if you are not able to apply all three layers of lighting in your kitchen.

Recessed Lighting

The best time to add or change lighting fixtures occurrs when a repair is being done to the ceiling or counter backsplash.  When these surfaces are exposed electricians are able to more easily install light fixtures without damaging plaster and  tile.  Don't miss an opportunity to add lighting, even if the kitchen remodel is a year or so down the road.

Overall look for kitchen

If you have any questions please comment below or contact me on my Facebook Fan Page at Facebook.com/dottywymandesigns. I would love the hear from you. I look forward to writing about more ideas for your custom kitchen.

Dotty Wyman is the principal designer at www.dottywymandesigns.com.