Under Cabinet Lighting

Under Cabinet Lighting

Under cabinet lighting can add a luminous elegance and sophistication to any kitchen space. Aside from style, it can be highly functional, illuminating space on the countertop that is dimly lit, making for easy preparation of meals and other various tasks. The underside of kitchen cabinetry provides an excellent location for lighting to be located, because it can provide task lighting where desired, yet remain concealed. Numerous options are offered for under cabinet lighting, such as type, wattages, finishes, and styles. Selecting the right lighting for your kitchen space can create an immense enhancement for the area’s appearance and functionality.

Lighting and Wattage Options
The type of lighting selected can influence performance of the fixture, and you will have the option of choosing between incandescent, LED and fluorescent under cabinet lights. Each of those will vary in relation to the amount of light produced, the coloring of the light, and energy consumption.

Incandescent lights are the most common, giving a white light effect, and are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace. However, they consume the most energy and bulbs often last less than two years with normal usage. Xenon lamps contain Xenon gas and have a much longer lifespan expectancy than typical incandescent lighting, giving the same bright white lighting effect but lasting up to seven years.

LED lighting uses the least amount of energy and tends to have the longest duration of all lighting options, often more than ten years. LEDs produce a bluer-white lighting effect. The upfront expenditure is often more than with other choices, but the minimal required maintenance and bluish, modern light makes them a sensible investment for many.

Fluorescent under cabinet lights are offered in either linear or compact fluorescent lamps, with linear being the most common because of the thinness and ability to be easily hidden within the underside of the cabinetry trim. These will also last about seven years with normal usage, maintaining a bright, yet warm, white-toned lighting effect.

Wiring Options
Another major component in deciding upon under cabinet lighting will be based on the type of hardware installation. Varieties consist of direct wiring, where wiring should already be installed, usually when the home was constructed and often hidden within the cabinetry or inside the house walls, modular, or direct plug-in, which would plug into existing outlets.

Style Options
Plentiful color options and finishes are available, including white, black, bronze, stainless, chrome, nickel, transparent and silver. Lengths fluctuate greatly and should be determined by how evenly you want the lighting dispersed and how much space is available for the fixtures. You can line them evenly throughout the entire underneath of the cabinetry for even disbursement of light through the space. Other options include puck lights, which are small, circular, low voltage lights, and can be used in areas that are dim to provide an enhancement to visibility only in certain spaces. If looking for more subtle, but evenly distributed lighting, under cabinet rope lighting may meet those needs well.

Enhancing your kitchen’s functionality, while at the same time making it more appealing and attractive, means installing under cabinet lighting is a great, low cost and worthwhile investment.

More About Under Cabinet Lighting
How To Install Under Cabinet Lighting
Styles of Under Cabinet Lighting
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