Under Cabinet Lighting

A: There are four big questions to answer before you pick under cabinet lighting for your home. First you need to determine if you want fluorescent, Xenon or LED bulbs. LED is the most energy efficient, lasts the longest and gives off the least heat. Xenon gives off the warmest glow and can be dimmed. Fluorescent provides a good mix of efficiency and light, but doesn't dim. Puck or linear is the next question. Linear provides the most even light distribution and is the most common, but puck lighting allows you to feature certain points with a pool of light. Then you have to decide between recessed or surface mounted. Most surface mounted lighting for under cabinets is so low profile it's not noticeable. But if you want no evidence of lighting to be seen, go with recessed or LED tape lighting. Finally you must choose between hard-wire or plug-in. Hard-wiring is ideal because it leaves the least evidence of its existence, but it involves electrical work. Plug-ins won't involve a re-wire of your home, but you'll need an outlet close and a way to hide the power source. Indirect fixtures distribute 90-100% of light upward. They provide the most even illumination and the least direct glare. Indirect light fixtures are often used in offices.

A: Find the longest fixture that fills the span of the recessed or corner area. You want to keep your countertop and backsplash uniformly lit, so match that space as close as possible. Under cabinet lights are often sold in standard lengths. You could choose between 8, 16, 24 or 32 inches. So if your space measures 26 inches, you're best bet is 24 inches because it comes closest to filling the space.