You've brainstormed about how to achieve the best lighting for your office. You've definitely put thought into choosing the lighting setup in your bedroom. Heck, you've probably even invested some time into your outside lights. So why is it that you still only have that one fluorescent overhead light in the kitchen? It's time to get busy and consider your kitchen's lighting system, making sure you've got one important type of lighting covered: Task lighting.
Whether you've spent a fortune on top-of-the-line appliances or spent tons of time making your vintage gear look brand new, you want to show off your kitchen in the best light, right? So why is it that kitchen lighting plans often get ignored?
Even if you're renting, you can take some of the ideas you've used in the living room and bedroom and put them to use in the kitchen. Start by making sure you've filled the roles of these two important lights:
1. Start With Ambient Lighting
This is what you've probably already got going in your kitchen, whether it's recessed can lights, a fluorescent fixture or some track lighting. You just need one big, bright fixture to light the entire room. But don't stop there.
2. Add Some Task Lighting
Just like you have task lighting at your desk, you need the same kind of focused light in the kitchen when you're preparing food.
Under-Cabinet Lights
The most popular task lighting fixtures? Under-cabinet lights. Get some custom-installed (if you have a really forgiving landlord), or just head to IKEA for some cheap retro-fits; like the INREDA Cabinet lighting ($14.99), GRUNDTAL Spotlights ($24.99 /3 pack), LACK Clamp bookcase lighting ($29.99 /2 pack) or INREDA LED spotlights ($44.99/4 pack).
Counter-Top Lamps
Of course if you (or your landlord) are not cool with mounting lights to your cabinets, you could always try the same task lighting you have in your office: a lamp. We've seen more and more lamps on kitchen counter tops lately (check out the pic above from Carla's Grand Ave. Home). Just make sure you wrangle those wires like you do at your desk—it's more of a hazard in the wet kitchen than in the office.
(Top image: Flickr member ilovebutter licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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I have a very cheap little single LED light from IKEA stuck to my bed. It's great and could be useful in this situation (and I think it was only about $4) but keep in mind that the LED glows very blue.
Another idea for mounting under cabinet lights is to use the Command strips. That way when you move you can just remove them and leave no holds or marks.
@Lunchy & iDesign19- Awesome ideas, thanks!
Our building was built in the late 1800's - the light in my fiance's kitchen was easily the UGLIEST that I'd ever seen and cast a sickly, yellow light on our newly painted kitchen. I disabled by taking out the bulbs and bought seven lamps on Craig's List for no more that $5 or $10 each to see what would work in the kitchen by the stove, on the stainless steel table just off of the main kitchen area, the counter top, the landing strip and the dining room buffet table. Four worked beautifully and provide warm, inviting light from below and closer to the whatever it is that requires light - I only had to buy one serious lamp for the landing strip. We replaced a panel of kitchen cabinets with much nicer ones from Ikea, paid extra for the glass front doors and installed interior lights. All of these changes completely changed the look and mood of the kitchen and can be used in various combinations. Our landlord couldn't care less what we do to his apartment - we're the red-headed stepchild in the list of buildings he owns - but we took a photo of the sad little cabinets that we replaced just in case. It would be hard for him not to acknowledge that we've added value!
I live in a rental with a poorly lit galley kitchen that gets NO natural light. I installed the IKEA Grundtal spotlights under my metal cabinets & instead of drilling holes, used double strength magnets to hold them in place. Then I ran the wires and used a few 3m command tiny hooks to keep the wires from dangling down. VOILA!
note: if you have wooden/laminate cabinets instead of metal, use double sided velcro to secure them in place. the velcro, unlike regular sticker adhesive, can handle the weight of the light.
I went hunting for the same a couple days ago at Lowe's. Asked the lighting guy, "what do you have in the way of stick-on, battery-run LEDs?" He took me to one batch (near lightbulbs) but I recognized them and said, "Don't those run awfully blue and rather dim? I think I put one in my closet - didn't help at all." He said, "OH yes, that's true! Let's go look at some others..." and took me to the ... security area?... and handed me a two-pack for $19.95. They're perfect. auto-shut off after 30 mins, warm glow, magnetic or adhesive attachment. (I wanted battery because my wiring needs upgrading.)
I had some Grundtals under the kitchen cabinets in my previous apartment, and loved how they lit up my workspace. I left them when I moved cross-country, thinking I'd just be able to buy them again at IKEA. Unfortunately my local IKEA (and all within a 3-hour radius) doesn't carry them, and you can't get them online. I liked them a lot, so I've been trolling Craigslist and Ebay in search of them, to no avail. Hopefully they'll pop up sooner or later and I can once again have bright under-cabinet space!