Recessed lighting in kitchen

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I'm looking at putting recessed lighting into my, not yet completed, kitchen. We'll have the electricians in shortly. Before they come I'm trying desperately to work out how many I need and where to place them

I know the like of B&q and IKEA have design services for rooms but does that stretch to lighting. I don't want the place to look like a shop but neither do I want it to be dull. I know difficult to find the rihght balance

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Fifi De Lyon

8 years ago

hi any picture would help

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Comments (12)

perry525
8 years ago
You need to consider where in the kitchen you will work. And how much light you will need in each work place, to see a cook book, prepare fish, all the things that you will do. Keep in mind that you do not want to work in your own shadow. That small things will get dropped and will be difficult to find if the lighting is poor. Kitchens really need the very best and strongest light in a home if you want to keep them clean and avoid illness.
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I have recessed lighting in our open plan kitchen diner and bathroom but no where else in the house. If you set the lights correctly with circuits it can create a great look and feel to the room. Check out this link to a blog called Mad About The House, in collaboration with Sally Storey - Lighting specialist, they devised information sessions for each area of the house. I used the session for my kitchen diner and it worked a treat. http://www.madaboutthehouse.com/get-lighting-right-bedroom/
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User
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I suppose I should have attached an image. Here's my drawing, there has been a few adjustments but it is basically the same. The blank spot is been set aside as a family area.

I appreciate the need for good light in the kitchen and I'd like to go for recessed lighting but my fear would be that there would be to many of these lights and it might look like a shop!

If I were to opt for recessed lighting how many would I roughly need? Would it be best just to keep the recessed lighting in one half of the room - kitchen or family side?

The large circle is a table top where we can eat and there will be a suspended light hanging over it. After reading perry525 remarks it occurred to me that I'm extremely left handed and I suppose I'd have to take that into account,

Your opinions welcomed.

Cara
PRO
Fifi De Lyon
8 years ago
Do you want someone to do it or you will do it yourself?
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi Cara. I can't advise you on the number of lights but what I would say is have the lights wired to different switches. I have 4 switches in the kitchen: pendants, aga, under cabinet/over sink and over cabinet. I use all 4 when cooking and prepping and then once I've cooked and we've eaten only the pendant lights remain on. You can get cheap lighting consultants if you need help (quite cheaply according to their websites) or I can count what we've got if it helps although maybe not the best approach!
mrsmcee74
8 years ago
Hi there, you can calculate what you will need for the size of your room: http://www.lighting-direct.co.uk/ideas/recessed-downlights-top-tips-for-the-perfect-layout/

We have 8 led warm white recessed spots in our kitchen which is about 4.5m x 2.5m, I didn't do a proper calculation but just worked out where they needed to be placed.

Don't forget about task lighting, we have led under cabinet lighting on a separate switch. Great for when you're chopping etc but it's also lovely just to have them on at night after all the cooking is finished for a bit of low level relaxed lighting.
perry525
8 years ago
A point I forgot to mention, as you get older, you need a lot more light to see, ie. light that is good enough in your 20's and 30's, will not be bright enough in your 50's and above.
User
8 years ago
Perry525, tell me about it. I've long since stopped counting birthdays
User
8 years ago
I had thought of recessed lighting but a friend suggested to me that 'Track Lighting' on the ceiling might be a better job, certainly it seems much easier to fit.

Not my thread I know but would members rate these for kitchen lighting? What are the pros and cons

Kevin
User
Original Author
8 years ago
I've had a look on Google images, are these lights as good or better than the recessed ones. Kitchen mags all seem to have recessed lighting, is there a reason for that or is it just fashion?
User
Original Author
8 years ago
Spent last night reading up on track lighting. I didn't think they were as versitle or house friendly as they seem to be. When first mentioned I thought of my local art gallery! Could I have some opinions?

Under cabinet lighting seems to be a great feature these days. One row of cabinets I have does not allow for these, any suggestions, would a string of LED light along the back of the worktop serve any practical purpose

Cara
perry525
8 years ago
Cara, you can buy LED strip lighting, that simply glues to whatever surface.
LED strip is much improved, with a high lumen output.
Track lighting, again with LED's, can be very useful, you can buy LED's with different colour output and spot to wide output, plus you can move the lights to a different position, if need be, to avoid shadows. It also makes them run cooler and easier to clean.

Recessed lighting in kitchen

Fifi De Lyon

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