Kitchen lighting

7 years ago

Hi,

Need help planning my spotlight locations in my kitchen please. And maybe some pendant lights if people think they wouldn't be too obtrusive with the hood there too.

See attached photos showing the dimensions and a couple of 3D diagrams.

EDIT: the left hand alcove will now contain a 1000mm wide wall unit. (Lighting underneath perhaps?)

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Claire Nicholson

7 years ago

Hi Dean,

We used our interior designer to do our lighting plan and she was brilliant!

Why don't you pay a few hundred pounds and get a designer to do it for you; it makes the world of difference to the space and is a fraction of what you'll spend the new kitchen. You'd be able to get someone to do it remotely, so should turn it around very quickly for you.

Attached is our final plan which won't help but will show you how comprehensive a good lighting plan for a kitchen diner needs to be!!

The lighting can really make or break a space!

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Comments (8)

User
Original Author
7 years ago
Also, should I get 50W spotlights or less powerful but more?
PRO
AVINU - Home Technology
7 years ago
Lighting for a kitchen area is typically the most demanding usually because this is an area we spend a lot of time in and we do many things while there. Here's a few starting considerations:

- Task lighting: think about how you'd like to light the areas where you prepare food, cook, wash up, storage etc. You'll want clear definition with little/no shadows
- Aesthetics: with so many surface and areas to light you can have fun here, even add colour

- Do you have more than one circuit for different groups of light fittings

- Other light fittings may include the use of LED strips and dont forget the dimming capabilities and colour temp [warm - cool] of all your light fittings

- Consider locating some down-lighters close to walls to wash down, other options would be to use up-lighters or led strips on top of cabinets to throw reflected light off the ceiling

- Reflected light typically looks better than direct light from down-lighters

- Some consultation from a lighting designer will address this and more, and set you up for an important room of the home

Lets see what others say, keep us up to date and dont stop asking more questions.
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Hi Ellie. Right ignore the IP rating, apparently a requirement for bathrooms only, I thought the same would be sensible in some areas in the kitchen but apparently not! if you like the anglepoise I'd probably put some mid century style pendants with them. I would personally go for glass to emit as much light as possible If you're not having any downlights and a sputnik style over the table which will disperse light over the length of the table. It also doesn't visually fill the space too much which may be good with the drop in ceiling height? Do you have any cabinet handles at all btw? I don't know how you feel about having the light hung low over the table (typically a min of 76cm above the table). I've added a pic of the black version of the brass one as it's hung even lower the 76cm. If you don't like this idea there are a number of semi-flush ones which would work. I've also added the last pic as I guess layout is similar. Sadly the wall lights are no longer sold where they but will persist in trying to find similar if you like this look!
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Hi Heidi, Sorry but I would not go with that type of light over the worktop. It will most likely only project light into the spot that it drops down onto. If you only have 1 celing fitting how about something like this... cotterellandco.com/products/arvin_3_light_bar_pendant_antique_chrome_-_glass
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Did you mean to attach a photo? It didn't show up.
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User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the reply.

What I'm really looking for is someone to take my plan and say "right, you want LED lights, this wattage, this kelvin, here here and here".

I don't know how many I need and where. Because I need to get first fix electrics done before this kitchen fitter comes.

Stressful!
PRO
AVINU - Home Technology
7 years ago
We'd suggest you generate your brief then speak to a local lighting designer, interior designer or even an experienced electrician to see what guidance and services they can offer.

Also, maybe drop into an electrical wholesaler like Grant & Stone or local lighting retailer and have a chat with them.

Good luck and it's certainly worth the effort to get this designed well with the right fittings.
PRO
User
7 years ago
A lighting layout is quite time consuming to do, as well as demanding expertise and the response above from Claire is spot on [no pun intended!]. Kitchens are probably the most demanding too - the last one I did was quite small, c4 x 4m, and we ended up with 5 different circuits. Don't be tempted to just place spots equidistantly across the space, which, in my experience, is the response from electricians! And don't forget to make sure your worktop space is adequately lit, either with under cabinet lights or ceiling spots.
PRO
AVINU - Home Technology
7 years ago
Well said Read Interiors about spots across the ceiling area - it seems to be the default approach for providing light, but well placed LED strips and other fittings can light a place more effectively - and look far better AND potentially be cheaper to do ;)
PRO
electrical matters
7 years ago
Dean unless you like employing a cleaner to polish pendants I'd swerve away from them. They look great in pictures but you'll find there's a greasy layer on them within no time unless you've a monster of an extractor and that may still not curb the problem.

Under cabinet LED strip lighting is must these days in assisting prep work or just used as ambient light when your spots are off.

Remember with downlights that the majority are fixed though larger models can move to give you some directional lighting. Consider where your going to be standing / shadows created etc.

Kitchen lighting

Claire Nicholson

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