Layering Lighting: The Many Moods of Your Kitchen

A kitchen should be a bit like a late summer day… it should have many moods. In the same way that days with chilly mornings and steamy afternoons call for dressing in layers, the many moods of your kitchen need layered lighting. When you’re prepping meals, reading the fine print on your labels, or cleaning up, your kitchen needs to be brightly lit. But unwinding after a good meal with a glass of wine or enjoying a quiet coffee in the morning calls for more subdued illumination. Layering the lighting in your kitchen will help you navigate—and create—the many moods of your kitchen. Let’s take a look at ways to light your kitchen.

General Lighting. This is a flip of the Cinderella switch. Not too bright, not too dim. Just right. Most of us want to walk into our kitchen, hit a single switch, and be free of the dark. Recessed lighting is a great way to get this just right general lighting. The lights themselves disappear into the ceiling without adding much of a decorative element, and without getting in the way. These recessed lights come in a variety of sizes—generally between 3 and 6 inches. For general lighting these are usually standard down-facing fixtures, though you can purchase tilting fixtures to highlight particular areas or appliances. Most are white to blend in with ceilings, but they’re also available in stainless or brushed silver to match appliances.

Task Lighting. The last thing you need when reading a recipe or practicing your high-speed veggie chopping is dim lighting. Some tasks and areas require greater illumination. This is easily achieved with under-cabinet lights. These brighten up your countertops much more than distant recessed ceiling lights. There are plenty of options here as well: linear (which come in rigid strips or clear “rope” or “tape” styled lighting); small boxes or strips sized to your cabinets; or round “puck” lighting. They come equipped for fluorescent, Halogen, Xenon, or LED bulbs. Colors range from white to various metallic finishes.

Decorative Lighting. Part of your kitchen’s mood will be apparent in its style. Being well lit is important, but having an updated, tasteful décor can go a long way to making those quiet cups of coffee as pleasant as possible. Transform your quick bites into fine dining experiences under a chandelier that matches your table. Try adding decorative pendants over your island or peninsula—something with warm tones like bronze or champagne. We see a lot of clear glass and drum shaped shades—unobtrusive but adding a nice accent to your surfaces… and brightening them to boot.

Simplicity. Remember the single flip of that Cinderella switch? There’s something comforting about that simplicity. While we’re big advocates of useful layers of lighting, and while this layering will require different switches, don’t get so elaborate in your lighting scheme that you’re dealing with a dozen switches in four different locations. If your lighting design gets too complicated, some fixtures will never get used; some will get flipped on unintentionally—and flipped right back off again. Make sure all of your lighting serves a purpose and that it all contributes to one of the moods you’re shooting for.