When planning your new kitchen, lighting schemes and positioning are essential components for creating different ambiences, moods and assisting in everyday activities. If your home has been relatively untouched for decades, the original placement of switches and bulbs may no longer be practical for a modern kitchen. As times change and rooms serve different functions, considerate lighting has the ability to transform a space into something truly spectacular.
Ideally, lighting placement is configured during the design process, when you can define zones and consider the natural lighting afforded by windows and doors. Leaving lighting as an afterthought can affect a room's atmosphere, leading to a poorly-lit, unwelcoming feel. Clever light positioning makes a space inviting and functional for any task, at any time of day.
Creating clearly-defined zones within a kitchen is crucial. Consider the various functions such as cooking, doing homework or relaxing, and how they will be affected by various lighting. Task lighting is often placed over areas where visibility is key, such as over the hob. Down-lights under wall-mounted cabinetry or pendant lights over an island offer much-needed brightness when cooking or working.
Accent lighting is designed to draw attention to a specific feature or create a point of interest. Including spotlights inside a glass-fronted cabinet is a clever way to showcase your beautiful crockery and accessories. These lights are often softly lit, adding background light in a more relaxing atmosphere. An up-and-coming kitchen trend sees the use of wall-mounted neon or box lighting to add a splash of personality.
Depending on the amount of natural light in a kitchen, ambient lighting can offer supportive light when you're looking for a more relaxing feel. Wall lights and lamps are perfect alternatives to harsh task lighting, particularly for dining areas or whilst hosting guests.
Preferably, various light sources will be on different circuits, meaning you can pick and choose the level of light depending on the time of day or how you'll be using the space. The switches' positioning should be thoughtful and practical- just because they've been in the hallway since electricity was first installed doesn't mean they should stay there. Using dimmer switches or smart technology means you can easily adjust the lighting to serve a function. In this way, you can transform the kitchen island from home office to romantic dinner table in an instant.
From hiding awkward architectural imperfections to providing much-needed visibility as you create culinary masterpieces, lighting is something that can't afford to be overlooked. A strategic lighting scheme can turn a bright and bustling kitchen into a cosy, relaxed dining room at the flip of a switch. At Thomas James Bespoke, our dedicated in-house design team will cover all your options for you- offering practical and thoughtful lighting solutions for everyday life.