Information about lighting for your kitchen

Kitchens require high level ambient light and focused task light that is free from shadow and glare. Task light is essential for chopping and preparing foods, while ambient light is used for moving around the kitchen safely.

Fixed lights are a good choice for kitchens as the layout of your kitchen is usually permanent. They are also a safe choice as cables from freestanding lights are a potential hazard. Recessed spotlights and downlighters are a good choice for highlighting specific work areas. Wall mounted spotlights directed upwards or wall mounted uplighters wash the ceiling with light.

To avoid working in your own shadow, task lights should be positioned so that light comes from the front or side of you. Placing recessed downlights in the base of cupboards, provides a focused task light that is glare free.

Interior lights on cupboards, operated by opening and closing the cupboard are also useful. Similarly, cooker hoods with built in lights are a good way of illuminating a stove.

In a kitchen-diner, accent lighting can provide a subtle background light when you are sitting down to eat and the task lights are switched off.

Dimmer controls are useful, particularly in a kitchen-diner as they allow you to adjust the levels of light from that needed for cooking to something lower for eating.