Your kitchen lighting should be more than just a few florescent bulbs and a single switch. It takes task, ambient and other blended sources of light to create the ultimate functional and fashionable kitchen design. Without the proper light sources in the kitchen, it can be difficult to showcase your décor, highlight design accents, or even worse—be tough to complete the daily chores of cooking.

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Because the kitchen is the heart of the home, a well-lit space is preferred. Bright and white kitchens denote cleanliness and offer a clean space to cook and eat from and lighting is the ultimate step next to cabinetry selection and appliance design. But no matter what lights you install, always hire a licensed and insured professional electrician to do the work.

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Are you Up to the Task?

Task lighting is the main source of light for any kitchen. It needs to be addressed first and foremost in your lighting design. Task lighting sources like track lighting and single can recessed lights are perfect for highlighting specific work areas of the kitchen. Appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators and sink areas do well with these types of task lighting sources. Task lighting sources should be bright and direct over these areas.

Under cabinet areas are often the workspaces of the kitchen. From chopping vegetables to setting the groceries, the under cabinet countertop is a high traffic area. LED’s play a significant role in creating a light source under cabinets that doesn’t get hot yet is bright enough to read a cookbook with ease.

Many kitchen islands contain workspaces of their own with under cabinet storage, in sink garbage disposals or in-counter grills. That’s why lighting them with a good source of task lighting is important to getting the most from your kitchen island.

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The Perfect Ambiance

It’s not just task lighting that needs to be in the kitchen. A good source of ambient light helps to blend the light sources together and not make them so direct. An ambient light source is one that seems to come from all around, without a particular source. Ambient light is warm and glowing, without being direct in anyway. Florescent lighting sources are perfect for ambient lighting solutions in the kitchen.

Mixing fluorescent bulbs tighter in the same ballast is a great way to add a more natural touch to any fluorescent lighting source. Mix bulbs with blue and red spectrums to help enhance natural light colors to prevent fluorescent lights from having an industrial yellow feel.

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Looking Good

Lighting sources in a kitchen aren’t all about hiding them away from plain view. Many kitchen lighting sources are aesthetic and used to accent designs and décor as well as light them up for display. Mini chandeliers and mini pendant lighting work well for remedying overhead lighting sources that need that extra touch of class.

Wall sconces are used to decorate wall art, seating or other up against the wall accent furniture’s and décor. They come in a wide variety of sizes and styles and can easily be installed in an existing wall or a new kitchen just as easily.

Via HandyCanadian.