Choosing the Right Kitchen Island Lighting for Your Home
The kitchen is the heart of every home. Your kitchen island is the central gathering place for friends and extended family when you are entertaining, and it is an essential space when you are preparing meals for your immediate family. Your kitchen island must be both an aesthetically pleasing and useful space. The lighting above your island plays a key role in making your home seem more inviting and comfortable. Appropriate illumination will make your kitchen island a more enjoyable space by providing adequate visibility and can even make the room seem larger. So how can you enhance your kitchen island lighting?
Types of Kitchen Island Lighting
Kitchen island lighting typically consists of two types:
Functional lighting is direct light that illuminates your counter space when preparing food. These options are typically pendant lights, but a carefully chosen chandelier can work in this space as well.
Ambient lighting is dispersed lighting that works in tandem to illuminate the entire kitchen and aids in navigating the room. These options include recessed lights or lights that are installed close to the ceiling. They brighten walkways and corners of the kitchen to eliminate shadows and glares on the countertops.
Kitchen Island Lighting Placement
Before purchasing your light fixtures, you should measure your island. The measurements of your kitchen island will determine the size and placement of your fixtures. Most islands are large enough to have two to four pendant lights centered directly above the countertop. Each light should be installed 26 to 30 inches apart and 30 to 36 inches above the center of the island. This placement is important because it disperses the light evenly over your space and the height requirement allows for better visibility when visiting with guests in your kitchen.
Kitchen Island Lighting Design
When shopping for your kitchen island lighting, you should consider every aspect of the light fixtures themselves. Functionality, visibility, and even which light bulbs you choose all affect the overall ambiance of your kitchen.
Light Shades
There are several shade options for pendant fixtures, and each one affects different aspects of your kitchen's design:
Linen shades create a soft, feminine atmosphere.
Glass shades range from clear to opaque, clear being the brightest, while opaque shades create a more relaxing aura.
Metal shades focus the light directly below the fixture, preventing the light from spreading.
Light Bulbs
Light color (kelvins) is key also. How warm or cool a light is will play a huge role in the overall look.While there are many styles of light bulbs, typical bulbs are only available in three different colors:
Daylight bulbs are the brightest and bluest.
Bright white or cool white bulbs are the most popular and closest to natural light.
Soft white bulbs are the lowest temp and emit the lowest brightness with a warmer amber color.
Advice for Designing Your Kitchen Island Lighting
It is imperative that your kitchen island lighting match your home's mood, tone, and style while maintaining a productive space for cooking and entertaining. At Celia Boutell Interior Design, we know how to navigate all aspects of creating a perfectly illuminated kitchen island. Contact us to learn more about our design and remodeling services.
Sources:
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/kitchen-lighting-design/
https://ideas.rejuvenation.com/how-to-light-your-kitchen-island/
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