How to Quickly Lay Out Kitchen Lighting

A dishwasher, refrigerator and stove all fit basically in the same space(give or take), lighting is a different story. If you read past posts, decorative lighting is just that. Chandeliers do not effectively light a room. Its a huge misconception.

Recessed/track are the main drivers and backbone of a lighting plan. We will concentrate on the kitchen and bath in the next few posts, because those rooms really require proper illumination. These rooms also require more light. Think about it. In most other rooms like bedrooms, dens and media rooms, you shut off the light.

The best way to to lay out recessed is to place the light where you need it. But be careful...Too far from a cabinet and you will obstruct the light while working on the counter...

As a general rule, place recessed 12-18 inches from the cabinet and 3-5 feet apart...In a normal ceiling use a 5 inch can or 4 inch low voltage with this trim (industry term for decorative piece of a light):





or this trim, if you want to highlight objects on the wall...called a regressed eyeball.





We are not done...Undercabinet lights are part of the plan. These are not hard. Buy the corresponding length to the size of the upper cabinet. For the best color use halogen, low voltage or LED. If you plan to spend more than a few consider LED. It costs more, but will save much more over the long term.