The kitchen is the heart of the home, a space that must perfectly combine functionality and design.
When planning a kitchen design or renovation, lighting plays a key role, as it is not only important for tasks such as cooking and cleaning, but can also enhance the aesthetics and style of the room.
In this article, we explain everything you need to consider when deciding on the perfect lighting for designer kitchens.
1. Pre-planning
Before choosing what type of light points and lamps you want to install, it is crucial to do some pre-planning.
Analyze the layout of the kitchen and consider the different activity areas, such as the food preparation area, the cooking area, the washing area and the dining area.
It identifies areas that require more intense lighting and those where softer, more ambient light is needed.
2. Take advantage of natural light
Natural light is the most valuable resource to illuminate any space and, in addition, it will be part of the aesthetics of the environment.
Take into account natural light and how it affects the space. Make the most of sunlight as much as possible, with large windows or avoiding obstacles so that natural lighting is as intense and pleasant as possible.
This will not only improve the overall brightness, but also create a sense of spaciousness and connection to the outdoors.
Once the natural light has been studied, you will be able to define the ideal distribution and detect in which areas it will be necessary to install artificial lighting points.
3. General lighting
General lighting is that which provides uniform light throughout the kitchen space, essential to ensure adequate visibility.
A popular option for general lighting is to install recessed lights, also known as portholes or downlights, in the ceiling. These lamps provide bright, uniform light without altering the aesthetics of the kitchen.
You can also opt for LED panels or semi-recessed ceiling lights for efficient and elegant general lighting, with a simpler installation than recessed spotlights.
Study its location and whether you want to incorporate a single larger spot or several smaller ones in a row or strategically placed to cover the entire space, keeping in mind that the light it produces should cover the entire room.
4. Focused lighting
In addition to general lighting, it is important that you analyze where lighting reinforcement will be required.
For example, in the food preparation area and the kitchen countertop, directional lights or recessed spotlights that provide intense light can be useful.
5. Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting adds warmth and makes your kitchen feel more inviting, especially if the furnishings and décor include dark tones or if the space has little natural light.
You can achieve this effect by using indirect lights or LED strips under upper cabinets, on shelves or in display cases.
These soft, diffused lights can be used to highlight the architecture of the kitchen, create interesting visual effects or just a touch of soft light that enriches the style of the room.
6. Decorative lighting
In addition to its practical function, lighting can also be a key element in decoration.
Pendant lights over the kitchen island or dining table can add a touch of style and personality to the space.
Go for pendant lamps that have personality and fit the style you are looking for, whether minimalist, industrial or vintage. This touch can add a lot of character to a designer kitchen.
Opt for efficient and energy-saving lighting, prioritizing LED lamps. These types of lights have many advantages, in addition to low consumption, since many of them offer features such as color customization or warmth, or automation, such as time programming of the lighting or automatic switching on by means of motion sensors.
With all this information, you will be able to define the most suitable lighting for your designer kitchen and choose the most appropriate lighting points, from general lighting to ambient lighting and points with specific spotlights to enjoy a functional space with an incomparable style.
