For most homes, the kitchen is the epicenter of activity. We cook, eat, and talk in the kitchen. It is a perfect gathering place for the family to get caught up with each other. By default, home builders think of getting the most out of the least expenditure. So, also by default, we often have substandard lighting in the space. In Chapel Hill and other parts of North Carolina where the last 20-30 years have seen an explosion in home construction, many of our homes could seriously use a refresh when it comes to illuminating our kitchen spaces. Mr. Electric of Chapel Hill prides itself in the work we do on our customers’ kitchens. Here we’ll show you three proven ways to brighten up your kitchen.
First, if you haven’t had it done or haven’t had it done in a while, get an electrical safety inspection. When we upgrade lighting, we want to make sure that the underlying structure of the electrical system is ready to handle the upgrade. We can schedule it along with the planning session for your kitchen lighting upgrade. We will let you know if we find anything that precludes your new kitchen lighting.
Over the Island Lighting
If your kitchen has an island, think about illuminating it better. We can drop in pendant lighting that uses fixtures and shades that match your kitchen style. Depending on which shades you get, the pendant lighting can either direct strong focused lighting or produce a more diffuse light that softens the focus of the light beam. If pendant lighting is too aggressive a look for you, a great alternative is recessed lighting Recessed lighting is a very clean look that maximizes the size of your ceilings. As with pendant lighting, you can used focused beams or use diffusers over the recessed lighting to distribute the light more evenly.
Under Cabinet Lighting
Many people don’t realize how dark the area underneath their cabinets are until the see them with quality under cabinet LEDs. For people who spend a lot of time in their kitchens, the improved visibility can be a game-changer. It’s hard to understate how much easier it is to work in a well-lit kitchen. There are two main types of under cabinet lighting. You can choose either spot/puck style lighting or use rope-type LED light trails. As with the lighting over an island, the difference is in how the light is distributed to the surface below the lights. The results range from dramatic to subtle depending on light type and color.
Cabinet Over Lighting
Though less common, cabinet over lighting produces a very interesting effect. The lighting is placed on top of the cabinets and bounces light off the ceiling. The effect is ethereal and a real point of interest.
Call us at Mr. Electric of Chapel Hill and get started today with upgraded lighting for your kitchen!
