Undercabinet Lighting: Do’s and Don’ts

With many alternatives for homeowners to make their kitchen aesthetic and highly functional, undercabinet lighting is one of the most sought finishing touches. It can enhance the appearance of your kitchen, especially your cabinets, in many ways.

Undercabinet lighting gives provision for better cooking by keeping shadows out of surfaces. It directly illuminates the place where it is needed. However, you need to know some dos and don’ts in installing them. If you’re considering installing under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen, follow these simple reminders to ensure that your investment is worth the results.

Do’s

1. Choose your lighting –

   Canvass for the kind of undercabinet lighting you prefer. You can choose from many types: fluorescent lamp fixtures, LED Bar lights or LED Strip reels.

2. Check the power supply –

   Undercabinet lights do not require much power, but if you plan to install several of them, you might end up overloading your circuit. Before installing your new lights, turn on everything else in your home and total up their wattage to be sure your course is adequate. However, if you choose battery-operated or rechargeable under cabinet lights, you do not need to worry about circuits and wattages.

3. Call for assistance of professional installers –

   Though many people are now interested in DIY kitchen projects, not everyone can do it alone. If you’re unsure about dealing with electrical wirings, asking for a licensed electrician to help you is the best option.

4. Color temperature matters –

   undercabinet lighting is more effective than table lamps and ceiling lights when doing kitchen tasks on your countertops. With that, homeowners often must choose a color temperature between 3000k and 4000k. A nice balance of yellow and blue light between these color temperatures accurately makes you see colors around the kitchen.

Don’ts

1. Avoid using bare LED light tapes

   – countertops reflect too much glare from undercabinet lighting. It is better to make sure that you use lensed fixtures to protect your eyes from the brightness of the light strips.

2. Don’t install the light against the back of your backsplash

   – install the undercabinet fixture just behind the front rail under your cabinet. This will throw the light in both front and back and will deliver enough amount of illumination for when you do kitchen tasks.

3. Don’t forget to add dimmers

   – if you have enough budget for your undercabinet lighting project, add dimmers. It is always a good idea to have them, especially when your eyes are tired; adjusting the light will help your eyes adjust too.

4. Don’t push for undercabinet lights when you have ample kitchen lighting

   –this may sound anti-climactic, but sometimes undercabinet lighting may be unnecessary. However, if you still want to add a small strip of warm white light for aesthetic purposes may do.

Installing undercabinet lighting is easy and can transform your kitchen’s aesthetic appeal. They can add ambiance to your kitchen and make your workspace more comfortable, especially if you’ve adapted to the hybrid work setup during the pandemic. Consider these tips and make your undercabinet light cabinet kitchen project work for you.

Are you in need of a kitchen remodeling contractor?

Our company is California’s one and only 14-time Best Kitchen Remodeling Company award winner. If you’re interested in bringing your kitchen to the next level, contact us at (714) 961-1900 or visit our website www.mrcabinetcare.com/.

Sources:

https://jmelectricinc.com/a-look-at-the-main-under-cabinet-lighting-dos-and-donts/

https://www.proremodeler.com/undercabinet-lighting-dos-don%E2%80%99ts

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/everything-you-need-to-know-about-under-cabinet-lighting