Make Your Kitchen More Exciting And More Functional Using Under Cabinet Lights
Adding under cabinet lights to your kitchen is an inexpensive upgrade that makes your kitchen more inviting and more functional, and you don't need to have a contemporary styled kitchen to get the benefits of this upgrade. Even a traditionally-styled kitchen can simply incorporate under cabinet lights without altering its look because most under cabinet lighting is placed behind the cabinet valance, and is not seen when it is switched off. This type of kitchen task lighting is offered with many kinds of bulbs, including downlight spacing, spotlight effect, brake light stays on, and xenon lights.
Some of the commonest lights for use under kitchen cabinets are "puck" or disk shaped lights that can be placed simply and use small incandescent bulbs. Typically, these lights are housed in polycarbonate and possess a polished aluminum reflector to maximize light output. The simplest of these plug in to common electrical outlets placed along the wall or backsplash behind your counter, so even an amateur can set up them with little trouble. The biggest challenge is routing the electrical cord so that it is unobtrusive, but you can purchase special clips to accomplish this.
Some people prefer fluorescent lights for their under cabinet lights. They're energy efficient, and the bulbs last longer. These are usually hardwired lights, so either you or your electrician will need to tap into an outlet, but this is an easy install for an electrician (or a DIY-er skilled in electrical work). Many fluorescent lights designed for under counter use are rectangular and quite flat, so that they are totally unobtrusive. Many use mini bi-pin T5 type bulbs, which are fairly cheap and rated for about 7500 hours of use. The main drawback of fluorescent lighting is that it can distort some colors (oranges, reds, and purples).
Halogen lights for under cabinet emit bright light and do not distort colors, and certain models are dimmable. They do, however use more electricity than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, and they can get quite hot. Because they produce extra heat, it's a good idea not to store food in the cabinet above halogen lights, especially foods that could soften or melt (brown sugar, chocolate, etc.). Replacement bulbs for halogen lights of this type generally cost from $5 to $15 and are rated for 2000 hours of use.
Xenon lights also produce bright light and don't distort colors, and they do not burn as hot as halogen bulbs. Xenon bulbs are comparable in price to halogen bulbs, but work longer. Also, unlike halogen bulbs, you can handle xenon bulbs with your bare hands, because skin oils will not damage them.
When choosing your under cabinet lights, consider your countertop material. If you have shiny countertops, consider lights with frosted lenses so that you avoid a "spotlight" effect on the countertops. For every 4 feet of countertop you want to illuminate, choose one 12-inch fixture, or three puck lights. Some designers recommend setting up the fixtures toward the front of the cabinets so that they illuminate more of your working area. And if your cabinets do not have a valance that would hide the under cabinet lights, you can easily find two-inch cabinet molding to fit to the fronts of your cabinets, or you can choose low-profile light fixtures that are hardly noticeable.
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