Kitchen Lighting- Keep it Sensible!

The kitchen is becoming an entertainment hotspot in the home – so making sure that the lighting is just right is becoming absolutely essential. Just as you would try to create the perfect ambience in the living room or dining room for your guests, think of your kitchen in the same light (no pun intended!). A mistake that many homeowners make is blasting their kitchen with fluorescent lighting because they think it's the "norm" in kitchen spaces. Chances are, guests and family members are always filing in and out of the kitchen. Whether it's to help, check on what's for dinner, or to just stop in to say hello to the cook, your kitchen's lighting is making an impression. A space that is too bright can appear washed out and boring… a space that is too dim can appear dull and uncomfortable. Finding the happy medium is half the battle.

When you can utilize natural light in the kitchen – do it! Don't hide windows with heavy shades or cover them with blinds that cannot be adjusted. The kitchen is a great place to allow natural light (and air) to come into. If you have blinds, make sure they're adjustable. Keep window coverings light colored and airy when possible. You may have dark green in your kitchen, but compliment it with crème curtains instead of throwing a heavy forest colored material on top of them.

If you have overhead lighting but you need extra light here and there, the solution is not going out and buying the highest wattage bulb you can find. Installing high watt bulbs can not only be unnecessary, but it can also be dangerous. Make sure that anytime you're looking to install a new bulb that you're checking the maximum wattage for the fixture. Exceeding this limit can be a fire hazard. To prevent yourself from having to worry about this, install a normal bulb and buy some small touch lights that can be literally stuck to the area you need them. Stick it under low hanging cabinets where a shadow may restrict lighting. You'll have the freedom to hand pick where you'd like a luminous boost.

If you find yourself using your kitchen for many different occasions, you may sometimes need a somewhat darker setting than a brighter one. A great way to combat this is to install a dimmer. A dimmer will allow you to customize the level of light to your choosing by simply sliding a knob next to your light switch. It's a very simply installation and will allow you to give your kitchen's lighting a true sense of versatility. For example, you may need the light at its maximum level while preparing a meal, but when appetizers are set out on the counter for guests to chat and mingle in a casual setting, the bright lighting may seem too harsh. By dimming it to the level of your choosing, you'll be able to easily make this transition.

Lighting is important in every room in the home. From the bathroom to the bedroom, all the way to the kitchen, don't leave any space unturned. Use what natural lighting you have and be sensible! It's silly and pretty impractical to install a floor lamp in the kitchen where space may be limited. Find a better, more practical, lighting solution for your home and you'll be on your way to a more functional kitchen in no time.

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