Choosing the Perfect Lights

When choosing under cabinet lighting, give some consideration to the kitchen lighting needs. If you do a lot of cooking or baking, these lights can provide much-needed illumination in the kitchen, making it easier to work. Make sure to install extra lights in the areas where you do the most work. Choose lights that will fit unobtrusively in the recessed area under your cabinet. Ideally, you should not be able to see these lights when you are standing in the kitchen. In most cases, you'll have a little less than one inch of recessed space under the cabinets, which is an adequate amount of space for most under cabinet lights. Low voltage lights are the best choice for use under the cabinets. Not only are these lights easy to install, but they require a very small amount of electricity. In many cases, under cabinet lighting is designed to operate on only 12 volts of electricity, which is the same voltage that your door bell might use. Many of the light fixtures designed for under cabinet use are small in diameter, measuring about the size of a hockey puck. When installed at the correct distance apart, these small fixtures will wash the entire countertop area with light.

Installing Under Cabinet Lights

If you don't have much experience working with electricity, it's best to have these lights installed by an electrician. However, they can certainly be installed by the average do-it-yourself homeowner who is comfortable and knowledgeable about electricity. When planning your lights, count on spacing them approximately 30 inches apart. This distance will provide an even amount of light along the countertop area, without producing unattractive shadows or poorly illuminated areas. Because these lights require 12 volts of electricity, you'll also need small transformers to convert the regular household current. These small transformers can usually be hidden inside a cabinet, as long as you provide adequate air circulation. It's usually easy to hide the wiring for these lights so that they are completely unobtrusive. If you'd like the under cabinet lights to be turned on at the same time as the kitchen's overhead lights, an electrician should be able to make the appropriate wiring changes to make this possible.

Designer and writer, Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com, has many ideas for bringing style to your home with kitchen metal art and sailboats wall sculptures.