Do you sometimes feel like your home is too cold? Not the temperature but the atmosphere that it gives off. If you do, you must have skipped configuring your ambient lighting! Although general lighting will brighten your space, it will not make it feel cosy. Its primary purpose is overall illumination, not ambience. So, how do you set up your ambient lighting?
Many lighting fixtures can help improve the atmosphere of your home. One of which is under cabinet lights! This lighting solution may be commonly used as task lighting for kitchen counters and shelving units; however, you can also utilise it to make the room feel more welcoming and relaxing. How? Here’s a closer look at the transformative effects of under-cabinet lights!
The Role of Ambient Lighting in Home Design
If you’re not familiar, there are three main layers of lighting: task, ambient, and accent lighting. Task lighting provides focused illumination, while accent lighting is used to enhance the visuals of the space. On the other hand, ambient lighting is integrated into your lighting design to set the room’s mood.
As mentioned, there are a variety of lighting solutions that you can use for ambient lighting, including under cabinet lights. It contributes to creating a comfortable and inviting environment that, once you enter, you don’t want to leave!
Understanding Under Cabinet Lighting
Under cabinet lights have been mentioned several times, but what exactly are they? This light solution is typically used in the kitchen, where additional illumination is welcomed for food preparation. You’ll find them under kitchen cupboards mounted above the kitchen counters.
Although under cabinet lights are known for providing localised illumination for work surfaces, they can also be used as ambient lighting. It’s flexible and versatile enough to boost the functionality and upgrade the room’s atmosphere!
Types of Under Cabinet Lighting Fixtures
Before you get caught off-guard, be warned that there are various LED under cabinet lights available, including puck lights, strip lights, and linear “bar” lights.
Puck lights look like hockey pucks and come in different sizes and finishes. It’s easy to install, and other variations are battery-operated with an adhesive backing! If you’re renting, this option is ideal because you won’t drill holes or modify the space. Also, it can be easily removed when it’s time to go!
Strip lights are another LED under cabinet light that you’ll definitely want to have in your space. It’s a ribbon-like circuit board with LED chips on one side and an adhesive backing on the other. Like puck lights, strip lights are also pretty easy to mount. Also, since it’s low profile and flexible, you can conceal them effortlessly!
Linear lights, on the other hand, are a traditional choice for under cabinet lights. It’s linkable and customisable, perfect for irregular lengths or extended rows of cabinetry. You can hardwire or plug it in, and it’s often mounted with screws or attached with an adhesive.
Choosing the Right Under Cabinet Lighting for Your Space
Knowing the types of fixtures is only the beginning. The next thing you need to do is determine which is most suitable for your space and your purpose.
Puck Lights for Focused Illumination
When buying under cabinet lights for task lighting, puck lights can offer focused illumination. It’s the best pick for task-oriented areas like the kitchen counter. To effectively utilise puck lights for task lighting, you must space them correctly.
To achieve even lighting, space the fixtures with eight to twelve inches in between. If you want to avoid scalloping or pooling, put them closer together.
Linear Strip Lights for Continuous Illumination
Strip lights are versatile, and because of this, there are many applications that you can do. If you want to creatively design your ambient lights, this is the fixture that you must buy. You can line your cabinets with a continuous strip for uninterrupted ambient lighting or use it for unique applications like wall art or furniture lighting!
Colour Temperature for Setting the Right Ambience
You already chose the fixture that suits your application best. But wait! You are not yet done. You haven’t reached the most critical step. When it comes to ambience, colour temperature plays a significant and massive role! It determines the overall feel of the space, so if you choose the wrong colour temperature, you’ll less likely achieve the atmosphere you’re after.
There are three colour temperatures that you should know: cool white, natural white, and warm white light. Cool white (6000K) has a crisp bluish tone, while natural white (4000K) has no hints of blue or yellow. You can use both colours for task lighting because of their remarkable brightness. However, some people find cool white to be too clinical. If that’s the case for you, opt for natural white since it resembles a cloudless sunny day! On the other hand, warm white light has a yellowish shade that’s similar to an old incandescent bulb. It’s perfect for creating a welcoming and cosy atmosphere.
So, to sum it up, choose natural or cool white if you need to stay alert and focused. If you want to relax, go for warm white light. For more diversity, opt for a colour temperature adjustable under cabinet light to enjoy all three colours in one unit!
Conclusion: Elevate Your Home’s Ambience with Under Cabinet Lighting
Ambient lighting transforms your house into a home. It makes a cosy living room more relaxing and a busy kitchen more functional. Under cabinet lights are one of the easiest ways to integrate ambient lights into your home design. It’s available in various types, finishes, colour temperatures, and sizes! If you’re looking for top-quality under-cabinet lights, you can visit our website, Simple Lighting. Besides our extensive cabinet lighting collection, we also have a wide selection of indoor, outdoor, and commercial lighting solutions!
