What are kitchen spot lights and plinth lights? How do they differ? Technically, they’re just the same! It’s just the terminology varies in different places, and some call it kitchen spot light, whereas others know it as plinth lights!
Plinth Light Applications: Where to Put Them?
Plinth spotlights are low-voltage recessed lighting designed to illuminate low-level places like your kitchen kickboards or bathroom kickplates. Although those two applications are the most common for plinth lights, there are more areas where you can incorporate them!
Lower Portions of the Kitchen Wall and Kitchen Kickboards
When you add plinth lights at the bottom of your kitchen wall and kickboard, it adds more dimensions and depth to the space. You can either line it in your wall’s skirting or add it to the lower end of your kitchen island!
Above the Kitchen Counter
If you have extra plinth lights and don’t know what to do with the others, you can use them as lighting for your countertops. Although, plinths have fewer lumens output compared to under-cabinet lighting. So, opt for an actual under-cabinet fitting if you’re using your countertops for meal preps. However, if you just want to eliminate the shadows on your countertops and make them more visible, your extra plinth lights will do just fine!
Staircase Lighting
Plinth lights can level up the visuals of your stairs and make it safer for everyone walking up and down. You can install plinths on each step to provide extra illumination. This is particularly helpful if you go up or down your stairs in the evening!
Bathroom Lighting
Aside from your kitchen and stairs, you can also add plinth spotlights on the kick plate of your bathroom cabinet or line it around the skirting of your bathroom walls. You can leave the plinths on at night, so you don’t need to switch on your ceiling lights when you use the bathroom. Now, you won’t be woken up by extra bright lights and will be able to return to sleep!
Bedroom Lighting
If you want to make your bedroom cosier and more relaxing, add plinth lights on the bottom part of your walls!
Spacing Plinth Lights
When installing plinth lights, like other lighting fixtures, you need to use proper spacing to maximise the light out of each fitting. If you don’t, your lights will be unbalanced, with other areas being too bright and some a bit dim. So, how far should your plinth lights be?
Adding plinth spotlights in your kitchen will differ depending on the layout of your space. You need to take into account the placement of your cabinet doors, drawers, handles and other elements. Whenever possible, position your plinths at the centre of each drawer or cupboard door. With this, you’ll be aligning the fitting with the knobs, creating a clean and uniform appearance.
If your cabinet doors and drawers have different widths, place your plinth spotlights approximately every 400 – 500mm. Also, remember to begin at the corner and mark first before cutting anything. That way, you can still adjust if you find something wrong with the arrangement of your lights!
Plinth Light Kits
You’ll notice stores selling plinth light kits when shopping for plinth lights. These kits include several plinth spotlights and the materials you need to connect your lights to the mains circuit. Sometimes, buying these kits is cheaper than individually purchasing every plinth and power supply. So, if you need a lot, it’s better to get this instead. Plinth kits usually offer three, four, six or nine fittings.
Why Get Plinth Spot Lights?
While plinth lights are relatively smaller than other lighting fixtures like downlights, wall lights and pendant lights, they have many benefits that make them irresistible! If you haven’t had the chance to try them out, here are some reasons you should!
Night Light
Plinth lights have a diffused light output, so when you switch it on, it’s not too bright. Because of this, it makes an excellent night light to help you navigate through the dark. This will prevent you from tripping, slipping and stepping on objects. Plus, because the light is soft, it won’t jolt you awake, and you’ll be able to quickly go back to sleep after a bathroom break!
Floating Furniture
Adding plinth lights on your kitchen island kickboards will make it look as if it’s floating. Also, the low-level lighting it provides can highlight aesthetic tiled floors and make it the star of your space!
Energy Efficiency
Normally, plinth lights are not working the whole day. Since it’s mainly utilised as accent and night lighting, you don’t need to have it on continuously. In addition, since it’s integrated with LED chips, it does not consume a lot of energy. In fact, it’s cheaper to use this than other lighting fixtures!
Improves Visual Appeal
If you only put lighting on your ceiling, walls, table tops and under your cabinets, all the illumination will be concentrated at the top of the room. Nothing will balance out for the lower area of the space. Adding plinth lights will resolve this issue and introduce more dimension to your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom. It will elevate the room, making it look as if you’ve studied interior design when you’ve only added a few plinth lights on your kickboards and skirting!
Boost the Ambience
Pair plinth lights with dim, warm lamps, and you’ll have the perfect ambience for a relaxing night after work! Since they’re low-level lights, they can provide sufficient luminance without being too aggressive.
Kitchen spot lights, plinth lights, kickboard lights, or whatever you may call them, are remarkable lighting fixtures that you should invest in (if you still haven’t). It’ll bring out the best in your space and make it more functional and safer for everyone in your home. So, if you don’t know where to get one, visit our website, Simple Lighting! Other than plinth lights and plinth kits, we also have an extensive collection of indoor, outdoor and commercial lighting solutions and accessories.
