5 Common mistakes in kitchen lighting plan

“Kitchen lighting does not need extra treatment”— this was the general concept even a few years back. Gone are those days when lighting in the kitchen was never a matter of planning. These days efficient lighting arrangement in a kitchen is one of the key aspects of interior designing. For obvious reason probable mistakes in the kitchen lighting are being actively considered nowadays before planning lighting layout of a kitchen so that decorative and architectural superiority of the room gets rightly amplified.

Mistake 1-mono fixture of light in the kitchen

The most common mistake we do while planning lighting arrangement in the kitchen that we place one single point of bright light on the ceiling for the whole area and that makes the space overpowered. Instead, a kitchen needs layered lighting, especially today’s open kitchen, and that makes the place spacious and comfortable in effect. According to Randall Whitehead, an eminent lighting designer, the best effect of layered kitchen lighting is done by using a balanced combo of decorative, ambient, and accent lighting and that creates natural warmth and an inviting ambiance in the kitchen.

Mistake -2- putting fluorescent or halogen lights in the kitchen

We often prefer installing fluorescent or halogen lamps in the kitchen for creating maximum illumination; besides illumination, these lamps generate more than enough heat. The place where extra heat is generated because of its general functionality, adding more stimuli for extra heat makes the place only uncomfortable as a workstation. It’s not that fluorescent lights are absolutely “no-no” in the kitchen but these lights have to be installed by using ceiling panel or diffusing fixtures.

Mistake-3- not putting light above the countertop

A countertop is the busiest part of a kitchen because it is involved in almost all activities related to cooking, garnishing, cleaning, and washing. The light above the countertop adds the best visibility for them who work in the kitchen. Starting from reading a recipe to washing utensils in the kitchen sink, a light on countertop helps in adding maximum visibility. If possible the light over the countertop should have facility of illumination control, so that when the light is not in use the user can keep it dim mode.

Mistake 4-Decorating kitchen with light

Often we want to put a décor style in kitchen by installing inappropriate decorating light. These lights after installation may look beautiful apparently but as they are not functional at optimum level, they prove to be unproductive. Therefore it is always wise to consult a lighting designer for installing light in kitchen for best output in the most energy efficient way. Decoration with light in kitchen should be done keeping its functionality and output at acute consideration.

Mistake-5-not installing different lighting switches for diversification of lighting scheme

One of the common mistakes are found in kitchen that the installed lighting designs does not have sufficient switches for controlling different subsections of lights. In well planned kitchen, instead of setting one switch for controlling all recess lights, more than one separate switch are installed. The arrangement of separate switches offers better flexibility of maneuvering lights at least during daytime.. It saves energy, it saves money.