What to choose lighting for the kitchen
Added 8.6.2022 11:02.31
The kitchen and dining room is the imaginary centre of every home. After all, it is where we meet our loved ones in the morning and evening, even if we don't see each other all day. That's why it's important that we feel comfortable here, no matter what we do. Appropriate lighting will help to achieve this. See how to choose it.
The right lighting for the kitchen meets many criteria
Yes, the deciding factor when choosing lighting for the kitchen is and probably always will be the "like/dislike" parameter, but this choice is so important that it deserves a much more comprehensive approach.
Having a crystal chandelier, a modern chandelier or a designer trimmings fixture to suit your taste is beautiful, but it's not enough on its own.
The light it gives off must also have the right properties, otherwise you won't feel comfortable in your kitchen.
That's why we'll explain in detail how to choose the right lighting source for your kitchen. Finally, we will also refer you to other articles that will help you choose the right light to make you as happy as possible.
As a rule, one kitchen light is not enough
Until relatively recently, the simple rule of thumb in most homes was that there was one light in every room. And if for some reason it wasn't enough, a more powerful bulb would be bought in to provide more light - and the problem was solved immediately.
That thinking has gone. Today, 99% of kitchens have at least two sources of lighting: main and supplementary.
There are many different activities going on in the kitchen that need different intensities of light. When preparing food, eating it or working in home office mode, you always welcome a little different lighting.
Not to mention that while, for example, a romantic dinner is great with intimate lighting, but during breakfast it would be counterproductive. It might also be pleasant, but soporific, which you don't totally need after waking up.
That's why we recommend having one primary light in your kitchen and some supplemental lighting to go with it, which you can combine depending on what you're doing.
The main lighting should be positioned in the middle of the ceiling so that the light it emits covers as much area as possible. The appropriate number and placement of the additional luminaires depends on the size of the kitchen.
For a small room (up to 15-20 m2), it is sufficient to have a main light and one directly above the work surface. For larger rooms, however, we clearly recommend at least three light sources.
Especially in family houses, the kitchen and dining room are often divided spatially, either by a bar counter or just an open space. In such cases, a central luminaire, such as a crystal chandelier, can be placed directly above the dining table and the rest of the room fitted with ceiling spotlights.
You can also divide the main lighting between two sources. This is especially true with designer chandeliers, which are not as dominant as classic crystal chandeliers.
Depends on the height of the ceiling
The ceiling height is a crucial criterion when choosing the main source of lighting for the kitchen. In a kitchen or dining room with a high ceiling, you are not limited in any way and can choose any chandelier depending on the style you like.
Simply explore our wide range of crystal chandeliers for the kitchen and you are guaranteed to find your choice. And by looking at the different types of crystal chandeliers, you will see that they are suitable not only for classical but also for modern interiors, where they create a festive atmosphere either by blending in perfectly with other elements or, on the contrary, by presenting an interesting design contrast.
For kitchens with low ceilings, we recommend Flush Ceiling Lights, Ceiling Spotlights or even Ceiling Lights Basket, which are beautiful, evoke a feeling of luxury, but don't take up much space. At the same time, they provide plenty of diffused light, making the room visually larger.
For more information, including the recommended number of arms or chain length, see our article on how to choose a crystal chandelier with ceiling height in mind.
Secondary lighting for the kitchen
After choosing the main light source, focus your attention on the supplementary ones, Crystal wall lights are a proven choice to illuminate those parts of the room where the central light cannot reach. They also have a very decorative effect. You can also add classic ceiling spotlights directly to the ceiling and stretch an LED strip over the kitchen worktop.
Light properties are also important
So much for choosing a lighting source for the kitchen and its positioning. However, to ensure you are 100% satisfied and create a fabulous atmosphere, you still need the light to have the right properties.
Every lighting must have the right colour and intensity of light. And all sources need to have the right luminosity together.
We don't want to burden you with that theory in this article, and you don't even need to know that when choosing lighting for your kitchen, because you can buy the right bulbs with the right light properties later.
But if you want to, you can find all the information you need to know to choose the right light in our articles on how light colours differ and what light intensity to choose.
We are here for you
Still looking for inspiration for kitchen lighting? Check out our wide range of crystal chandeliers for the kitchen and dining room. Need advice? Contact us. We will be happy to help you.