The kitchen can be used for many different activities, and it is one of the most used rooms in the home. From making a bowl of cereal for breakfast to creating a large gourmet dinner for an upcoming event with family and friends, you will need to have the right lighting to accomplish everything
At Madison Lighting, we carry the lighting that you will need to make the best usage of your kitchen including:
- Island lighting
- Mounted lights
- Pot rack fixtures
- Dinette or nook lighting
- Undercabinet lights
- Recessed lighting
Lighting Design in the Kitchen
As you are planning out the layout of your kitchen, you’ll need to consider the three main elements or layers of lighting design. These include ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. They all play a different role in the home, and each have an important function in making your kitchen the best that it can be!
Ambient Lighting
The ambient light in your room will come from the main lighting source. In the kitchen, this is often recessed lighting, pendant lighting, a chandelier, or an island lighting. This light will need to be bright enough to make most activities and tasks in the kitchen easy to do.
Task Lighting
Task lighting are focused brighter lights that make it simple to complete specific jobs. In the kitchen, this will include stovetop lighting and LED strips that bring sharp focus to some areas that can often become hidden in shadow, even with an excellent ambient light source. Task lighting is very important because it will allow you to cut food, measure spices, and cook your dinners simply.
Accent Lighting
Accent lights help bring the room’s feel together. This can be wall sconces or rope lights. The purpose of accent lighting can be to bring attention to a piece of art or installation that you want to highlight, but it can also be to help create an ambient atmosphere that feels pleasant to be in. While you may turn on accent lighting during a quiet morning alone, it is not meant to be the main source of light for any particular activity.
Island Lighting
The island is the centerpiece of your kitchen, and will provide the most versatile space for working and interaction in your entire house. Depending on the size of your island and whether or not it has a sink in it, you can use it for food preparation, dishes, entertaining guests, helping your kids with homework, playing board games, or any other number of activities. If your ambient fixture is not directly above your island, you may want to invest in some dedicated task lighting so no matter what you are doing at the island, you can see. However, if your ambient light is directly above the island, you will not need task lighting for this area.
The best fixtures for above the island are chandeliers or hanging pendant lights. If your ceilings don’t facilitate hanging fixtures, recessed lighting or semi-flush fixtures will work great too.
Mounted Lights
Lights that are mounted to walls or ceilings are an excellent choice of lighting if you don’t have the space for a large hanging fixture, or simply prefer not to have your lights hanging in the middle of the kitchen. Depending on the brightness and placement of your mounted lights, they can serve as ambient fixtures or accent fixtures. You could place several strategically across the walls to light up every area in the kitchen, or you could use just one or two to illuminate your favorite piece of artwork or your wine rack.
Pot Rack Fixtures
Need a source of light that is functional as well as beautiful? The pot rack fixtures from Madison Lighting will meet your needs! We have a wide variety of pot rack fixtures that can hang from your ceiling and provide storage space for all of your pots and pans. We know that finding the right design for your kitchen can be tough, so we have a pot rack fixture for every design style. From simple to ornate, these fixtures will add plenty of ambient light to your room, and give you extra storage if you don’t have the right amount of space for your pots and pans.
Dinette And Nook Lighting
You probably have a dedicated dining room in your home for entertaining guests, playing games, and preparing holiday meals. But what about the rest of the time? If you have a smaller dinette or nook in your kitchen for your everyday meals and activities, you will need proper lighting for the area. These spaces can utilize all of the layers of lighting, and it just depends on how you’d like to use your dinette or nook to find out what fixtures will work best.
If you mostly read, work, or help your kids with homework at the nook, a brighter ambient or task light will help you the most. But if you want to eat the majority of your meals here, some hanging pendants that provide soft ambient light will serve you best. Maybe the nook is simply a personal relaxation area. In this case, finding some accent lighting like wall sconces may be just what you need.
Pot Rack Fixtures
Need a source of light that is functional as well as beautiful? The pot rack fixtures from Madison Lighting will meet your needs! We have a wide variety of pot rack fixtures that can hang from your ceiling and provide storage space for all of your pots and pans. We know that finding the right design for your kitchen can be tough, so we have a pot rack fixture for every design style. From simple to ornate, these fixtures will add plenty of ambient light to your room, and give you extra storage if you don’t have the right amount of space for your pots and pans.
Lighting Controls
No matter what type of lighting you choose, having the right controls will make a huge difference in the utility of your kitchen. Your main ambient fixture should be controlled by the main switch in the room, but it can also help to have switches for all of the accent or task lighting as well. This way, if you only need to make a cup of coffee in the morning, you don’t have to be blinded by every light coming on at once. It is also nice to set your lights on dimmer switches so you can set the mood for the room or once again, only use a bit of light when you need it instead of making the whole room illuminate brightly.
Another control option to consider is smart lighting. These lights can be controlled from an interactive panel or from your smart devices. You can make your own presets, save money on energy, or program your lights to come on at certain times of the day. Smart lighting often utilizes energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures as well, so you will be minimizing the amount of electricity your household consumes.
Visit Our Wisconsin Showroom Today
When you are upgrading your kitchen lighting, look no further than Madison Lighting! Our lighting showroom is the largest in the midwest, and we have experienced and friendly staff who are ready to help you make the most of your kitchen space. Explore all of the options for kitchen chandeliers, pendant lighting, undercabinet task lighting, and more! If you can’t make it to the showroom, our full catalog is also available 24/7 online. We can help to answer any questions while you browse, and you can have your order delivered directly to your door. Shop for your new kitchen lighting today, and make this multi-purpose room the space that you always dreamed of!