Small Kitchen Designing and Buying Guide

A Professional Interior Designers Guide

Kitchen Lighting Guide

It is often overlooked how important lighting is to a well designed small kitchen scheme. This does not necessarily mean banks of lights in regimented patterns, but it does mean choosing lights that provide good direct and indirect kitchen lighting. It is also important to consider low energy options actively in your small kitchen scheme, especially if your kitchen is dark during daylight hours. You can make excellent savings for not a lot of compromise on looks. I have provided links to good lighting products below, and will be adding ranges and advise as I find anything further of interest.

Please click on company names to view their products

Slimline underlights

Normally low energy lighting, with slim flourescent tubes fixed to a slim metal casing mounted under wall units, hidden behind the front pelmet. They come in various sizes to suit wall unit installations. They have individual switches or can be connected in series and controlled from your main light switch. they are not dimmable.

Individual 12v underlights

These 12 volt spotlights are designed to be mounted under wall units individually. They are often wedge shaped so that they can be mounted at the back, under the wall unit without a pelmet, but they still put the light forward onto the right area of the worktop. They come in various colours and metallic finishes, but this type of lighting is quickly being overtaken by LED lights.

LED underlights

LED lighting is rapidly making inroads into normal lighting areas. The advantages are compelling and very practical. Often seen in cycle lights when flashing on and off. They are low energy usage, very long life beyond all other options, and are rapidly coming down in price. I would actively consider using this option, because they are very slim under wall units ( about 6mm upwards ), and almost fit-and- forget. they are also avaiable in strips that can be fitted under wall units or to glass shelves in various colour options.

Recessed undermounted lighting

This is a cabinet interior slimline type 12v light, recessed into the bottom of the wall unit. This option also avoids the need for a pelmet but is more involved, requiring a false bottom to the wall unit to allow for heat loss and avoid damage internally to the light fitting.

Recessed ceiling 12v spotlights

These are by far the most popular option, until recently, for ceiling lighting because they are small and discreet imitting a strong light with various colours and spread of light. Fittings are also available in 100s of colours and metallic finishes aswell as styles. Sizes start at about 65mm diameter and there are various adjustable options for angle of light. The introduction of LED bulbs has helped breath new life into this option because standard diochroic 50watt bulbs are expensive to run in banks of 15 -20 lights for each room !! It is long over due for this vast waste of energy to be addressed. The preferred option for transformers is a small electronic individual type. I still have a soft spot for copper wound traditional options.

Recessed interior lighting

This lighting is made to recess into the interior top of wall display units and dressers. The fitting is very slim and takes a very small halogen type bulb. The light isvery good for highlighting glass and ceramics.

240v Ceiling recessed spotlights

A fairly recent alternative to 12v diochroic low voltage fittings, with a similar bulb and characteristics, but not requiring a transformer. Fittings are the same as for diochroic 12v so are vast in choice of colour and style.

240v Exposed spotlights

Mostly used in diochroic bulb type small fittings form, unless for contract use. These spotlights are useful when used as ceiling roses with 3 or 4 spots or as short tracks with 3-5 spots. Options are very good for colour shape and style.

12v Exposed spotlights

This option for lighting is useful, where recessed lighting is difficult, and where and there is the potential for fittings to be touched. This would include exposed beams or low ceilings. Transformers are normally difficult to hide, but where there is no other option these are useful lights to have. Again these lights are available in many colours and shapes.

Track type 12v spotlights

Another useful lighting option, where it is difficult to get access to run cables in the ceiling, or as a budget lighting option compared to recessed individual spots. The track can look strange with integrated transformers attached, but has been quite popular until 240v diochroic bulb fittings arrived.

Track type 240v spotlights

A useful lighting option where safety is less of a problem and 12v fittings are not required. Better looking because they do not require transformers in diochroic bulb form, they are a cheap and acceptable option to recessed spots. Again these fittings are available as short decorative tracks and ceiling roses. The bulb options can also include LED. the choice is vast for colour, style and shape.

Wire system 12v spotlights

An elegant and modern solution for providing lighting to conventional interiors and open roof situations. The potential to add interest into a scheme, and get lighting where you need it is very good. Plastic coated cables keep the system safe to touch, and hidden transformers ( if you can find somewhere to put them )help this system to look minimalist and modern.

Recessed and exposed flourescent striplights

These lights are probably more relevant to contract interiors, but have been used by customers sometimes on supply only projects, when I have not been involved. The benefit of flourescent striplights is a very flat and even whole room light, that is practical but not very pretty. For budget kitchen projects there are more decorative fittings to create more interest, but the nicest one I have seen recently was £200 and is in my office. Standard exposed fittings start from about £15 !! Recessed options require false ceilings and are heading away from my design comfort zone!

Plinth recessed spotlights

These lights are recessed spots that are cut into plinth boards to create more decorative lighting and atmosphere. The effect is indirect and mostly used in modern or minimalist type schemes.

Floor mounted recessed spotlights

A solution for more open plan and minimalist type interiors, but very elegant and discreet. The need for clear floor space, limits their use in most kitchen projects. Even so, I would love to own a property with the space to do so.

Floodlights

A lighting option for the larger interior, with areas of interest that require highlighting, such as open ceilings with king beams etc. They do take a lot of power and are large, so need to look elegant if wall mounted. They can be hidden above wall units, and pointed upwards into open roof structures, creating a dramatic effect for indirect lighting.

2D low energy recessed spotlight

These light fittings are a good alternative for general lighting in a kitchen, also as back-up to direct lighting with diochroic spots. The fitting size is quite big so is not a popular choice compared to LED options now available.

Wall mounted uplighters

A popular lighting option in more modern interiors where there is adequate wall space. Again this is an indirect and decorative lighting option often used effectively in breakfast and dining areas. The chioces are very good, ranging from plaster through to metal finishes. The styles vary from traditional through to ultra modern.

Floor- standing uplighters

A favourite with designers, again for indirect lighting, and to add effect. The options are again very good, and range from ultra-traditional through to ultra- modern. The top shade can be adjustable and available with different types of bulbs, from wall washers through to spots.