You’ve spent months on your kitchen design, agonized over cabinet placement, wood species and finishes, practically became an expert with what you know about stone, but how much time was spent on the lighting? For most kitchens, the electricians made the major decisions for the actual lighting. I have seen many beautiful kitchens fall flat due to poor design or inadequate lighting.

By the time I reach the lighting design phase, the client and I have finalized the floor plan. We know where every cabinet will go as well as the location of the eating areas and workspaces. We have determined the location of art (if not the actual piece to be hung). We have chosen the finish for the cabinets, type of flooring and countertops, and chosen the paint for the walls. Only at this time can we start on the kitchen lighting plans.

Above is a good example of general, task, and ambient lighting. Notice how the backsplash is highlighted. The ceiling’s recessed lighting provides overall ambient lighting.

The pendant over the island provides both the task lighting and, with the aid of a dimmer, the ambient lighting

The first two things you need to know about lighting is, that the light bulb is really called a “lamp” and the contraption that the lamp goes into is called the “fixture.” The lamp is the most important part of a good lighting design.

The lamp is selected by determining two things:
1) How high the lamp will be off the work surface (whether in a pendant, recessed can, or in a ceiling- mounted fixture)
2) The reflection of the walls, ceiling, floors, and countertops (basically the light and darkness of the color of these surfaces this is needed for light absorption).

Your designer will then be able to determine the appropriate lamp(s) for you kitchen.

There are four types of lighting:
1) General: the overall lighting of a room
2) Task: the lighting required at your work surface.
3) Ambient: mood lighting
4) Art: lighting for your art.

A good lighting plan will take all four into consideration and the only way to create a dynamic lighting plan is to start with the lamp.

Typically there are three types of lamps for residential use: florescent, incandescent, and halogen. I usually specify halogen lamps due to their efficiency, brightness, and quality of light. Your designer will determine the correct lamp for your needs. Gone are the days when you ran to Freddy’s for just any ole’ light bulb. I encourage my clients to purchase a case of each type of lamp that is specified from the electrician during the remodeling process. That way, when the lamp burns out — they will always be able to maintain the quality and integrity of the original lighting design.

For task lighting — usually under-cabinet lighting — the light is more intense. This type of light serves two functions:
1) To put enough light on the work surface, and
2) To light the backsplash.

It is very important that the fixture that is chosen for this use fits the width of the cabinet as close as possible and is placed towards the front of the cabinet. This way, the light floods the backsplash and does not create pools of light separated by dark shadows. After all, you want to clearly see the tile that you purchased. If pendant fixtures are used as a task lighting source, be sure that the lamp is placed below your eye level — you don’t want to be blinded every time you make a salad!

Ambience lighting is the light that is left on after dinner is cleaned up. Really nice ambient lighting is an art form. A friend of mine has a fixture that projects shadows from her bamboo plant onto the wall in her living room — absolutely stunning!

Finally — art lighting. For this to work properly, the size of the piece of art needs to be determined prior to the selection of the lamp. You are also going to need a fixture that is flexible so that the light floods the art piece.

A really good lighting design is something that once completed you will never have to think about again. You will always have enough light for baking, cooking, reading recipes, working on the computer, or for your children to do their homework. Remember to give the lighting design the attention it deserves.

Robin Rigby-Fisher is a Certified Kitchen Designer in Portland, Oregon.