5 Kitchen Lighting Mistakes You’ll Definitely Regret, According to Designers
I planned my family’s kitchen renovation in our new home and have been content with most of the major design decisions I made, both aesthetically and functionally. I have zero regrets about our hardworking features like the workstation sink, glass rinser, and hot water dispenser, which we use all the time. Although I do regret not choosing a quieter range hood, I’m still thoroughly happy with our kitchen. As a mom of five who has had a hand in designing a few of our past kitchens, I know exactly how I operate in the space and the things I like and don’t like about how it functions. And with each renovation, I’ve been able to incorporate a few more of the “things I’d do next time.”
But even if you’ve never worked on a kitchen renovation, you can still learn from others’ mistakes and regrets — especially those that come from the pros. One aspect of home design that’s super important and hard to change down the road is kitchen lighting. According to readers’ comments on this article about home cooks’ kitchen renovation regrets, there are a whole lot of people who regret their kitchen lighting choices.
I reached out to some design experts about the most common kitchen lighting mistakes people make, and what they recommend for their clients instead — here’s what they had to say.
1. Relying solely on overhead lighting
“One of the biggest lighting mistakes I see is relying on one overhead light for the entire kitchen,” interior designer Bree Steele of RJ Living says. Like with any lighting decision in the kitchen, using only lights overhead affects the feel of the entire room. “Having one light will usually make the lighting seem harsh and also casts unwanted shadows.”
Lighting a kitchen properly involves a layered approach. “Try to layer different types of task and ambient lighting to have a better lighting distribution,” suggests Steele, noting that this creates a more calming kitchen atmosphere. Types of additional lighting include under-cabinet lighting, LED light strips, lamps, and wall sconces.
2. Not installing dimmers
One of the greatest additions in lighting technology has got to be dimmers. “Another frequent oversight is skipping dimmable fixtures, limiting the ability to create different moods,” says Michele Iapicco of Iapicco Design Studio. Steele agrees: “Dimmers are a really easy addition to any room. You don’t usually see them in many people’s kitchens,” but they really do impact a room. “Being able to adjust the lighting in the room will, in a way, allow you to cater the room’s mood to your own,” Steele says. “If you’re meal prepping, you might like to have bright lighting so you can focus, but if you’re having a date night, then you might prefer softer lighting. Dimmers will give you this versatility!”
3. Not paying attention to scale
“Scale is very important when choosing the right fixtures for your kitchen,” says interior designer Natalie Papier, owner of Home EC. Not paying adequate attention to scale can make the whole kitchen feel off. “Too-small pendant lights over an oversized island or too large of a chandelier in a small kitchen can make the kitchen feel imbalanced.” When choosing fixtures, take thorough measurements that take into account the size of your island, the height of your ceilings, and the overall size of your kitchen. When the scale is correct, kitchen lighting “works as a sculptural, aesthetic component in the room as well as providing the function that layered lighting offers,” Papier says.
4. Not considering color temperature
Color temperature is another subtle but impactful aspect of getting kitchen lighting just right. Papier explains that “color temps that run too cool can make any room feel harsh and exposed.” Steele concurs, noting the wrong color temperature can make the kitchen feel too cold or too warm. In addition to choosing light bulb temperatures that are neither too cool (blue/white) or too warm (red/yellow), it’s important that the lighting temperature throughout the kitchen coordinates. Cory Rodeheaver, designer at Spectrum Design Group, points out that “mixing color temps between ambient light sources and under-counter lighting sources” creates inconsistent lighting, another common kitchen lighting mistake.
5. Not choosing convenient switch placement
Forgetting to consider light switch placement will affect everyday life in your kitchen, perhaps more than any other mistake. Rodeheaver says that one of the biggest kitchen lighting mistakes that people make is “not reviewing switching locations with [the] electrical contractor” before they begin wiring. “Your contractor’s ideal location for a switch may not be yours,” he says. Make sure to consider how you will go in and out of the kitchen, and where you want to control which light fixtures. For instance, I have a light switch for my over-sink light right next to my sink, which is superconvenient, especially compared to running across the room every time I go to do the dishes.
Do you have any kitchen lighting mistakes that you regret? Let us know in the comments below!