The Zero Stress Guide to Kitchens

Lighting your kitchen

Top tips

• Good lighting prevents accidents
• Up-lighters create an illusion of space
• Dimmer switches improve dining ambience

It’s important to get the lighting in your kitchen right – not least for reasons of safety.

Good light over the worktops you use for chopping and food preparation will help avoid accidents that can occur in poorly-lit areas. Strip lighting or spotlights placed under wall cabinets or shelving are ideal – choose to have them all operated from one switch or, alternatively, wired so that they can be turned on and off independently.

If your room is small choose wall-mounted up-lighters to bounce light against the ceiling to create an illusion of additional space.

Go for recessed halogen lights in the ceiling – these create a more natural effect than pendant lights or a fluorescent strip. And if you use your kitchen for eating it’s a good idea to fit dimmer switches so the lights can be turned down for a more relaxing ambience during meals.