Modern kitchen lighting
Good lighting is essential for one of the most important rooms in your home: the kitchen. Your family likely spends plenty of time eating, cooking or socializing in your kitchen, and it is important to incorporate a variety of light sources to accommodate each activity. Outdated is not only annoying and unattractive, but it wastes energy and runs up your electricity bill. Updating your kitchen lighting can make a world of difference.
Instructions
1. Evaluate your current kitchen lighting scheme. Check to see if you have a variety of light sources: overhead lighting, task lighting and decorative lighting. Overhead fixtures provide general light for the entire room, task lighting fixtures illuminate a particular area such as the stove to help you when you're cooking and decorative lighting creates atmosphere, such as under-cabinet lighting.
2. Determine which types of new fixtures you need to install. To update your kitchen lighting, you might consider replacing that retro gridded fluorescent overhead fixture with more modern recessed light fixtures. If you have an island, you may choose to install pendant fixtures that provide focused light to the area. Or you may consider installing track lighting around the kitchen to provide flexibility.
3. Purchase your new kitchen light fixtures. Visit your local home improvement store or shop online for new fixtures. Look for energy-efficient fixtures that feature the Energy Star label.
4. Install your new light fixtures. Turn the power off first and follow the installation directions included with your fixture. If you are simply replacing a fixture with a similar, new fixture, only basic wiring skills are required. However, if you plan to install track lighting, it may run on a different type of power source. If in doubt, call an electrician.
5. Test out your new kitchen lighting scheme. Be sure that it provides plenty of light to aid you while cooking, but that it can also be adjusted to lower levels when you are dining or socializing in the space. Consider installing dimmers or switching to a lower wattage bulb if the space is too bright.
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