Monday, January 11, 2010

Kitchen Lighting Styles

There are many different types of kitchen lighting.


Kitchens often are at the heart of the home. It is where meals are created, children study, parents pay the bills and families gather to talk about the day's events. Many people choose to update their kitchens with new lighting fixtures to add ambiance, functionality and style. There are several kitchen lighting styles available.


Task Lighting


Task lighting assists with all the busy happenings of the kitchen. In the past, most kitchens had fluorescent lighting but modern decorators have created new, more fashionable types of lights. Task lighting fixtures should be located above workspaces in the kitchen. Many people place pendant lights over a kitchen island to assist with chopping, cutting and washing dishes. Another form of task is a ceiling fan over the kitchen table. Task lighting comes in many decorating styles, from modern and contemporary to classic.


Accent Lighting


Accent lighting can add dimension, depth and space to the room. This lighting usually is low voltage and highlights a specific focal point. One type of accent lighting is lit-up glass cabinets that display fine china, glassware and other items.


Ambient Lighting


Ambient lighting can improve a kitchen's ambiance and create a soft, warm glow in the room. This type of lighting also works to soften the shadows in the kitchen, as well as highlight designer tile and materials used in the décor. Ambient lighting commonly is used as under-the-cabinet lighting. Most of these lights are low voltage, small and inexpensive.








Decorative Lighting


Decorative lighting can add sparkle and zest to an overall kitchen design. Some people combine this type of lighting style with task lighting. For example, instead of one large pendant fixture over the kitchen island, the decorator uses three small colored pendants. Decorative lighting should enhance and coordinate with the overall décor of the kitchen. If the kitchen has a Mediterranean décor, then the decorative light fixture should be made of iron or natural stone materials.

Tags: over kitchen, Task lighting, Ambient lighting, kitchen island, kitchen lighting, lighting fixtures, Many people