A kitchen is a place where we all begin our day. It’s the source of nourishment, community, and creativity. It’s important to have a light, modern kitchen to evoke feelings of warmth and to support the well-being of the space. Here are some easy ways you can brighten up your kitchen.
Natural Light
Natural light is the most authentic way of brightening up space. If there are windows in your modern kitchen, avoid covering them with curtains or blinds and let the light shine in. Having natural light opens up space, making it seem larger than it actually is. Natural light also supplies different looks throughout the day. The sun isn’t the same at dawn as it is at high noon so the way the sun reflects off the paint in the space throughout the day can also create some interesting looks. If you don’t have a window in your kitchen, it may be a good idea to put one in if you can. On the flip side, if you’re unable to install a window, you can also add special light bulbs that mimic sunlight.
Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting is the first place you should begin your lighting construction. Make sure you like the look of this lighting system, as it is the prominent one you’ll use. These lights allow you to see everything in a modern kitchen, but they don’t always do the trick on their own.
Mix it Up
Don’t just rely on basic lighting fixtures — try to get creative. While recessed lighting is important to the basic lighting of the space, there are also those hard to reach areas that need an extra touch. Hanging pendant lights are a great way to mix up lighting and they look great over a sink or kitchen island. You may also want to experiment with different types of bulbs. Edison and other antique bulbs are growing more popular each day and add a great vintage vibe to any space.
Under the Cabinet
Lighting under your top cabinets can make a world of difference in your kitchen. It’s hard to see what you’re chopping on the counter-top if it’s always overshadowed by your cabinets. Adding under the cabinet lighting allows you to see what you’re working on more efficiently and is an added bonus to brightening up your kitchen. They also create a very romantic, low-light mood when all the other lights are turned off.
In the Cabinet
Lighting in the cabinets is another great way to brighten up your kitchen. If you have some beautiful, custom made cabinets, like those from Leicht NY, you’ll want to call attention to them. What better way to do so than with lighting.
Cut Out the Fluorescents
Fluorescent lighting may be cheap, but most of the time it looks awful in a home. Leave this type of lighting for the doctor’s office or a studio. Replace fluorescence with bulbs that exude warmth and are more energy-efficient. These LED light fixtures last way longer than normal bulbs and decrease your electricity bill too!
Bring in the Mood
Mood lighting and dimming fixtures are a great way to bring a few mood options into the kitchen. If you have an island or bar you like to occasionally have dinner at, you may want the option to create a romantic setting in this area. Mood lighting is available in different colors and size options.
Centerpiece
Adding a centerpiece light fixture, whether it be a chandelier or a cool, hanging bulb, will bring focus to the center of your modern kitchen and add more light, overall, to the room.
There are plenty of ways to add more light to your kitchen, but these are just a few simple ways to start! To learn more about modern kitchen essentials and custom kitchen cabinets, get in touch with LEICHT today.