Kitchen Lighting

One aspect of the kitchen that many overlooks is how the kitchen is lit. While some people are indifferent about how their kitchen is lit, others begrudgingly accept the lighting fixtures in their homes, secretly wishing for a different way to light their kitchens.

There are a lot of issues to deal with when it comes to standard kitchen lighting. These issues can be fixed with a little bit of innovation and creativity.

Major issues with standard kitchen lighting

There are a few things that most homeowners or apartment dwellers face when dealing with the standard lighting in their kitchen.

The first of these is that most kitchen lighting uses fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs not only cost a lot of money, but they have a complicated installation process.

If a fluorescent bulb goes out, replacing it is quite a process. First, you need to open the covering of the light, see what kind of bulb is being used, purchase a replacement bulb, then install the replacement bulb.

And fluorescent bulbs do not install as easily as standard light bulbs. If it is installed improperly, the impending chore of reinstalling the bulb will be rage inducing.

Another issue with fluorescent lighting is that it is often too bright. If you have pest issues, pests will flock to the light and all of a sudden, you’ll have a live audience of bugs while cooking.

Additionally, this brightness is typically not variable. There is only one brightness level: Super bright. In most cases, it is not necessary to have lights this bright all the time, and it can be bothersome in many ways.

Standard fluorescent lights are not optimal for a kitchen. What are some alternatives?

Alternatives to standard kitchen lighting

Before even considering any of these alternatives, two things need to be considered.

First, is it even necessary to have lighting in the kitchen in the first place? Oftentimes, the lighting from the living room can provide just enough necessary light, especially when going to the kitchen late at night. This is especially true if the kitchen is part of the living room.

The size of the kitchen should also be considered, as well as how organized it is. If your kitchen is disorganized, with utensils, tools, and gadgets strewn everywhere, you will likely need to do some decluttering if you want to consider other lighting ideas for the kitchen.

The first alternative to standard fluorescent lighting is to simply keep a desk or floor lamp in the kitchen. A desk or a floor lamp will provide similar lighting as standard fluorescent lights, and it is much easier to replace the bulb in a desk or floor lamp.

Another option is to use neon signs. This is a very good alternative for anybody who uses the kitchen at night. Neon signs are not what they used to be. These days it is not only possible to customize the content of the sign, but they are also much brighter than they let on.

Neon signs also typically have adjustable brightness levels. This is a good thing for anybody who does not like just one brightness level. Again, this is useful for anybody who uses the kitchen at night a lot, as kitchen lights that are too bright can wake up other people who live with you.

Neon signs also last a very, very long time, usually several years. This is a very good thing for anybody who wishes to keep a light on in the kitchen at night. They also do not generate the kind of heat that standard fluorescent lights do.

These alternatives are subtle; they do not require anybody to completely remodel their kitchen or remove the lights in them. If you dislike the standard lighting that you have in your kitchen, consider them.

Author Bio:

Lara Douglas is a young woman who loves interior designing and home decor. She is passionate about new trends and fashion forward home décor ideas. She regularly posts at Neon Signs Depot.