7 Tips for Choosing the Best Under Cabinet Lighting

Is your kitchen dim and dark? Do you struggle to see what you’re chopping? Maybe it’s just difficult to get your dishes clean because you can’t see properly?

If so, you may not have the right lighting. Illuminating your kitchen can brighten up your workspace and make your kitchen more welcoming. It can also help you set the mood at dinner parties if your kitchen backs up onto your dining area.

So, if you need to brighten up your kitchen, why not look at under cabinet lighting?

While this type of lighting offers great functionality and style, today there are hundreds of designs to choose from.

With this in mind, check out these 7 tips for choosing the best cabinet lighting.

1. Think About the Wiring

When choosing the best under cabinet lighting for your kitchen, you need to consider the type of wiring you want.

Do you want lighting that connects to your electrical outlets? Or would you prefer lighting that connects to the mains in your home?

Under counter lighting that connects to your outlets is the easiest option. That said, they don’t offer the same slick look because there will always be visible leads in your kitchen.

They’re also not great if you don’t have that many outlets in your kitchen. And, they can be hazardous if they’re close to hot appliances.

Hardwired lights are best if you want a permanent solution. They are more complex to install but that’s nothing your electrician won’t be able to handle. Plus, they look nicer and they don’t come with as many safety risks.

2. Don’t Forget About Voltage

When choosing under cabinet lights, you have to think about whether you want low (12V or 24V) or high voltage (120V).

Low voltage lighting allows you to use smaller fixtures. This means you can fit more lights under your kitchen counter. This option is great if you want to illuminate the entire counter space.

That said, if you do go for low voltage lights, you’ll need to install a transformer. This transformer should go somewhere along the circuit, for example, inside the cabinet.

3. Be Energy Efficient

Aside from the cost-cutting benefits of energy efficient light bulbs, you’ll also have less of a negative impact on the environment.

By avoiding traditional incandescent light bulbs, you’ll reduce your energy usage by anywhere between 25 and 80%. Not only this, these energy-saving alternatives last 3 to 25 times longer depending on your choice.

Incandescent light bulbs aside, there are various options to choose from aside from. Some of these include:

• LED lights
• Xenon lights
• Halogen lights
• Fluorescent lights

LED fixtures are your best bet if you want to save energy. In fact, some of them use as little as 5 watts without compromising quality. And, if that’s not enough, you can dim them to enjoy further energy saving capabilities.

4. Choose Under Cabinet Lighting With Little to No Heat Output

When it comes to choosing under cabinet lights for your kitchen, you must think about the heat they produce. If you choose light bulbs that emit a lot of heat, you may struggle to prepare food that is sensitive to heat.

LED lights are once again your best option. They emit little to no heat in comparison to incandescent bulbs which release 90% of their energy as heat.

Avoid Xenon lights as these produce more heat than both LED and fluorescent lights. That said, they’re still a better option than incandescent bulbs.

5. Remember That Prices Vary

The amount you spend on your under counter lights depends on your budget and preferences. You can find affordable options that you can install yourself or opt for more expensive and higher quality bulbs.

By spending a little more, you could save money on your energy bills while installing lighting that accents your space. Plus, your electrician can install your new lighting so that there are no wires showing.

Remember that you’ll most likely need more than one light. Unless you’re doing it yourself, you’ll also have to cover the installation costs.

6. Think About the Amount of Light You Need

Most people add under cabinet lights to their kitchen when they already have a good amount of overhead lighting. If this is the case for you, you won’t need your lights to be too bright.

That said, if you want good lighting to complete specific tasks such as fine chopping, then you may want to opt for brighter bulbs.

With this in mind, you need to consider how many lights you need to install and the style of the lights you want.

This brings us to our next point…

7. Consider Which Style of Fixture Will Look Best in Your Kitchen

There are various styles of fixtures you can choose from. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Puck lights
• Button lights
• Light bars
• Tape lights
• Rope lights

Puck and button lights are great if you want a spotlight on a specific area of your kitchen. These are great for the avid cooks that like to get creative in the kitchen. These types of lights are brighter but focus on one area.

Rope and tape lights, as well as light bars, illuminate the entire counter. They spread from one end of your cabinet to the other, providing light to your entire surface.

These types of strip lights often come with LED light bulbs and offer great lighting for your entire counter. They’re also great for setting the mood in the evenings.

Buy Linear Lighting Solutions at Birddog Lighting

Taking the time to do your research before buying under cabinet lighting will save you a lot of money in the long run. By making the right choice, you can cut your electricity bills while also adding some ambiance to your kitchen area.

If you want energy efficient, low heat output, great looking lighting, opt for LED strip lights. This type of lighting comes in a variety of colors for you to choose from as well as high and low voltage alternatives.

If you believe this is your best option, visit Birddog Lighting today.

Our LED strip lights come in various colors as well as different price tags depending on your individual needs.