Kitchens are made all the more efficient by island countertops. Islands usually have creative countertops, designed with extra cabinets, shelves, overhead storage areas, and sinks. Kitchens are generally known for their particularly bright lighting, mostly because of all the activity that takes place in a kitchen. Installing lights for your kitchen islands is a great opportunity to improve your kitchen’s functionality, as well as its aesthetics.
If aesthetics is what you’re after, chandeliers are beautiful additions to any kitchen. Depending on the type of chandelier, it can provide a good source of lighting for your island, although most chandeliers are really not built for task lighting. Still, if you want an attractive kitchen, a chandelier will make a good source of secondary light, in addition to the different kinds of island lighting fixtures.
Pendant lighting is popular for kitchen islands. This is because the light they provide is very direct and straightforward. A downrod places the source of light a lot closer to the island, making it better to see whatever you’re doing. Generally, more than one pendant light is hung in a row over an island; the rule of thumb is to follow odd numbers, such as three or five pendant lights in a row, though this may depend on other factors like the length of the island, as well as the lights’ designs.
Track lights are also a good choice of island lighting, specifically the light emitting diode (LED) type. LED lights are perfect if you want to save on energy costs, though the initial buy might still be on the pricey end. (Still, if you want extremely long-lasting lights, LEDs are your ultimate solution.) Track lighting is also a lot more flexible than pendant lighting, mostly because you’re allowed to fix them up any way you want.
Recessed lighting can be used to highlight the important features of a kitchen, such as appliances and other architectural features. If you have any dark spots on your kitchen island, recessed lights can balance out the shadows. A good place to install recessed lights are underneath cabinets or shelves, if you have them on your island.
You can also make island lighting a lot more effective by matching up the finish on your island with the color of your lighting fixtures. A lot of sinks look relatively plain, however, more dedicated homemakers tend to decorate island countertops with specific finishes.
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If aesthetics is what you’re after, chandeliers are beautiful additions to any kitchen. Depending on the type of chandelier, it can provide a good source of lighting for your island, although most chandeliers are really not built for task lighting. Still, if you want an attractive kitchen, a chandelier will make a good source of secondary light, in addition to the different kinds of island lighting fixtures.
Pendant lighting is popular for kitchen islands. This is because the light they provide is very direct and straightforward. A downrod places the source of light a lot closer to the island, making it better to see whatever you’re doing. Generally, more than one pendant light is hung in a row over an island; the rule of thumb is to follow odd numbers, such as three or five pendant lights in a row, though this may depend on other factors like the length of the island, as well as the lights’ designs.
Track lights are also a good choice of island lighting, specifically the light emitting diode (LED) type. LED lights are perfect if you want to save on energy costs, though the initial buy might still be on the pricey end. (Still, if you want extremely long-lasting lights, LEDs are your ultimate solution.) Track lighting is also a lot more flexible than pendant lighting, mostly because you’re allowed to fix them up any way you want.
Recessed lighting can be used to highlight the important features of a kitchen, such as appliances and other architectural features. If you have any dark spots on your kitchen island, recessed lights can balance out the shadows. A good place to install recessed lights are underneath cabinets or shelves, if you have them on your island.
You can also make island lighting a lot more effective by matching up the finish on your island with the color of your lighting fixtures. A lot of sinks look relatively plain, however, more dedicated homemakers tend to decorate island countertops with specific finishes.
Enter Now to WIN in Our GREAT $30,000 Giveaway Extended 10-2-12
