How To Create Beautiful Kitchen Under Cabinet Lighting
Undercabinet lighting is one of those cases where providing functional task lighting can also create a beautiful detail and lighting effect. At Delivered Lumens we believe all homes should be softly lit homes with layers of light, but there are times when task lighting needs to be bright and even to ensure safety and that important tasks can get done. Kitchen undercabinet lighting is one of those cases. Not only does undercabinet lighting provide a vital function, it’s also a way to create a layer of vertical illumination that makes the backsplash shine and faces softly glow.
Even if I’ve convinced you that undercabinet lighting is important, too often it’s not designed and implemented properly. Some common pitfalls include:
Undercabinet fixtures are visible. They should disappear, only the light they cast should be visible.
Reflected LED Diodes are visible in backsplash and/or countertop. No one wants to see a bunch of dots in their nice tile or stonework.
Unlensed undercabinet lighting. This is related to the last point, but when LEDs are exposed you’re opening them up to damage from accumulating moisture and cooking grease.
Non-dimming fixtures - if your undercabinet lighting is on a dimmer it can double as a nightlight.
There are three ways to create stunning kitchen lighting. Our friends at Luminii have helped craft some of these details.
Direct Counter Downlighting
Classic Counter Top Downlighting
Section Detail Sketch
This is the classic undercabinet detail. By mounting the undercabinet fixture toward the front edge of the cabinet and making sure there is a valence edge slightly taller than the fixture, you will effectively hide the fixture and provide excellent task lighting. Here’s how to nail it.
Use a small, low-voltage fixture that is easily hidden behind the framing edge of the cabinet.
Use a frosted lens to ensure no LED reflections.
End the fixture slightly short of the cabinet edge to hot spots where the walls meet the countertop.
Backsplash Highlight
Perhaps the backsplash or tile work is the star of the show. In that case, using an angled light detail is a great way to tilt light up toward the backsplash and highlight it. The other big benefit to this detail is that it prevents spill slight on the floor and minimizes wall shadows. Some keys to getting this detail right:
Use an undercabinet fixture with a built in 45 degree angle to eliminate guess work.
Make sure the millwork allows or mounting hardware for the 45 degree extrusion.
Backsplash Graze
Backsplash Graze Option
This is perhaps the most design-forward way to do undercabinet lighting. This detail really only works if you’ve chosen a backsplash with a rich texture that will benefit from a direct grazing effect. If you’re backsplash is a rich textured stone or wood this might be a way to add visual interest.
Remember even when using this effect some light will want to spill forward onto the counter top for function.
A channel will need to be routed into the millwork to prevent the fixture from being visible. This is especially true if there are seating angles that will bring your eyes in line with the counter.
Take the Next Step
Are you ready to take the next step in designing the kitchen of your dreams? If you're ready to take your under-cabinet lighting to the next level, use any of the product links below or visit our Build Your Project page, where you'll find products that can achieve the effects we discussed above. When you build your project, you'll be connected to a professional lighting designer who can review your bill of materials and ensure you'll have great results when you work with your contractor.
