Kitchen lighting basics

So what do you need to know? Kitchen lighting fixtures can not only dress up the decor but also make cooking and entertaining much easier.

Many kitchens come with only general, or ambient lighting. Kitchens should also have two other types of lighting; task lighting and accent lighting.

Task lighting makes your kitchen more functional by providing bright light for specific tasks in specific areas; additional lights at the cooktop, sink and countertops lets you read a recipe without eyestrain and chop veggies without injuring your fingers.

Accent lighting enhances a kitchens style by focusing attention on artwork, pottery, glassware and other decorative elements. A beautiful focal point such as a tied backsplash mural deserves to be shown to its best advantage.

Popular options include pendants over the island; disk or puck lights under and inside cabinets; sconces on either side of a range.