The Kitchen Lighting Mistake Way Too Many People Are Making

If you're one of those people who hates overhead lighting, kitchens are probably your least favorite room — they often have nothing but. And between the fridge, oven, and small kitchen appliances, you may not have a convenient spot for an extra lamp. But relying solely on overhead lighting in the kitchen is a mistake, and not just because of how it looks. Overhead lighting is also not ideal for cooking.

Depending on where the overhead light is located, it often creates a shadow in the exact spot you need it: under the cabinets where you're prepping and cooking your food. That makes it trickier to see what you're doing when you chop veggies, eyeball seasonings, and handle hot items.

Rather than just one source of light on the ceiling, a kitchen should ideally have a few different types of lighting, with each one serving a different purpose. The overhead light is important for brightening up the entire room. But you also need task lighting for cooking and eating, as well as accent lighting for adding style, dimension, and highlighting other kitchen features.

Task lighting is important for helping you see more clearly while you complete tasks such as cooking. In the kitchen, task lighting typically goes under the cabinets. This provides a direct source of light where you need it during your daily kitchen duties, giving your eyes a break and helping you focus. Light strips and puck lights are two of the most common options. To choose the best under-cabinet lighting for your kitchen, measure your space and decide whether you want to hardwire the lights, plug them into an existing outlet, or go battery-powered.

If you have a kitchen island or countertop eating area, you should also hang pendant lights above it so you can more easily see while prepping and eating. These lights are also an opportunity to add style and make the kitchen more visually interesting. To create dimension and highlight other features in your kitchen, consider incorporating accent or decorative lights, such as DIY stylish wall sconces, cabinet lights, chandeliers, or toe-kick lights. All of these options provide helpful ceiling light alternatives while saving countertop and floor space. Warmer, dimmable light options are especially helpful if you use your kitchen to entertain guests.