The Useful Drawer Addition You Won't Want To Overlook During A Kitchen Reno

We all dream of having a home where everything we need in a pinch is within easy reach. But no matter how organized we strive to be, it's always a struggle to find items when we can't see our way around junk cabinets or deep kitchen drawers, especially at night. While opening overhead lights or lamps solves the issue of rummaging around in the dark, having integrated lighting inside drawers or cabinets is a small but significant kitchen addition that helps streamline your daily routine.

While most renovations focus on the best under-cabinet or overhead lighting, homeowners seem to be catching on to the kitchen drawer lighting trend. According to a 2022 reader survey by Kitchen and Bath Business magazine, 58% of respondents ranked under-cabinet and in-cabinet lighting as their second most essential kitchen feature after built-in trash storage. As one of the most practical kitchen add-ons, drawer lighting pays off with space enhancement, time management, and better aesthetics. So, you don't want to overlook this addition. 

Designed to light up as soon as you slide open a cabinet or drawer, you get an instant visual overview of its contents, providing an incentive to bring and maintain order to cluttered drawers. Drawer lighting cuts down on the time spent rustling around in the dark and provides just enough brightness to not have to switch on any overheard lights — a gesture others would appreciate late at night or early in the morning.

If your home is undergoing a renovation, now is the best time to consult your interior designer or electrician about installing kitchen drawer lighting. Otherwise, there are several options that you can choose from depending on your mounting requirements, power source, and budget. Battery-powered ones, like IKEA STÖTTA LED Cabinet Lighting Strip ($15), are the easiest and most convenient option; insert batteries, mount the lights it in place, and switching them on. USB-chargeable lights, like the MCGOR Under Cabinet Lights ($23.99 for a pack of two), come with built-in magnets that let you easily snap them on and off your drawers for the occasional charge. The most reliable and enduring set-up would be installing hard-wired drawer lights, which, like IKEA MITTLED Kitchen Drawer Lighting ($18), need an electrical source to work.

There is no one formula when it comes to adding drawer lighting in your home. Add multiple light strips depending on the depth of your drawers or cabinets. Strategically place them on the uppermost part or the lower portion of your cabinetry, or even along the interiors. Explore their flexible functions and features, which can include motion sensors, dimming options, bulb brightness, and color temperature.