Just as you would never use a Nakiri knife to shuck oysters, you should never need to use task lighting in your kitchen to set the vibe. The lighting in your kitchen should be oriented around the ambiance and reason you’re in there. 

At Debowsky Design Group, our strategy for kitchen lighting is centered around 

combining different types of lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for cooking, dining, and spending quality time with friends and family. 

To cut to the chase: lighting (in any room) is divided into three layers: ambient lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. To achieve optimal lighting, it’s wise to look at how you use your kitchen so that we can design the ideal different options for each layer so that your kitchen is always perfectly lit, whether your’re chopping vegetables or hosting a wine tasting.

Before going over some of these options, let’s briefly define the roles of each type of layered lighting:

What is Layered Lighting?

Layered lighting incorporates multiple sources of light, each with its own unique purpose. 

• Ambient Lighting: This is the main lighting for the space, serving as a source of general illumination.
• Task Lighting: This provides more focused illumination for specific tasks, like preparing meals. 
• Accent Lighting: This is more decorative, as its central purpose is highlighting specific elements of your kitchen, such as artwork, open shelves, or architectural features.

Now that you know their roles, we can go over some different options for each type. 

Finding the Ideal Ambient Kitchen Lighting

Depending on the layout of your kitchen, your ambient lighting could be a single, centrally-located fixture, or a series of lights. For instance, many people love the look of a central pendant light or a cluster of pendant lights over your kitchen island, depending on how bright you’d like your kitchen to be. Due to their diverse range from industrial chic to art deco, pendant lights often become the focal point of the space. 

For more consistent illumination, you might opt for the clean and modern look of recessed lighting. These can be installed evenly throughout your ceiling to ensure they reach every inch of your kitchen. Recessed lights are popular because they light up the floor and bounce light off cabinets, maximizing light. 

And yes, you can have pendants and recessed lighting – you can even have one of them providing warm light and one cool light (we wouldn’t recommend keeping both on at the same time, but we wouldn’t judge if you did). 

Finding the Ideal Task Kitchen Lighting

The best task lighting for your kitchen depends on where you do your meal prep. For example, if you prepare a lot of meals on your countertop, it might make sense to choose under-cabinet lighting – like LED strips or puck lights – to illuminate that specific workspace. 

Another great option for task lighting is wall lights, which can be positioned to illuminate specific countertop areas. Wall lights can be very decorative and stylish, and they provide a softer light, making them a fantastic complement for stronger ambient lighting. 

Finding the Ideal Accent Kitchen Lighting

Accent lighting is the final piece of the puzzle. Think about which areas of your kitchen you’d like to draw more attention towards. If you’re looking to highlight artwork, collectibles, or glassware, you might opt for display lighting, like spotlights or track lighting. On the other hand, if you’re looking to highlight the interior of your cabinets and showcase your dishwasher, cabinet lighting is the way to go. 

Accent lighting can also be used to illuminate darker areas that don’t get as much light.  Do you love your cookbook library or your coffee bar nook? In this case, a nice table lamp right in front will bring more warmth and softness to this area, complementing your task lighting on your countertops. 

Whether you’re looking to remodel your entire home, upgrade your kitchen or just as a simple question or two, contacting an architect is a logical first step. At Debowsky Design Group, we are happy to help make your house a home in any way we can. 

So, when you’re ready to create the kitchen of your dreams, give us a call and let’s discuss how to bring your vision to life.