Understanding Under-Cabinet Lighting
Though it started out as just a trend several years ago, under-cabinet lighting has now become a mainstay, widely featured in design blogs, Pinterest posts, and decorating magazines. Whether you want to highlight your custom backsplash or illuminate the cutting board to chiffonade basil, there is a perfect under-cabinet lighting fixture to provide a low-profile, high-impact solution.
Offered in several technologies and various styles, it can be challenging to choose the right under-cabinet lighting for your situations. So, let’s go over some popular options and run down their pros and cons.
Traditional lighting technology options like xenon and halogen offer premium color-rendering, crisp, white light and are dimmable with compatible controls. These are great choices if you’re a food blogger and need high-quality light for photographing your edible masterpieces. But the downsides to these are their high energy consumption and heat output. Don’t leave that picture-perfect ice cream sundae under these lights for too long: photo op lost!
Fluorescent fixtures are another common choice. Their operating efficiency is much better than xenon or halogen, and the bulbs don’t get nearly as hot. They can be strung together for more even and consistent lighting spanning a larger space and offer hard-wired or plug-in options.
However, the light they produce is harsher and many fluorescents cannot be dimmed. Frequently turning them on and off can cause the bulbs to burn out more quickly.
LED options are the most efficient choice long-term even though the initial installation cost may be higher. Their long-life and low energy consumption will save money over time. They can be dimmed with compatible controls and some even offer high-color rendering ratings.
Now that you know more about the lighting technologies, let’s look at the three primary styles of under-cabinet lighting fixtures: bars, pucks, and strips.
Bar lights are by far the most common and they provide the most uniform amount of light. They generally come in 6” – 48” lengths and require careful measuring for optimum performance. Most bar fixtures are hard-wired into your electrical system (requiring the assistance of a licensed electrician), but there are also some plug-in options available.
Puck lights are ideal for accent lighting as they provide a circular beam splashing pools of light wherever they are directed. If used for task lighting, pay careful attention to the spacing between pucks to adequately overlap the lighted areas, avoiding hazardous shadows. Many puck fixtures are battery-operated or plug-in, so they may be the easiest and quickest way to capitalize on this popular and attractive lighting application.
Finally, strip or tape lights are exactly what you would imagine . . . tiny lights embedded in flexible material with adhesive backing that can be installed nearly anywhere! They come in a multitude of colors and can be combined with tracks, connectors, and power supplies to truly customize even the most complex under-cabinet areas.
Bring your kitchen, bathroom, or craft area up to date with some beautiful under-cabinet lighting from 1000Bulbs.com. Still not sure which ones are right for your needs? Call one of our friendly lighting professionals at 1-800-624-4488 today.
