Your body and the upper cabinets often block the light from centrally located ceiling fixtures, keeping it from reaching the countertops where you need it most. To avoid working in dim shadows, install lights below the upper cabinets to illuminate those cutting boards and cookbooks.
Fixtures installed beneath cabinets cast bright, unobstructed light directly onto the work surface. Install them toward the front of the cabinets with a small valance, if necessary, so lights don't shine in your eyes. Halogen lights burn hot to create a pure, bright light. Fluorescents are long-lived, inexpensive to operate and easy to install.
Undercabinet lighting is available in three varieties:
- Fluorescent lights are reasonably priced and long-lived, and they cast an even, "cool" light. They're available in varying lengths to accommodate different cabinet widths. Designers warn that fluorescent lights used in proximity to certain strong wall or countertop colors can create an "unappetizing" glow. T-5 fluorescent bulbs--about half the diameter of standard fluorescent bulbs--provide good illumination without being obtrusive.
- Halogen lights, most commonly in the form of small discs or pucks, cast a white, highly focused light that’s easy to work by. Halogen light closely resembles sunlight. Surface-mount and recessed fixtures are available.
- Incandescent lights come in a variety of wattages and configurations. Strips of incandescent minibulbs tend to be of lower wattage and work better for ambient light than for true "working" light.
Whatever type of lighting you select, install it toward the front edge of the cabinets so it illuminates the entire countertop rather than the wall. Install a 1- to 2-inch valance along the lower edge of the cabinet to keep light from shining directly in your eyes. Where possible, install continuous lighting so countertops are evenly lit. If you have shiny countertops, use frosted bulbs or frosted lenses over the bulbs to minimize harsh reflections.
According to electrical code, the cord of a plug-in-type fixture can't be permanently secured to the cabinet or wall with staples or other fasteners (although it can be draped over an open-ended hook). A more permanent, but more involved, solution is to install lights that can be "hard wired" directly into the home's electrical system and controlled with a wall switch.
From Family Handyman magazine. Subscribe to this and other publications here.
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