The Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas From Luxaflex

Of all the rooms in the home, the kitchen has the longest list of tasks, from a busy breakfast before work to wind down dining at the end of a long day. So the best kitchen lighting ideas need to take you from bright and functional to atmospheric and cosy. 

Styling Bregje Nix

Before you start shopping for the perfect kitchen lighting, know what you’re working against.

Unless you employed or inherited the work of a world-class architect, your kitchen is likely to have some of its own particular quirks. That could be lacking daylight or space or so much of both it’s hard to create atmosphere.

For a universally dark kitchen, there are a myriad of tricks you can employ to brighten it, from choosing reflective countertops to adding mirrored surfaces to double the perceived electric and sunlight.

Luxaflex

Choosing window coverings with light-enhancing qualities such as white wooden Venetian blinds will bounce light around the room whilst partly obscuring any less pleasing views or harsh midday sun. These blinds also work with either a more traditional kitchen in soft creams, or with wooden tones to produce a rustic or modern Scandinavian look. (Wonderfully versatile if you are prone to frequent interiors updates).

Gloomy corners can become favoured corners with carefully chosen, one-off pieces that add character whilst performing a function. A classic torchiere floor lamp will bounce gentle light upwards to reflect back softly from the ceiling, or a standalone rattan floor lamp will cast looped patterns of light across walls and flooring. Just one of these pieces will give a focus to a small space or much needed interest to a larger, blander space.

Styling Bregje Nix

Semi flush mount lighting is ideal for low ceilinged rooms as they offer the focus and detailing of a pendant light but don’t drop as far into the room. You might even consider a semi flush crystal chandelier, which will cast light in every direction and bounce off surfaces. A kitchen floor lamp is good in a small space if shelf space is at a premium, but you need to boost the current fitted kitchen lighting. It can also stand near window or corners too slight for furniture or permanent pieces and gets away from the standard kitchen lighting ideas that often just feel very functional.

Luxaflex

For those that lack square metres, diminutive doesn’t have to mean dull – in fact, decorating small busy kitchens can present an interesting challenge to accentuate the space you do have. Start with flush mount kitchen lighting: perhaps a chrome  wall sconce that will take up minimal room, utilise dead wall space and ensure guests won’t bang their heads on hanging fittings as they wander in proffering a bottle of wine. The best small kitchen lighting highlights areas of interest with cleverly directed pools of light – you might find a beautiful brass wall sconce to light up a gorgeous bookshelf filled with pretty cookery books, or string up bare bulbs to create unique kitchen wall lights.

styling Bregje Nix

Alternatively, large spaces with full-size windows need seriously considered management of daylight as it drifts across them during the day. Think about a series of coverings that can be managed independently, say a series of roller blinds or Duette® shades.

Wall and floor surfaces also need to be part of the scheme; matte or satin paint will give a more diffused sensation of the light reflected back. Gloss is the most reflective but will do it in small concentrated areas that can create glare. However, it’s suitably hard-wearing and wipe clean for high traffic areas like bustling kitchens.

For more visit Luxaflex.