I do sometimes wonder if we’re overcomplicating things, though. My grandmother’s kitchen had one big fixture and that was it, and she managed just fine.
That’s always in the back of my mind too—are we just layering on gadgets for the sake of it? I’m curious, has anyone regretted adding too many lighting zones? Sometimes I wonder if all these options actually get used or if people just default to one setting after a while. Do you think there’s a point where “layered light” stops being practical and just becomes another thing to maintain?
I get what you mean—sometimes I do wonder if we’re just adding more switches to forget which one does what. In my experience, most people end up using one or two favorite settings and ignore the rest. Too many zones can feel fussy unless you really love tweaking things. I think a couple of well-placed lights usually beats a dozen options you never touch.
In my experience, most people end up using one or two favorite settings and ignore the rest. Too many zones can feel fussy unless you really love tweaking things.
That’s such a common pitfall—getting swept up in all the possibilities, then realizing you’re just using the same two switches day after day. There’s definitely something to be said for restraint. I’ve worked on projects where clients wanted every conceivable lighting scene, but six months later, they confessed they’d forgotten which dimmer did what. It’s easy to get lost in the tech and options.
But don’t feel bad about wanting simplicity. Sometimes the most effective designs are the ones that let you breathe, not ones that demand constant fiddling. A couple of thoughtfully placed fixtures with good color temperature can do wonders for a kitchen’s mood and function. That said, if you genuinely enjoy playing with different ambiances, there’s nothing wrong with a few extra layers—just keep it intuitive. The best spaces are the ones that make your life easier, not more complicated.
I totally get what you mean about keeping things simple. When we redid our kitchen last year, I got talked into a bunch of “zones” and fancy dimmers because it sounded cool at the time. Now, honestly, I just use the main overheads and the under-cabinet lights—everything else is kind of forgotten. Makes me wonder if all those extra features are really worth the money in the long run or if it’s just marketing hype. Has anyone actually stuck with using all their lighting options after the novelty wears off?
I hear you on the lighting “zones”—I got swept up in the smart home craze a few years back and wired my 1920s kitchen with all sorts of programmable scenes. Honestly, most days I just flip the main switch and call it good. The under-cabinet lights are handy for chopping, but the rest? Feels like overkill. I wonder if anyone’s found a setup where the extras actually make life easier, or if it’s just one more thing to troubleshoot when something inevitably glitches... Has anyone managed to make those features part of their daily routine, or do they just fall by the wayside like mine?
