Been thinking about my kitchen lighting lately...it's kinda outdated and probably wasting a ton of electricity. Imagine you had the chance to redo your whole kitchen lighting setup from scratch—would you go LED strips under cabinets, recessed ceiling lights, or maybe those pendant things over the island? I'm leaning towards LEDs for saving money long-term, but I'm curious what others would choose if they could start fresh.
LEDs are definitely great for energy savings, but honestly, I'm not sure I'd go all-in on LED strips under cabinets. They can look cool at first, but sometimes they feel a bit too modern or flashy for my taste. Have you thought about mixing it up a bit? Maybe recessed lighting for general brightness and then pendants over the island for a warmer, cozier feel. We redid our kitchen lighting a couple years ago and went heavy on recessed lights—it's bright enough, but sometimes I wish we'd added something softer or more decorative to balance things out. Also, dimmers are your friend...seriously underrated in kitchens. Do you cook a lot or entertain guests often? That might influence your choice more than just energy savings alone.
"We redid our kitchen lighting a couple years ago and went heavy on recessed lights—it's bright enough, but sometimes I wish we'd added something softer or more decorative to balance things out."
Exactly! Brightness is important, but too much recessed lighting can sometimes make a kitchen feel clinical. I've flipped a few houses and found that layering lighting types really pays off—pendants or sconces can soften things nicely. Curious though, has anyone here tried under-cabinet puck lights instead of LED strips? I think they give a warmer, less flashy vibe...
I've actually found puck lights to be a bit of a hassle, personally. Had them in my last kitchen and while they looked nice at first, changing bulbs got old fast. LED strips might seem flashy, but they're pretty low-maintenance and energy-efficient. If you're worried about the clinical feel, maybe just pick a warmer color temperature? Worked for us—gave the kitchen a cozy vibe without extra fixtures cluttering things up.
Good points about puck lights—maintenance can definitely be a pain. A few quick thoughts from experience:
- LED strips under cabinets are practical, but placement matters. Too close to the backsplash and you get weird shadows.
- Recessed ceiling lights are versatile, especially if you pick adjustable fixtures to direct light exactly where needed.
- Pendants over islands look great aesthetically, but measure carefully—wrong height or size can obstruct views or workspace.
Personally, I'd combine recessed lighting with warm-tone LED strips for balanced functionality and ambiance.
