If You Had to Redo Your Kitchen Lights, What Would You Pick?

That’s the thing—having to swap them out can get old fast, especially if you’re planning to stay put for a while.

I hear you on the “swapping them out gets old” part. I tried the peel-and-stick LEDs in my 1920s kitchen, and it felt like I was always chasing a loose wire or a flickering corner. Hardwired cost more, but honestly, I haven’t had to think about it since. Plus, nothing beats that feeling when someone compliments your “vintage-modern” lighting—even if it’s just my neighbor being polite.

Hardwired cost more, but honestly, I haven’t had to think about it since.

That’s been my experience too. I used to go for the easy install stuff in rentals, but honestly, the maintenance adds up. Hardwired is a bigger upfront hit, but if you’re going to be there a while, it’s worth it. Plus, you get way better dimming and color options these days—makes a huge difference if you’re picky about ambiance. I’d never go back to peel-and-stick unless it was for a closet or something low-traffic.

I get the appeal of hardwired, but I’m not totally convinced it’s always the best move.

Hardwired is a bigger upfront hit, but if you’re going to be there a while, it’s worth it.

If You Had to Redo Your Kitchen Lights, What Would You Pick?

I hear you on the wireless stuff—some of those stick-on puck lights have come a long way. I’ve seen people use them under cabinets and honestly, unless you’re looking for super bright task lighting, they do the trick. But man, I’ve also had folks call me after a year because they’re tired of swapping batteries or the adhesive starts giving up (especially if you cook a lot and there’s steam).

Hardwired is definitely more of a pain upfront, but it’s kind of a “set it and forget it” deal. If you’re planning to stay put, it’s hard to beat. That said, I get not wanting to commit if you might move things around again. I’ve even seen people do a mix—hardwired for the main stuff, then toss in some wireless accent lights for flexibility.

Honestly, if you’re on a budget or just testing out layouts, wireless is a solid option. Just don’t expect miracles from the $10 two-pack at the hardware store... learned that one the hard way.

If You Had to Redo Your Kitchen Lights, What Would You Pick?

I totally get the appeal of those stick-on puck lights. I tried them a couple years back when I first moved into my place, mostly because I was renting and didn’t want to mess with the wiring. They looked great for about six months, but after a while, the batteries started dying at the most inconvenient times. I’d be halfway through chopping onions and suddenly realize I was basically cooking in the dark. The adhesive was another headache—mine started peeling off after a particularly humid summer. Ended up finding one of the lights wedged behind my toaster.

Eventually, I caved and had hardwired under-cabinet LEDs installed. It was a bit of a hassle (and not cheap), but honestly, it’s been such a game changer. No more worrying about batteries or sticky pads coming loose. The light is way more even too—makes the kitchen feel bigger somehow.

That said, I still use a couple of those battery-powered strips inside cabinets that don’t have outlets nearby. They’re perfect for when you just need a quick burst of light to find something at the back of a shelf. But for main task lighting? Hardwired all the way, if you can swing it.

I wouldn’t say wireless is useless—definitely has its place, especially if you’re testing out where you want extra light before committing to something permanent. Just wish they’d invent one that lasts longer than a few months before needing attention... maybe someday.