I’ve been eyeing those LED tape lights because they look so sleek in photos, but hearing about the adhesive issues makes me second guess it. Are the hardwired pucks tricky to install if you’re not super handy? I’m kinda nervous about cutting into cabinets.
Honestly, pucks aren’t too bad if you’re comfortable using a drill and measuring things out, but the hardest part is usually fishing the wires neatly and figuring out where to put the switch. Cutting into cabinets can feel intimidating, but it’s usually just a small hole for the wire. Have you thought about wireless puck lights as a middle ground? They’re not as bright, but no drilling required...
I get what you mean about the wires—that part always takes me longer than I think it will. I tried the wireless puck lights in my pantry once, and honestly, they were a bit underwhelming brightness-wise. If you don’t mind changing batteries every so often, though, it’s a pretty stress-free install. For my kitchen redo, I ended up going with LED strips tucked under the cabinets. They’re surprisingly easy to hide and give off a nice even light without much fuss.
I tried the wireless puck lights in my pantry once, and honestly, they were a bit underwhelming brightness-wise.
Ha, I had the same experience with those puck lights—felt like I was lighting my pantry with a couple of birthday candles. My house is old enough that every time I touch the wiring, I half expect to find a squirrel’s nest or something. Ended up running LED strips too, but getting them to stick to my slightly lumpy plaster was... let’s just say, gravity won that round a few times. Still, way better than swapping batteries every month.
Honestly, puck lights are just not it for pantries or kitchens. I tried them under my cabinets and they barely made a dent—felt more like mood lighting than anything actually useful. I ended up biting the bullet and putting in hardwired under-cabinet LEDs. The difference is wild, especially for chopping or reading recipes. Installation was a pain with all the weird angles in my 1950s kitchen, but totally worth it. If I had to redo things, I'd go even brighter and maybe add a dimmer for those late-night snack runs...