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

"Definitely under-cabinet lights, but also toe-kick lighting along the base cabinets - sounds extra, but it's subtle and cozy at night."

Toe-kick lighting does look nice, but honestly, I found it more gimmicky than practical. Ended up rarely using mine... under-cabinet lights were way more useful day-to-day. Just my two cents.

Toe-kick lighting does look nice, but honestly, I found it more gimmicky than practical. Ended up rarely using mine...

I mean, toe-kick lighting does sound cozy, but how often are you really hanging out in your kitchen at night staring at your feet? 😂 I feel like I'd forget to turn them on after the first week. Under-cabinet lights though... total lifesaver when you're trying not to chop off a finger prepping dinner. Has anyone tried those dimmable pendant lights over an island instead? Seems like they'd be both practical and cozy without feeling gimmicky... thoughts?

We put in dimmable pendants over our island when we redid the kitchen, and honestly, they've been great. I didn't think I'd use the dimming feature much at first, but turns out it's perfect for late-night snacks or early mornings when you're not quite ready for full brightness yet. Toe-kick lighting always seemed kinda pointless to me - like, sure it looks fancy in pictures, but in real life? I can't imagine ever remembering to flip them on.

Funny thing though, my folks installed toe-kick lighting in their kitchen remodel a few years back. They swore they'd love it, but now whenever I visit, those lights are never on. My dad jokes they're just expensive dust collectors at this point. Under-cabinet lighting is definitely the winner if you're going for practical...but if you want something cozy with actual use, dimmable pendants are solid.

I get what you're saying about toe-kick lighting, but I wouldn't dismiss it entirely. I've seen it used effectively as subtle night lighting - especially helpful if you've got kids or older family members navigating the kitchen at night. Depends on your household needs, really.

I see your point about toe-kick lighting being handy for nighttime navigation, but honestly, I've found it a bit overrated in practice. I had a client who insisted on installing them specifically because her elderly mom stayed over frequently. After about two months, she admitted they barely got used - her mom preferred a small plug-in nightlight near the doorway instead. The toe-kick lights ended up feeling more decorative than functional.

Personally, if subtle nighttime lighting is the goal, I'd lean toward under-cabinet LED strips with adjustable brightness. You can dim them way down at night, and they're versatile enough to provide solid task lighting during meal prep. Plus, they're easier to retrofit if you change your mind later on...unlike toe-kick lights, which can be a hassle to remove or reposition once installed. Just something to consider based on what I've seen work (and not work) in real-life kitchens.

Funny you mention the toe-kick lights - I had a similar experience when I redid my kitchen a couple years back. Thought they'd be super practical, especially since I'm always stumbling around at night looking for snacks (don't judge me). But honestly, after the novelty wore off, they mostly just became fancy dust collectors. My dog seemed to appreciate them more than I did - he'd lie down right in front of them like he was sunbathing on a beach or something.

I ended up installing under-cabinet LED strips later on, and those were a total game changer. Being able to dim them way down at night is perfect for midnight snack raids without blinding myself or waking up the whole house. Plus, they're actually useful during cooking - who knew good lighting could make chopping veggies feel less like a chore?

One thing I'd add though: if you're going the LED strip route, make sure you get ones with adjustable color temperature too. I initially got some that were way too cool-toned, and my kitchen ended up looking like a hospital operating room. Swapped them out for warmer ones, and now it's cozy enough that I actually enjoy spending time in there - even if it's just reheating leftover pizza.

Anyway, lesson learned: sometimes simpler really is better. And if all else fails, there's always the trusty plug-in nightlight...or your phone flashlight when you're desperate.

Totally agree on the adjustable color temp LEDs - makes a huge difference. But honestly, don't write off toe-kick lights completely. If you pair them with motion sensors, they're actually pretty handy for late-night snack runs...or dog sunbathing sessions, apparently.

"But honestly, don't write off toe-kick lights completely. If you pair them with motion sensors, they're actually pretty handy for late-night snack runs...or dog sunbathing sessions, apparently."

Wait, dog sunbathing sessions? Now that's something I didn't consider... Anyway, are those toe-kick lights actually bright enough to be practical at night without turning on overhead lights? I'm asking because we're right in the middle of our first kitchen reno and I'm trying to figure out if they're worth adding in. We already decided on adjustable LEDs for the main lighting (seems like a no-brainer), but I'm still on the fence about the extra accent lighting. Do they really help avoid bumping into stuff at 2 AM, or is it more of an aesthetic thing? Our dog tends to park himself right in front of the fridge at night - maybe he's hinting something about midnight snacks...

We installed toe-kick lights with motion sensors during our kitchen remodel last year, and honestly, they've been surprisingly practical. They're not super bright, but that's actually a good thing - just enough glow to navigate safely without waking yourself up completely. Our cat loves them too...she lounges right in front of the cabinets at night, soaking up the ambiance. Might be worth it if your dog already has a favorite midnight spot by the fridge!

We did something similar with under-cabinet lights, and I totally agree about the subtle glow being just right. Funny thing is, our dog figured out pretty quickly that walking past the cabinets triggers the lights, so now he strolls back and forth at night like he's on patrol duty...or maybe he's just messing with us. Either way, it's been great for midnight snack raids without blinding ourselves or tripping over pet toys.

- Love the dog story, pets always find a way to surprise us, don't they?
- If I were redoing kitchen lighting, I'd definitely layer it up - pendants for style, recessed lights for general brightness, and LED strips under cabinets for that cozy glow.
- Also, consider dimmers or smart bulbs to adjust mood easily...makes a huge difference.
- And speaking of pets, maybe motion sensors placed strategically could help avoid those midnight patrols becoming too frequent. Just a thought!

"Also, consider dimmers or smart bulbs to adjust mood easily...makes a huge difference."

Totally with you on that - smart bulbs changed everything for me. I'd also recommend thinking about color temperature; warmer tones can really make the kitchen feel inviting, especially in the evenings.

Smart bulbs really do make things easier, but honestly, don't overlook under-cabinet lighting either. I flipped a kitchen recently and adding those subtle LED strips beneath the cabinets totally transformed the space...felt way more upscale and practical. Plus, pairing them with your smart bulbs means you can tweak brightness and warmth to suit different times of day. It's a small detail, but trust me, it makes cooking and late-night snack raids way more enjoyable.

Totally agree on the under-cabinet LEDs, they're a game changer. One thing I'd add - don't forget dimmers for your main overhead lights. I recently did a kitchen remodel where we put recessed lighting on dimmers, and it made a huge difference. Bright enough for meal prep, but you can dial it down when you're just hanging out or grabbing that midnight snack (guilty...). Smart bulbs are great, but sometimes simple dimmer switches do the trick without fussing with apps.

Good call on simple dimmers - apps can get finicky. In my old house, we went with dimmers on recessed lights too, and zero regrets. LEDs under cabinets are nice, but dimming overheads really sets the mood for evening downtime. Worth every penny imo.

"LEDs under cabinets are nice, but dimming overheads really sets the mood for evening downtime."

Totally agree on dimmers - simple is best. I tried the app-controlled lights once, and after a week of fiddling with updates and connectivity issues, I was ready to toss my phone out the window. Never again.

If I were redoing my kitchen lighting today, I'd stick with recessed LEDs on dimmers overhead (like you mentioned), but I'd also add some natural daylight tubes or skylights if possible. Did that in our last remodel, and it was a game changer. Nothing beats natural light during the day - cuts down electricity use too, which is always a plus.

Under-cabinet LEDs are great for task lighting, but honestly, I rarely dim them. They're either on or off for me. But overhead dimming...yeah, that's essential. Evening cooking sessions just feel more relaxed when you can tone down the brightness a bit.

One thing I'd skip next time is those trendy pendant lights over islands. They look nice in magazines, but in practice they're dust magnets and always seem to hang right at forehead-smacking height (or maybe that's just me...). Either way, simpler is usually better.

Anyway, good call keeping it straightforward with dimmers - less tech headaches means more time actually enjoying your kitchen.

"One thing I'd skip next time is those trendy pendant lights over islands. They look nice in magazines, but in practice they're dust magnets and always seem to hang right at forehead-smacking height (or maybe that's just me...)."

Haha, glad I'm not alone on this one - I swear those pendants are out to get me every time I lean over the counter. My kitchen currently has them, and I've lost count of how many times I've had near-concussions while grabbing a snack at midnight.

Totally with you on the whole natural light thing though. We put in a couple of solar tubes last year, and it's honestly been one of our best decisions. No more flipping switches all day, and it makes the room feel so much bigger.

And yeah, dimmers are definitely underrated. We put LEDs under the cabinets too, but like you said, they're pretty much either fully on or totally off - no dimming needed there. But overhead? Gotta have that mellow evening glow when you're winding down with a glass of wine or sneaking some ice cream after everyone else is asleep...

Totally agree about the pendant lights - I've seen more than a few bumped heads in my time, haha. One thing I've found works really well is recessed lighting combined with adjustable track lights. You get a nice, clean look without the dangling hazards, and you can angle them exactly where you need extra brightness.

Solar tubes are fantastic too, especially if your kitchen doesn't have space for larger windows. I've installed them in several remodels, and clients always comment on how much brighter and more inviting their kitchens feel afterward. Plus, they're pretty energy-efficient, which is always a bonus.

And yeah, dimmers are great for overhead lighting. But I'd suggest trying dimmable LEDs under cabinets too - sometimes it's nice to have softer task lighting when you're just making coffee early in the morning or grabbing something quick late at night. Just make sure you choose bulbs specifically labeled as dimmable; otherwise, you'll get that annoying flicker effect... learned that one the hard way.

Recessed lights definitely look sleek, but honestly, I've found they can feel a bit clinical sometimes - especially if you rely on them too heavily. Personally, I still like a few tasteful pendants or sconces for warmth... just gotta place them carefully to avoid those head bumps.

Good points all around. I've done a few kitchen remodels, and lighting is always trickier than it seems at first glance. A couple quick thoughts:

- Agree about recessed lights feeling clinical if they're the only source. I usually recommend mixing them with warmer accent lighting - under-cabinet LEDs or even some subtle strip lighting can really soften things up.
- Pendants are great, but yeah, placement is key. Learned that the hard way after installing one too low over an island... my taller friends weren't thrilled, haha.
- Sconces can be underrated, especially if you have open shelving or interesting backsplash tile you want to highlight.

One thing I'm curious about though - has anyone tried those adjustable recessed lights where you can angle the beam direction? Wondering if they actually help create a warmer feel or if it's just marketing hype...