Totally get the struggle with older kitchens—been there myself. Surface conduit can be a lifesaver, especially once it's painted right. Another trick I've found helpful is using slim-profile LED puck lights that mount with adhesive pads. No wiring headaches, and they're surprisingly bright. Sure, batteries aren't perfect, but swapping them out every few months beats fighting uneven walls any day...
"Surface conduit can be a lifesaver, especially once it's painted right."
Yeah, totally agree on painting the conduit—makes a huge difference. I went with LED strip lights under my cabinets last year, and honestly, best budget decision ever. They're plug-in, so no battery swaps, and installation was just peel-and-stick. Only downside is hiding the cords took some creativity...but hey, nothing a few zip ties and some clever placement couldn't fix. Plus, the warm glow really upgraded the whole kitchen vibe without breaking the bank.
Painted conduit can look decent, but personally I'd try harder to avoid it altogether. I mean, yeah, you can hide it with paint, but once you notice it, it's kinda hard to unsee. When we redid our kitchen lighting, I went with recessed LEDs in the ceiling and I'm honestly glad we did. It was a bit more upfront work (cutting drywall is never fun), but now it's clean and clutter-free.
That said, I'm pretty intrigued by the plug-in LED strips under cabinets—I've seen them at friends' places and they really do warm things up nicely. Are they bright enough on their own for tasks like chopping veggies or reading recipes? I've always wondered if you'd need something brighter or if they're mostly decorative.
Also curious how long those adhesive strips last...do you find yourself needing to re-stick them after a while? I'd probably obsess over them drooping or peeling off eventually.
"Are they bright enough on their own for tasks like chopping veggies or reading recipes?"
I actually find LED strips plenty bright for cooking prep. We skipped recessed lighting (honestly, cutting drywall scared me off...) and went with plug-in LED strips under the cabinets instead. They've held up surprisingly well—no drooping yet after a year. But yeah, adhesive quality might vary by brand, so maybe check reviews before committing. Overall, they've been practical and cozy without feeling overly decorative.
Totally agree, LED strips are underrated. Mine are bright enough to chop onions without losing a finger (so far...). But I'd still pair them with a ceiling fixture—sometimes you just need that extra boost, especially when hunting down rogue garlic cloves.
