LED strips definitely have their perks, especially under cabinets—makes prep work way easier. But do you find they cast weird shadows sometimes? I've noticed that depending on placement, they can create odd dark spots on the countertop. Maybe it's just me being picky, but I ended up adding a couple of recessed lights overhead to balance things out. Also curious if anyone's tried dimmable LEDs in their kitchen setup...does it actually help set the mood, or is it more hassle than it's worth?
Totally agree about the weird shadows—I had the same issue at first. Adjusting the strip placement closer to the front edge of the cabinets helped minimize those dark spots quite a bit. Dimmable LEDs are worth it, IMO, especially if your kitchen doubles as an entertaining space...lowering brightness can make things feel cozier after cooking. But yeah, recessed lights overhead were still needed in my case to balance things out properly.
- LED strips were a lifesaver for me too, but man, those shadows drove me nuts at first.
- Agree on dimmable being cozy, but honestly, my wallet cried a bit at the price difference...
- Ended up mixing budget-friendly recessed lights with strips—no regrets yet (fingers crossed).
"Ended up mixing budget-friendly recessed lights with strips—no regrets yet (fingers crossed)."
Haha, totally relate to the wallet pain! I did something similar—went mostly recessed for general lighting and added LED strips under cabinets for task lighting. Took me a while to figure out positioning to avoid those pesky shadows, though... trial and error was definitely involved. But once dialed in, the combo feels cozy and practical without breaking the bank. Still, if I had a redo, I'd probably splurge a bit more on dimmable recessed fixtures—lesson learned.
I totally get the hesitation about mixing budget-friendly options—been there myself. Honestly, your approach sounds pretty solid. I went all-in on recessed lighting initially, thinking it'd be the simplest solution, but quickly realized it left some annoying dark spots on my countertops. Ended up retrofitting LED strips under cabinets afterward, which was a bit of a hassle but worth it in the end.
One thing I'm curious about: did you find the budget recessed lights bright enough overall? I've heard mixed reviews about brightness consistency with cheaper fixtures. Mine were decent, but I sometimes wonder if spending a bit more upfront would've saved me from adding extra fixtures later on. Anyway, sounds like you've struck a good balance between practicality and cost—hope it continues working out well for you!
