"quickly realized it left some annoying dark spots on my countertops"
Yeah, recessed lights alone rarely cut it for task lighting. I went budget too, brightness was okay-ish but color consistency drove me nuts... Your combo approach sounds smarter, wish I'd thought of that earlier.
I've found recessed LEDs fine if you nail the spacing and beam angle, but yeah, countertop shadows can be tricky. Did you try under-cabinet strips or puck lights to fill those gaps?
"Did you try under-cabinet strips or puck lights to fill those gaps?"
Under-cabinet LED strips are definitely my go-to. They're energy-efficient and give you that smooth, shadow-free countertop lighting that's hard to beat. I tried puck lights once, but honestly, they created little spotlight effects that bugged me after a while. Strips just feel more even and natural... plus, you can find sustainable brands now that use recycled materials. Worth considering if you're looking for something eco-friendly and functional.
"Strips just feel more even and natural... plus, you can find sustainable brands now that use recycled materials."
Totally agree about the LED strips—especially the eco-friendly ones. Another bonus is how easy they are to install. I helped a friend set hers up last weekend, and it was literally peel-and-stick, then plug in. Took us maybe half an hour tops. Plus, you can trim them exactly to size, so no awkward gaps or overlaps. Definitely worth the little extra planning for a cleaner look.
LED strips are great, but personally I'd still lean toward recessed lighting for the main kitchen area. Strips can sometimes feel a bit too ambient... I prefer brighter, task-focused lighting when I'm cooking or prepping meals. Maybe a combo of both would be ideal?
