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

Title: Dimmers Are Overrated (And My Wallet Agrees)

I get the appeal of dimmers - makes the kitchen feel all moody and “chef’s table” at midnight, right? But honestly, I tried adding them once and it was more hassle than it was worth. Maybe it’s just me, but the wiring was a pain, and the “budget” dimmer I picked up flickered worse than the old fluorescent tubes I was trying to escape from. Not to mention, those things aren’t always cheap if you want one that actually works smoothly.

I’m team “keep it simple” these days. Swapped out the old “interrogation room” fixture for a basic flush-mount LED (found it on sale, naturally), and just stuck with regular on/off switches. I do miss the idea of a cozy, late-night snack glow, but I’d rather not risk frying my circuits or my patience. Plus, I can’t be the only one who always ends up leaving the lights on full blast anyway.

About under-cabinet lighting - I’m with you on the flicker and hum. I bought a set off Amazon that claimed “no flicker,” but my eyeballs disagreed. Ended up returning them and just using a stick-on puck light for the one spot I actually needed it. Not fancy, but it does the job and cost me less than a fancy coffee.

Pendants are gorgeous in photos, but in my kitchen, I’d have to duck every time I wanted a glass of water. I’ll take practical over stylish, especially if it means not knocking myself out before breakfast.

Maybe I’m just cheap, but honestly, sometimes the simplest setup is the least stressful... and my bank account thanks me.

Pendants are gorgeous in photos, but in my kitchen, I’d have to duck every time I wanted a glass of water.

I hear you on the pendants - looks great until you’re bonking your head every morning. I’m all about flush-mount LEDs now too. Swapping to LEDs cut my energy bill and I haven’t had to mess with weird wiring or flickering. Dimmers sound cool but I’ve never missed them once they’re gone. Simple, efficient, done.

I totally get the appeal of flush-mount LEDs - super practical, and you’re right, the energy savings are real. I do kind of miss having dimmers, though. Sometimes you want softer light for late-night snacks or just to set a mood. I ended up going with under-cabinet strips too, which made a surprising difference for prep work. Pendants look amazing in magazines, but I’d rather not risk a concussion just making coffee.

I hear you on the pendants - my old place had these big glass ones, and I swear I whacked my head at least once a week. Ended up swapping them for simple flush-mounts, but honestly, I do miss the character they brought. Dimmers are a must for me too, especially in an older house where the lighting can feel harsh otherwise. Has anyone tried those vintage-style LED bulbs with dimmers? I’m curious if they’re worth the hype or just look good in photos.

Has anyone tried those vintage-style LED bulbs with dimmers? I’m curious if they’re worth the hype or just look good in photos.

Tried them last month - honestly, they’re not just for Instagram. The vibe is legit, and you don’t get that weird flicker some LEDs have when you dim them. Only thing is, the “vintage” ones can be a bit dimmer than you’d expect, so maybe don’t toss all your regular bulbs just yet. But for mood lighting? Chef’s kiss.

If I had to redo my kitchen lights, I’d skip the vintage-style LEDs for the main area. Here’s why:

- Tried them in my dining nook - looked cool, but like you said,

“the ‘vintage’ ones can be a bit dimmer than you’d expect”

If you’re on a budget, maybe mix them in with brighter bulbs. That’s what worked for me.

I ran into the same thing with the vintage-style bulbs. They looked great in the fixture, but as you put it,

“the ‘vintage’ ones can be a bit dimmer than you’d expect”

I totally get that - those vintage bulbs look killer, but man, they just don't cut it for actual work. I did the same thing in my last place: cool Edison bulbs over the island, then realized I was basically prepping dinner in the dark. Ended up slapping some LED strips under the cabinets too. Do you find the color temps clash at all? I always wonder if mixing warm and cool light messes with the vibe or if it's just me overthinking it...

Yeah, I’ve totally run into that too. Those Edison bulbs are all style, no substance when it comes to actually seeing what you’re doing. I did the same thing - loved the look, hated the shadows. Ended up with LEDs under the cabinets just like you.

About the color temps, I get what you mean.

“Do you find the color temps clash at all? I always wonder if mixing warm and cool light messes with the vibe or if it's just me overthinking it...”

One trick I found is using dimmable LEDs for both - lets you tweak things depending on if you’re cooking or just hanging out. But honestly, sometimes a little contrast looks kinda cool, especially at night. It’s easy to overthink it though... most guests never notice unless you point it out.

Totally get that - Edison bulbs are like the skinny jeans of kitchen lighting: they look great but aren’t always practical. I’m with you on the 2700K-3000K sweet spot, though I’ll admit, I once installed a “daylight” bulb (5000K) over an island and it felt like prepping dinner under a dentist’s lamp. Not my finest moment.

Curious - do you ever mess around with smart bulbs for color changing, or do you think that’s just a gimmick? I’ve had clients swear by them for setting the mood, but personally, I just want to see my food without feeling like I’m in a nightclub...

I just want to see my food without feeling like I’m in a nightclub...

- Totally get where you’re coming from. Tried the color-changing smart bulbs in my own kitchen once - fun for about a week, then I just set them to warm white and never touched the colors again.
- For most kitchens, I recommend dimmable LEDs in that 2700K-3000K range. Gives you flexibility without the disco vibes.
- If you want a bit of mood, under-cabinet tape lights can add a nice touch without going full nightclub.
- Smart bulbs aren’t a total gimmick, but for task lighting, simple and reliable usually wins.

Honestly, I’m gonna throw a little love to the colored smart bulbs. I know, I know - nobody wants to eat spaghetti under purple lights. But hear me out: I use mine on regular white 95% of the time, but when I’m cleaning late or having people over, a little blue or amber is actually kind of fun. Plus, my kids think it’s hilarious to eat breakfast in “dinosaur mode” (green). Maybe not for everyone, but I like having the option.

I get the appeal of smart bulbs, and I’ve tried a few brands, but honestly, I’m still partial to good old under-cabinet LEDs paired with dimmable recessed lighting. The colored bulbs were fun for, like, two weeks - then we just left them on warm white. Maybe it’s just my family, but we found ourselves fiddling with the app more than actually enjoying the colors. That said, I do love the idea of “dinosaur mode” - my kids would probably be all over that. Maybe I’ll give them another shot if the tech gets a little more seamless...

I hear you on the colored bulbs - my kids were obsessed for about a week, then it was back to “normal” lighting. I’m with you on under-cabinet LEDs; they’re just so practical for actual cooking and cleaning. I did try one of those motion sensor strips under the cabinets, and that’s been a surprise hit - no more fumbling for switches with messy hands.

Curious if you’ve looked into any of the newer low-voltage systems? I’ve been eyeing those for energy savings, but not sure if it’s worth the extra install hassle. Also, how do you handle dimming with LEDs? I’ve had some flicker issues unless I’m really careful about matching bulbs and dimmers...

Low-voltage systems are tempting, but I’ll admit I chickened out when it came time to actually pull the trigger. The wiring in my place is already a bit of a patchwork, and the idea of adding transformers or running new lines just felt like more hassle than it was worth for me. I’ve heard they’re great for new builds or full gut jobs, though - energy savings are real, but I wonder how long it’d take to actually see the payoff in an older house.

Dimming LEDs has been a headache here too. I had to swap out a couple of dimmers before I found one that played nice with my bulbs. Lutron’s “LED compatible” dimmers have worked best for me - no flicker, and the range is decent. I did have to double-check the compatibility charts, though, which felt a bit overkill for kitchen lights. It’s wild how something as simple as dimming can get so complicated with LEDs...

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I bit the bullet and did a low-voltage retrofit in my 1920s place last year. It was a pain - lots of crawling around and cursing at old plaster - but I’ve actually seen a drop in my electric bill. The upfront hassle was real, but now I don’t have to worry about overloading the old wiring with modern fixtures. As for dimming, yeah, it’s ridiculous how finicky LEDs can be. I ended up sticking with simple on/off switches in the kitchen just to avoid the headache... sometimes less is more.

Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks get tripped up by old wiring in these older houses. Low-voltage retrofits are a pain, but you’re right - they do pay off in the long run, especially with energy savings. I usually tell clients to keep it simple in the kitchen too. Dimmers sound great until you’re dealing with flickering or buzzing LEDs... and then you’re back to square one swapping out bulbs or switches.

I’ve found that decent quality fixtures and straightforward on/off switches just work better in the long haul. If you really want dimming, look for LEDs that are specifically listed as “dimmable” and pair them with compatible dimmers - otherwise, it’s just asking for headaches. Not worth the hassle most of the time, especially if you’re not doing a full gut job. Sometimes, less really is more, especially when you’re dealing with finicky old plaster and unpredictable wiring runs.

I hear you on the dimmers - my last attempt at “mood lighting” in the kitchen ended up more like a disco, with the lights flickering every time I ran the toaster. Ended up swapping everything back to plain old on/off switches and honestly, haven’t missed the fancy stuff. My wallet definitely appreciated it too. Sometimes I think these old houses just want to keep things simple... or maybe they’re just stubborn like me.

I totally get the struggle with old wiring and fancy switches. I’ve seen a lot of those “smart” dimmers act up in older homes - sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle or the cost. Honestly, I’m a fan of simple LED fixtures with a warm color temp. They’re energy efficient, last forever, and don’t mess with the wiring. Plus, you can always add a cute lamp or two for mood lighting if you want to keep things flexible. Sometimes less really is more, especially in kitchens that have their own personality.

I hear you on the smart dimmers - seen a few too many returns on those when the wiring’s not up to snuff. LEDs with a warm tone are my go-to as well, especially since you can swap out fixtures later if your style changes. Curious, have you ever tried under-cabinet LEDs for task lighting? I find they make a huge difference, even in older kitchens where rewiring isn’t really an option.