I've wondered about puck lights too, especially since my kitchen cabinets are older and have some uneven spacing underneath. LED strips seem great for even coverage, but I'm not sure how forgiving they'd be with uneven surfaces or gaps. Did your parents' puck lights create noticeable shadows or dark spots between them? I'm leaning toward strips myself, but if puck lights can handle uneven cabinet bottoms better, that might sway me...
I've been debating this exact thing myself lately. LED strips definitely give a nice, even glow, but you're right—uneven cabinet bottoms can be tricky. I've seen some setups where the strips highlight every little gap or bump underneath, which isn't ideal if your cabinets aren't perfectly flush. On the other hand, puck lights might handle uneven surfaces better since they're spaced apart and mounted individually, but then you risk those annoying shadowy gaps between each puck.
I helped a friend install puck lights last year, and honestly, the shadows weren't too noticeable unless you really looked for them. But he had pretty evenly spaced cabinets...so maybe that's why? Have you considered using aluminum channels or diffusers with LED strips? I've heard they help smooth out uneven surfaces and reduce harsh shadows. Might be worth looking into before deciding either way.
"Have you considered using aluminum channels or diffusers with LED strips? I've heard they help smooth out uneven surfaces and reduce harsh shadows."
Honestly, I've tried aluminum channels before, and while they do help diffuse the light somewhat, they don't fully hide uneven cabinet bottoms—especially if yours are noticeably off. Another option you might consider is mounting the LED strips further back towards the wall rather than directly under the cabinet edge. It softens shadows and imperfections quite a bit...worked surprisingly well in my older rental property.
It softens shadows and imperfections quite a bit...worked surprisingly well in my older rental property.
Yeah, agreed—aluminum channels aren't really a fix-all. I found that using a slightly thicker diffuser cover helped soften shadows better, but repositioning the strips further back like you mentioned is probably the simplest workaround for uneven cabinets.
Interesting points about diffuser thickness and strip placement—makes sense. Have you tried experimenting with different color temperatures too? I noticed warmer tones sometimes mask imperfections better, especially in older kitchens. Curious if anyone's found a sweet spot between brightness and warmth that works well without highlighting every little flaw...