I went with 4000K LEDs under the cabinets myself and found them ideal. Initially tried warmer lights around 3000K, but they felt too dim for detailed prep work. The neutral tone hits that sweet spot—clear visibility without sacrificing comfort. Took some experimenting, but worth it in the end.
Interesting you found 3000K too dim... did you try adjusting brightness or wattage at all? I've actually had clients who preferred warmer tones around 2700-3000K, but we compensated by upping the lumens. Sometimes it's not just about color temperature but also intensity and fixture placement. I personally find that warmer lights can still offer clarity if they're bright enough and positioned correctly. But yeah, lighting is super subjective—what feels cozy to one person might feel gloomy to another. Did you experiment with dimmers or adjustable fixtures? That can really help fine-tune things without committing fully to one temperature or brightness level.
I switched to 4000K in my last kitchen reno thinking it'd be a game changer, but honestly, it felt a bit sterile at first. Ended up adding dimmers and repositioning fixtures—made all the difference. Warmer temps can definitely work, just gotta tweak brightness and placement a bit.
"Warmer temps can definitely work, just gotta tweak brightness and placement a bit."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Went all-in on those trendy 5000K LEDs once thinking it'd be crisp and modern—ended up feeling like I was prepping dinner in an operating room. 😂 Now I stick to warmer tones around 3000K, but always pair them with dimmers and layered lighting. Under-cabinet lights are a lifesaver too...makes things cozy without sacrificing visibility.
Totally feel you on the operating room vibe, haha. Made the same mistake myself—thought bright white LEDs would give the kitchen a sleek, minimalist look. Instead, every evening felt like an interrogation scene from a cop show. Ended up switching to warmer bulbs around 2700K and throwing in some dimmers—huge improvement.
Couple things I'd probably do differently next time:
- Add more layered lighting—pendants over the island, maybe some sconces to soften things up.
- Definitely under-cabinet lights, but also toe-kick lighting along the base cabinets—sounds extra, but it's subtle and cozy at night.
- Consider adjustable fixtures or track lighting to highlight open shelves or artwork. Adds character without overwhelming the space.
Honestly, lighting's one of those things you underestimate until you get it wrong once. Glad I'm not the only one who's been there...
