Are you struggling with lighting in your kitchen? Or bought recessed lights but do not know where to install them?

Today this guide speaks to show you the five best locations for downlights in the kitchen so that you can quickly solve the problem of kitchen lighting, and finally, we explore the other 4 stylish and popular kitchen lighting together.

What Are Recessed Lights?

Recessed lights are ceiling lights, also called downlights, and sometimes can light. Recessed light fixtures are simple and compact, and when used in the kitchen, they not only provide basic lighting, but also make the kitchen look cleaner and less crowded.

If you want your kitchen to look more spacious, it's great to use recessed lights as the main lighting, flush with the ceiling and not taking up any other space at all.

Five Best Kitchen Recessed Lighting Locations

Where should you put recessed lights in your kitchen? This is the question people ask the most. Next, we'll help you light up your kitchen by providing the five best kitchen recessed lighting locations based on your kitchen's lighting needs.

1. Install Evenly Along the Perimeter

Install downlights evenly spaced along the perimeter of the kitchen ceiling; for general lighting, there must be one in each corner, with recessed lights placed roughly one metre apart. As a rule, four to six downlights can be used per room or 100 square feet (10 x 10 feet space).

2. Above the Hob

The hob is the focal point of cooking in the kitchen, but there is usually no direct light, and storage cupboards above it create shadows and low light. Place a downlight above the hob, i.e. one at the bottom of the storage cupboard, 60-80cm from the hob surface.

The benefit of installing a downlight in this position is mainly to see the food in the cooking process clearly, and at the same time, it helps to improve the safety of the kitchen operation, preventing the occurrence of accidental burns and other situations due to dim light.

If the locker is too low, it can be installed diagonally sideways, too close if the heat will affect the normal use of the lamps.

3. Sink and Cut Vegetables Above the Area

The sink and cutting area is also the focus of the kitchen area, can be placed in the middle of the area above them a can light, about 50-70 cm. If they are far apart, you will need to install one each.

When washing vegetables and dishes, sufficient light will allow you to clearly see whether the stains on the cutlery and ingredients are washed, while in the chopping area it is even more important to have a bright light to ensure that you can clearly see the food and make precise cuts, which can largely avoid cutting your hands.

4. Cabinet Interiors                                             

Cabinets as a storage space, looking for cutlery, spices and other items are often not enough light, downlights can solve this problem. Inside the cabinet spacing 30-50cm, install small induction can lights, when you open the cabinet door will automatically light up, illuminating the storage space.

5. Kitchen Island

If the kitchen has a dedicated island as a meal preparation area for laying out ingredients, preparing cooking tools, etc., install a downlight directly above the area, 50 - 70 cm from the tabletop.

This will allow the island to be well lit, making the meal preparation process more efficient and organised, avoiding confusion over ingredients and falling tools due to lighting problems, and enhancing the overall kitchen experience.

Of course, you can also choose island lights placed above the kitchen island, illuminated at the same time can also play a good decorative role, so that your kitchen is brighter and richer.

Considerations for Placing Can Light in the Kitchen

No matter where you install your downlights in your kitchen, there are some things to keep in mind to make it easier and brighter and to improve the longevity. A few common but noteworthy issues are provided below, so please judge them according to your situation.

• Keep downlights around 12 inches from the wall, too close and they will create shadows or cast light and the lighting will not be as effective as it could be.
• Choose a downlight with a protection rating of at least IP44 and above to prevent water vapour and oil from entering the interior of the fixture and shortening its life.
• Select a downlight with a colour rendering index (Ra) of more than 80 to truly restore the colour of objects and make more accurate judgments, such as selecting fresh vegetables and judging the degree of rawness of meat.
• Colour temperature: It is recommended to choose a neutral white light with a colour temperature of 4000K - 5000K, which is bright and clear but not blinding, creating a comfortable and efficient cooking environment.
• Avoiding heat and water sources, downlights should be installed away from the open fire area of the hob and the splash range of the sink, and the horizontal distance should be kept above 30cm.

Other Popular Kitchen Lighting Options

In addition to downlights, there are a wide variety of fixtures that can be used for kitchen lighting, such as island lights, recessed ceiling lights, track lights and more. Each of these can fulfil both decorative and lighting needs with even greater effect. Explore with you more gorgeous and bright kitchen lights!

Island Lights

Island lights are the most common and popular kitchen lights, mainly used for kitchen island table area lighting, can also be placed in the centre as the main light. Island lights come in a variety of styles, such as simple modern style, vintage industrial style, gorgeous crystal style, etc. They are highly decorative and easily decorate your kitchen and become the focal point.

Suitable for large kitchens, open kitchen islands, and islands with high stools, this is the ideal choice of fashionable kitchen lights.

Flush Mount Ceiling Lights

Flush-mount ceiling lights are very adaptable to space, whether it is a small or large kitchen; choose the right size, can be used. It can provide a large area of basic lighting, so that the entire kitchen space can get a more uniform light, will not produce obvious shadows or dark areas.

Recessed ceiling lights are simple and generous and come in a variety of shapes, such as round and square, which can blend in with a variety of kitchen décor styles. Suitable for all sizes of kitchens, it does not matter if the ceiling is low, choose recessed ceiling lights; there is no extra chain; not at all depressing.

Decorative Pendant Lights

Pendant lights can be used for kitchen task lighting to focus light on specific areas, such as above the dining table, above the kitchen island, or above the cooking operation area. The soft light of a pendant light creates a cosy, comfortable, and relaxing atmosphere when dining or relaxing in the kitchen with the warm light from the chandelier.

From the classical glass chandelier to the modern geometric shape pendant light, from the rustic wooden chandelier to the gorgeous metal pendant lights, we can meet the needs of different kitchen decoration styles; there is always a suitable one for your kitchen.

Spot or Track lighting

Spot or track lighting is highly flexible; the lamps can be freely moved on the track and adjust the angle, flexible to change the angle of the light to meet the different functional areas of the kitchen lighting. For example, the light can be focused on the cooker and chopping area when cooking, and the light can be adjusted to the dining table or island table area when dining.

It is suitable for multifunctional kitchen lighting and display shelf lighting with large space and many zones, where the light focuses on fine tableware, treasured wines, or other decorative items.

Whatever light you choose as your kitchen light, be sure not to forget to combine decoration and functionality for a win-win for your kitchen.

Conclusion

There are countless options for kitchen lighting, and in addition to downlights, there are island lights, pendant lights, recessed ceiling lights, track lights and more that can make a kitchen brighter and more aesthetically pleasing.

HomeyFad has a wide variety of kitchen lights to support your kitchen lighting. Click to browse our lighting products.

If you have any other thoughts and ideas about kitchen lights, feel free to leave a comment!

FAQs

Q: Should recessed lights align with cabinets or the island?

A: Yes! Center lights over islands and space evenly between upper cabinets.

Q: How close can lights be to the stove or sink?

A: At least 24 inches from water sources (NEC code) and 30 inches from stove hoods.

Q: Should I use dimmable recessed lights?

A: Yes! Adjust brightness for cooking (100%) vs. ambiance (30%).