When it comes to updating your home, whether you’re doing a full blown remodel or just updating a few minor things, there are certain trends that you should steer clear of and others that you can easily incorporate into your space without blowing your budget. Light fixtures are one area that you can invest in because lighting trends tend to change more slowly and feature a longer life cycle than, oh say, a designer wallpaper or that trendy sofa you saw at your favorite store. Here’s the low down on kitchen lighting trends to look out for in 2012.

2012 Kitchen Lighting Trends

One of the biggest trends people will be seeing more of in 2012, not just in the kitchen, but throughout the entire home, are track lights.

In the past two decades, recessed lights have been the hot commodity but they have been used just about everywhere and many people feel these light fixtures have overstayed their welcome. Furthermore, many people are starting to feel that recessed light fixtures leave visual “holes” in their ceiling, which is unattractive and thus, needs to be done away with.

However, track lights actually hang from the ceiling in the same manner as a semi flush or flush mount ceiling light. This looks more natural and thus, is more appealing to the majority of people.

Plus, since track lights themselves are the trend; there are no “right” and “wrong” styles. Simply choose the right track lights that suit your style and your space and voila, you’re up to date while still keeping in line with your own style and decor.

Another trend is the use of both over and under cabinet lights. Under cabinet lights are great for adding much needed task lighting to any kitchen space; while over cabinet lights add a much needed additional glow, adding to the general light of the space and thus making the room feel more comfortable.

Plus, since these light fixtures are meant to be discrete, there is no “right” or “wrong” style. They also tend to be inexpensive, making them an easy addition to an existing kitchen. Finally, many under cabinet lights and some over cabinet lights, such as rope lights, come standard with LED light bulbs. These are more energy efficient, last longer and can help cut down on the electricity bill.

Speaking of energy efficiency, the eco-friendly trend is one trend that isn’t likely to go away any time soon. Keep an eye out for light fixtures that are made from reclaimed or recycled materials, as well as light fixtures that are more energy efficient; as these will continue to be a hot commodity for kitchen lighting. Plus, who doesn’t want to save a little money in the long run?

Remember, lighting tends to cycle longer than interior design or fashion; so investing in a trendy light fixture is usually acceptable as it tends to be “trendy” for several years, if not longer. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Visit out pendant lights section and see how you can incorporate them in your kitchen today.

Many Americans are coming back into a state where they can afford to start spending money on other items, such as home updates. Light fixtures are a great option for updating a space while still being wary and cautious of overspending. Fortunately, lighting trends for 2012 feature a look that will be worth the money and last for several years, so you can enjoy without feeling guilty over any money you’ve spent.

Light Fixtures with Slim Lines

For 2012, look for light fixtures that feature clean, slim lines. Bases that consist of a single center rod on table lamps and floor lamps are a great example. You can find this basic style with a clean drum shade for a modern, updated look that will compliment a number of decors. Plus, a variety of finishes, from brushed nickel hues to warm bronze hues, exist. This makes it incredibly easy to blend this style in with a variety of decor styles from contemporary to traditional.

Slim Modern Light Fixtures

Of course, slim lines don’t have to be straight, either. The key look is “slim,” not “straight,” so keep this in mind as you browse light fixtures that will compliment your space and your style. This is especially true of fixtures such as table lamps or kitchen lights. Furthermore, one’s definition of “slim” can vary from person to person. 2011 was all about large bulky glass blown lamps and other light fixtures, so by those standards, anything that is slimmer will be the right look for this style.

Use Fluid, Organic Lines

Another popular trend for 2012 will be the use of more fluid, organic lines. Fixtures that feature subtle curves are key and this particular look will easily compliment a variety of decor styles, so don’t be afraid to stray from the “straight and narrow” path to a more fluid, organic look for your lamps and other light fixtures.

Pendant Lights with a Clean Look

For pendant lights, look for clean looks: fluid, contemporary shapes with clean curves. You can opt for pendant lights that hang from a wire or pendant lights that feature a stem, as both of these types will easily blend in with this trend.

Variety of Drum Shades Styles

For shades, look for the drum shade shape which will continue to remain popular well into 2012 and beyond. The clean lines and curvy shape are complimented by a variety of colors and styles, so it’s impossible not to find the right shade for any given light fixture whether it’s lamps, ceiling fixtures or even chandeliers.

2012 is all about clean lines and organic, fluid curves. People feel safe investing in this style because no matter what their decor style may be, these lines always seem to blend in. So if you’ve got a traditional space or a modern space, a classic and romantic space or an eclectic space, the slim lines, organic shapes will work wonders. Plus, with a variety of finishes to choose from, you’ll find that finding the right light fixtures for your space is quick and easy, no matter what your style is. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Give your home decor a new touch up and get inspired by the great selection of lighting fixtures at Arcadian Lighting!

Many people forget that an important part of interior design is proper lighting schemes. Fortunately, choosing the right light fixtures for any particular space in your home, such as the kitchen, doesn’t have to be difficult. When designing a kitchen lighting scheme, there are many tips and tricks out there on how to achieve the right look. Here are five simple steps for creating ideal kitchen lighting in your home.

1. Create a Budget

To create a lighting scheme, you need to first know how much you’re willing to spend on various light fixtures for your kitchen space. Though this isn’t necessarily the first step, it is still an important step. Once you know how many light fixtures you need for your space, you should create a budget and divide it up to make sure you have enough for each lighting fixture you desire.

However, though you may not have enough for the light fixtures of your dreams, it will help you ensure that you don’t overspend on one fixture and end up not having enough for the rest of the fixtures in your kitchen. Plus, it will teach you to sacrifice where necessary in order to create adequate lighting, which will be more beneficial in the long run than having a single beautiful fixture.

2. Determine What Light Fixtures You Need

Before you can set up a budget for the different light fixtures you’ll need, you first need to figure out what light fixtures are required for your space. Typically in a kitchen you will have an overhead light, task lights over an island or peninsula, such as pendant lights or even under cabinet lights. Finally, consider including light fixtures for ambient lighting or accent lighting, such as interior cabinet lights if you have see-through glass cabinet doors.

3. Work from the Ceiling Down

When determining what fixtures you need, you should start from the ceiling and work your way down. This will help you determine what light fixtures are necessary and what fixtures are not.

4. Choose a Style

Once you know what light fixtures you need based on your individual kitchen needs, you’ll need to choose an overall style. Light fixtures come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and finishes, so it’s easy to find the right fixtures to suit your kitchen decor, whether you’re looking for pendant lights or ceiling lights. Potential styles include contemporary, traditional, modern, rustic, cottage, classic, renaissance and so forth.

5. Reassess

Once you’ve completed your kitchen lighting scheme and everything is installed, you should assess the space and how the light reacts to the design and decor. You may find you need to add an additional light fixture, or you may find that it’s perfect the way it is. Either way, don’t rush the process either. You may find that it takes time for you to acclimate to the new lighting scheme, and you may find you have too many or too few light fixtures. Again, take time to really let the new scheme sink in before you make any rash decisions of adding or removing fixtures. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

To warm your kitchen with aesthetically pleasing, yet functional, lighting fixtures, browse our vast array of stylish fixtures!

Designing a lighting scheme for any room in the home can be a difficult task. This is especially true when designing a lighting scheme for a kitchen space. Picking out the right light fixtures is one thing, but placing them is just as important. In fact, the right light fixtures and placement can make all the difference in any kitchen, no matter what the situation. Here are a few basic tips and tricks on where to focus light in the kitchen.

Determine Your Zones

The best way to ensure you have proper lighting? Take note of where you spend your time when you’re working in the kitchen. If possible, take a week or two and take notes of which areas you use most often. Then, use that information to determine what types of light fixtures you need for the space.

For example, if you spend a good deal of your time at the counters, you may want to incorporate under cabinet lights into your kitchen. These fixtures can help add significant light to the area, allowing you to have better lighting when working on your tasks, such as prep work.

Remember, prepping for a meal isn’t the only work that you do in the kitchen. Be sure to take note of other zones including storage for your food and dishes, cleaning your dishes and so forth; as these need adequate lighting as well.

Pick out Fixtures

Knowing what you need will make it that much easier to find the right light fixtures for your kitchen. Remember, you should never purchase the light fixtures first. Always work to determine what areas need lighting first, that way you know what types of light fixtures you need to buy.

There are a number of fixtures that work great in a kitchen space. For example, hanging pendant lights are perfect for kitchen islands or peninsulas. Under cabinet lights can add both ambient lighting to the kitchen and task lighting for doing prep work at the counters.

Layer Your Clothes, Layer Your Lighting

Finally, remember that a lighting scheme should include layering. In a kitchen especially, as one single light fixture will not provide adequate light for even the tiniest of kitchens. You’ll want to layer your lighting: task lighting, ambient lighting, decorative lighting and accent lighting.

Task lighting is an absolute must. This type of lighting helps you to focus on different kitchen-related tasks: cutting vegetables, cleaning dishes and so forth. Meanwhile, ambient lighting or general lighting, such as an overhead ceiling light, is important for exactly that: having a general source of light for the space when you’re not doing anything in particular.

Decorative lighting could include under cabinet lights, which can double as task lighting when you need it. Meanwhile, accent lighting is added as a way to accentuate the space, such as lights inside cabinetry with glass doors.

Having the right light is extremely important in every room of the home, especially in the kitchen. A few minor adjustments, such as determining zones before purchasing light fixtures and layering lighting, can make all the difference when trying to determine where to focus light in the kitchen. Images 1| 2| 3| 4| 5

Find a huge selection of kitchen lights for all purposes at Arcadian Lighting!

A plethora of different light fixtures exist in the world, from table lamps to floor lamps, ceiling fixtures to under cabinet lights, chandeliers to pendant lights and everything in between. When shopping for new light fixtures, this can make things a bit difficult. Things can get downright frustrating when newer terms are being brought into the picture, such as a pendalette instead of a pendant light or a chandelette instead of a chandelier. So, what exactly are these light fixtures?

Pendant Lights

Also known as drop lights or suspended lights, pendant lights are light fixtures that hang from the ceiling. These light fixtures tend to be relatively simple in overall shape or design, even if the details are intricate. Pendant lights feature a single light, rather than multiple lights.

There’s where the big difference between pendant lights and pendalettes come into play.

Pendalettes

Pendalettes tend to have multiple lights on a single light fixture, while still remaining modest in size. Typically, there are no more than three lights on a pendalette, which may even have the appearance similar to that of a small chandelier.

However, it is worth noting that pendalettes can also refer to more ornate single-light pendant lights. These light fixtures may be more elegant or feature more intricate detailing, a stark contrast to their more modest counterparts.

So keep this in mind next time you are bombarded by these two terms at the lighting store, and be sure to pay attention to the sizes!

Chandelier

A chandelier is among one of the easiest of all light fixtures to recognize. It doesn’t take a lighting expert to know what a chandelier is. These light fixtures feature multiple arms with multiple light sources to create adequate lighting in the space they are placed. Today, chandeliers are placed in every room of the house from the bedroom to the closet, the bathroom to the living room and everything in between.

When it comes to size, a chandelier is a minimum of twelve inches in diameter. These are relatively small and a chandelier can go up significantly in size.

So what exactly is a chandelette, then?

Chandelettes

A chandelette is a miniature version of a full scale chandelier. They can feature the exact same details, simply on a smaller size. The main difference between these two light fixtures is indeed, the size.

While a traditional full sized chandelier is a minimum of twelve inches in diameter, a chandelette is smaller, ranging from nine inches to twelve inches in diameter. Any larger and the light fixture becomes a chandelier. Any smaller, and the light fixture becomes a pendant light (or perhaps, a pendalette, depending on the manufacturer).

So the next time you’re out shopping for light fixtures, don’t be fooled by the pretty names. Always take note of the actual sizes and diameters of the pieces, focus on size, not on the name. Knowing what size you need will make it easier to look past the names and focus on the actual light fixtures themselves. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Test your knowledge by checking out our section of ceiling lights and decide on one that is best for you!

It’s not unusual for a homeowner to want light fixtures that set their home apart from their friends and neighbors. Blown glass light fixtures are a great option, as no two pieces are alike. Of course, before setting out to purchase a blown glass fixture, there are a few things you should know.

How are Blown Glass Light Fixtures Made?

The process of making blown glass is actually relatively simple to explain. The glass is heated up in a furnace until it is in a molten, semi-liquid state. Then the glass is shaped using air that is blown inside of the molten glass, thus giving it the name “blown glass.” Once shaped, the glass piece is allowed to cool and then is sent out for assembly (or assembled at the glass blower’s, depending on the situation) before being sent to a retailer or elsewhere.

Though the overall process sounds simple, the actual tasks at hand require great skill and concentration. Glass blowers have intense training, as what they do can actually be very dangerous if not properly trained.

Why Should I Buy a Blown Glass Light Fixture?

One of the biggest advantages to blown glass is that no matter what, every single piece is unique and one-of-a-kind. It is absolutely impossible to replicate a piece, even if the same techniques and colors are used. This makes it extremely attractive to homeowners, as they know that their chosen blown glass light fixtures will never appear in their neighbor’s home.

Glass blowers also offer the option to order custom made pieces. By ordering a custom piece, you can ensure that your chosen light fixture meets a number of criteria including shape, size and most importantly, color and styling.

Plus, even if you order a custom piece, most glass blowers can work with your budget to create a piece that matches your expectations. Though blown glass sounds expensive, it’s often not any more expensive than many other light fixtures out there. In fact, don’t be surprised if you come across blown glass light fixtures around $40 or so.

What Type of Blown Glass Light Fixtures Are Available?

There are an endless number of different blown glass light fixtures out there. The most popular of which are pendant lights, though there are also track heads for track lights, table lamps, chandeliers, various ceiling fixtures, bathroom light fixtures, hanging lanterns and even wall sconces.

How to Find a Glass Blower

Despite the affordability and guaranteed custom made piece, it can be a bit difficult to find a glass blower. Depending on your location, there may be several glass blowers in the area or there may be done. In the event that there are no nearby glass blowers, it’s perfectly acceptable to find one online, get in contact with the glass blower and order the piece via the internet.

Though glass blown light fixtures sound like they’re easy to make, they do require a trained professional. These pieces have a number of benefits, including being one-of-a-kind pieces to suit every budget or the option to create custom pieces that match your home decor. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Check out more glass blown light fixtures at Arcadian Lighting!

Have you ever noticed how a really great party tends to end up in the kitchen? You’ll find guests nibbling on leftovers, topping off their drinks and chatting. Furthermore, daily family activities and entertainment often seem to flow naturally into the kitchen. Rather than just being a place for food prep, it’s where the family gathers or the kids do their homework. It’s truly the heart and hearth of the home. With the holidays approaching, now is a great time to make it even more inviting, useful, and fun to be in!  A great way to update your kitchen is to revamp the lighting design. Adding various types of lighting can create an entirely new kitchen design!

If you’re looking to create a contemporary and minimalist design, the best kinds of lighting fixtures are sleek and silver. The pendants that are featured have such smooth, clean styling, and in this cluster arrangement, they provide abundant task lighting while accenting the island’s chic, functional design. This kitchen has an extremely sleek and professional look while maintaining a relaxed feel with the wood accents.

Perhaps you’re looking for a more traditional style.  Try Maxim Lighting. An island light fixture is a great option for clustered pendant lights. This bronze fixture have three lamps that illuminate the area and its classic styling makes it an ideal choice for traditional interiors. If the kitchen island lighting isn’t enough, these pendants pair well with various chandeliers in the same family. The end result is a gorgeous warm hue, perfect for the holidays!

The wall sconce on the left creates a stylish counterpoint to this six-light island light from Maxim Lighting. I love the sleek lines, rustic ebony finish and stone candle shades.  The island lighting provides a dining table candelabra design but without consuming space. Perfect!

Under-cabinet lighting is the unsung hero of kitchen design. It complements the other lighting and provides excellent illumination for tasks—a handy feature when you’re slicing up a loaf of French bread or sautéing fresh haricots verts. These state-of-the-art LED’s emit clean white light with no shadows and provide great lighting for a family dinner or after dinner game-playing!

Ready to redecorate your kitchen? Check out our kitchen lighting here at Arcadian Lighting. They’re sure to add elegance and a classic feel to your home. We wish you happy and well-lit holidays!

We are in the midst of Fall and there’s no better time then to update our interiors to match the lovely colors you see outdoors! Interior designers often look to the seasons for inspiration on colors and trends, and autumn is the time of year to welcome rich, warm tones into the home. As the leaves change color outdoors, indoor home accessories can also be switched up, from table decor and throw pillows to even light fixtures and shades on lamps.

These eight spaces will make everyone fall in love with colors for fall.

Just as a few colored leaves against a stark backdrop scream autumn, so too does a living room like this, outfitted in chocolate brown with pops of mustard yellow in the chairs and matching end table lamps.

Warm hues like red and orange are reminiscent of fall foliage, as are notes of wood, used in the wicker baskets and flaunted above in the slat wood ceiling.

A beautiful wall mural featuring a multi-coloured tree makes it fall in this bedroom year-round. Variations of orange and brown are also used in the table lamp, fabric headboard, and bedding.

While not decidedly an autumn-inspired dining room, it boasts the same vibrant colors, like orange and red, placed against a dark wood background. The framed wall prints are simply showcasing scraps of fabric, however the ceiling light infuses the room with opulence.

A very elongated formal living room has an abundance of wall space, showcasing the main fall colors in the table decorations and furniture that are relegated to the lower portion of the room.

A print of a weathered apple tree provides fall inspiration in the form of deep red accents used in the chair and modern polka-dot motif on the rug.

It’s easy to introduce a new season in a place like a hallway or stylish vignette – here fall is presented with a mixture of orange tulips and raw tree branches along with a warm brown throw.

This dining room boldly goes where no fall room has gone before – the walls are dripping in plush brown tones and features a bevy of whimsical white plaster animal head moulds above a mantelpiece. It’s a very mod nod to a fall cabin getaway.

Don’t forget about your kitchen design! Check out our wide  variety of kitchen lights to design your kitchen for Fall!

Lighting your kitchen may seem like a tough project. With so many different styles, designs and lighting fixtures available to light your kitchen space, deciding upon the right light source can be difficult at best. Use this guide to easy kitchen lighting to ensure you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to installing new kitchen lights.

Space Saving Designs

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Save your money, time and space by installing space saving kitchen lights. Bulky and awkward kitchen light sources can be in the way, be too bright or be too cumbersome to be efficient in the kitchen workplace. Task lighting solutions like flush ceiling lights and under cabinet lights all work to aim light exactly where and when you need light the most, all while being hidden from view and out of the way. What’s really great about these kitchen lighting options is that they are easy and affordable to install in existing kitchens.

Kitchen Islands

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Many modern kitchens contain a kitchen island space. They are used for sink areas, stovetops or just plain old countertop workspaces. But no matter what you use our kitchen island for, lighting it with an easy to use lighting fixture is the best way to get the most out of your kitchen lighting design. Easy to install kitchen island lighting solutions like pendant lights not only help to create the perfect lighting for your kitchen island, they also look good doing it.

Countertop Spaces

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Countertops are the most used space in any kitchen design. From chopping veggies to serving food, the countertop space is crucial to getting your everyday kitchen tasks done. But without the right light fixtures, it can be tough to get the job done. Under cabinet lights can help to get your kitchen countertops well lit for work. But some under cabinet lights can be difficult to install. LED under cabinet lights can provide an easy to install lighting system for counter space that is easy to install, even for the average DIY aficionado.

Ambient Lights

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Without the combination of a good ambient light source, kitchen lighting can be spotty and shadow filled, making kitchen work a chore. With the use of a good ambient light source like florescent or natural lighting, you can easily have a well-lit kitchen space that denotes cleanliness and sterility in the workspace. Cabinets, countertops and kitchen islands are all alight when an ambient light source has been employed. The best way to get a great ambient light source and a good ventilation system is by installing a window that opens to the outside. Even if your kitchen doesn’t open into the exterior of you home, you can still get the ambient light source you need for your kitchen. A skylight or solar tube can easily and affordably provide the ultimate ambient light source for your kitchen space.

A kitchen without the right lighting fixtures can be like working in a cave. Dark spots, shadows and overly obnoxious bright lights can make a kitchen space feel unwelcoming. That’s why it’s so important to develop a good lighting strategy when you design your kitchen space. But kitchen lighting doesn’t have to be just functional; it can be fashionable as well. Light your kitchen with style using these tips and techniques for lighting your kitchen.

Task Lights

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One of the most important parts to any kitchen lighting plan is to install a good set of task lights over work areas in the kitchen. From basic track lighting to classy pendant lights, task lighting helps to keep work areas like the kitchen island well lit for chopping veggies, doing dishes or cooking on the stovetop. Begin by creating a lighting blueprint that highlights the work areas of your kitchen. Always keep task lights in the kitchen triangle—AKA the sink, fridge and stovetop—well lit with bright and white kitchen lights. Flush ceiling lights work wonders over sinks, stoves and in front of the refrigerator for the perfect out of the way kitchen task light. With the addition of a dimmer switch, flush mount ceiling lights can pull double duty as task lighting and night lighting.

Ambient Lights

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Without a good source of ambient lighting, task lights can be overbearing, cast shadows and create unwanted dark spots in the kitchen. An ambient light source helps keep the whole kitchen lit. Florescent lights can create the perfect ambient light space for the kitchen. A bright and white ambient light source helps to denote the kitchen as a clean and sterile environment. When combining florescent bulbs for ambient kitchen lighting, it’s a good idea to use bulbs with different light spectrums to best mimic natural lighting sources.

Natural Lights

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One of the best ways to light a kitchen is by using a natural light source. Windows, skylights and dormers all create the perfect lighting design for any kitchen space. But natural lighting is not always an option when existing kitchen designs have no access to exterior walls for window or door openings. And because skylights can cost so much money, they can be out of the question. That’s where solar tubing skylights come into play. These cheap and easy to install kitchen lighting sources can be installed on any existing roof in just a few hours. And if you’re really handy, they can be installed with just a few basic tools for the ultimate in adorable and affordable kitchen light sources.

No matter what room you plan on redecorating, renovating, redesigning or remodeling in your home, lighting is one of the most important aspects of that design process. Use one or all of these five unique lighting designs in your next home improvement project for the ultimate in satisfaction and comfort in any design theme. But no matter what light fixture you install, be sure a licensed professional does the work.

Task Lights

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Task lighting plays a crucial role in any lighting design. It helps to focus bright and white light sources onto specific areas where tasks can be completed. Reading, kitchen countertops, beds and desks are just a few examples of areas that benefit from task lighting solutions. Kitchen lighting is a great place to assemble a cast of task lighting characters. Flush ceiling lights are a great way to hide bright and obnoxious light bulbs.

Ambient Lighting

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A good way to keep lights bright and glowing is through the use of ambient lights. A good example of an ambient light source is a florescent bulb and ballast. From flush mountable to clear covering coves, florescent lights create a soft glow that lights a whole room or area with just a single bulb. Cost effective and colorful, florescent lights are best mixed together in multiple color spectrums so as to best copy the look and feel of natural light.

Accent Lighting

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Lights in any design not only help to light your work areas but also to light your design and décor areas. Accent lights help to bring out design and décor features like pictures and paintings while brightening the room. Accent lights like track lighting and other ceiling lights help to create a task light source that accents specific décor and design features that go otherwise unnoticed with other lighting fixtures.

Aesthetic Lighting

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Lights that not only work well, but look good are crucial to any room redesign. Aesthetic lighting options help accentuate any design theme by adding a touch of elegance and class to the everyday mundane functioning light source. Good aesthetic lighting like wall sconces and table lamps help provide a detailed look in your design.

Natural Lighting

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Light form the sun is one of the most important lighting sources in our lives. Sunlight provides plants with the energy they need to grow and our bodies with vitamins. Sunlight in design helps to accentuate décor and design themes in a unique and open way other light options fall short of doing. Natural light works best for kitchen lighting and bathroom lighting as it denotes cleanliness and sterility. Natural lighting can come from windows, doors, skylights and solar tubes.

A kitchen design without the right lighting fixtures might as well be in the closet. Lights provide the power to see vegetables before they are chopped, dishes to be cleaned and stoves to cook on. It’s tough enough to do these tasks, let alone without a good light source. That’s why it’s so important to add a good lighting design to your kitchen when you are renovating or remodeling your kitchen area. Use this guide to get the ultimate kitchen lighting design for your new kitchen.

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Drawing a Plan

Even if you’re not very good at drawing, sketching up a basic blueprint to help determine where kitchen lighting sources work best is in your best interest. It doesn’t have to be an accurate drawing; it only has to give you and your electrician the right idea as to what sort of lighting design you want in your new kitchen. Once you have a general sketch drawn, make several copies of it. This way, you can draw different lighting designs to get a feel for different designs, allowing you to get the exact lighting design for your kitchen, before the first wire is even installed.

Here are a few ideas to include in your lighting blueprint:

• Outlets
• Fixtures
• Switches
• Lamp/Ventilation Combo
• Under Cabinet Lights

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Task Lighting

The first step in creating the ultimate kitchen light design is to install task lighting. Task lighting is used to focus a direct light source when and where you need it most. With the addition of a dimmer switch, task lighting can be made to be as bright as possible or dim as you like for the perfect nightlight or romantic dining light. Task lighting can be very direct such as spotlight styled track lighting or indirect like a LED cabinet light—so long as the light is directed for a specific task.

Here are a few great examples of task light fixtures for the ultimate kitchen lighting design:

• Track Lights
• Monorail Lighting
• Pendant  lights
• Recessed cans
• LED Cabinet lights

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Ambient Lighting

Task lighting alone in any room design is a bad thing. Shadows and dark spots are easily formed and that makes it difficult to work when shadows crowd the workspace. To remedy this situation, layer light sources. Ambient light sources are the perfect way to add a room full of light with a direct source.

Fluorescents work very well in producing an ambient kitchen light. Natural lighting from windows or skylights work best for ambient light, but unfortunately, they need a backup source of light during the evening. To keep the feel of natural light during the evening hours, combine different spectrum types of florescent bulbs together to match natural light as close as possible.