When planning your kitchen lighting layout, you'll want to incorporate a few options. The first is task lighting. “Task lighting over your counters and sink is important so you can see what you're doing while cooking,” Eric Bramlett told House Digest exclusively. These lights, which include strip lights over your stove or island and under your cabinets, should be bright lights that cast little to no shadows for best visibility. For the former, use recessed lights. “Recessed lights are a versatile option that works for almost any kitchen design and can be strategically placed to highlight certain areas,” Bramlett told us.
But you don't want to have only task lighting in the space. “You also want general indirect lighting from the ceiling or pendants to make the space feel bright and inviting,” Bramlett explains. This is your main overhead lighting. Think of task lighting as a web of light, while task lighting shines downwards like a concentrated beam. But if you want to add a little extra coziness to your space, you can add indirect lighting that doesn't rely on ceiling pendants. “You'll be surprised, but floor lamps and table lamps are also great accent lighting for corners of your kitchen,” Bramlett explains. “They add warmth and make the space feel more inviting.” If your overhead lighting is too harsh, you can turn on these accent lights.
