Under Cabinet Lighting

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Choosing Under Cabinet Lighting for the Kitchen

 

Under cabinet lighting is a great feature to add to your kitchen. The installation and setup is a bit more involved than just your average screw-in light-bulb. Here at Anchor Electric of Florida Inc, we have put a guide together to discuss the different options for under cabinet lighting for your home. 

 

Popular Types of Under-Cabinet Lighting

Depending on the lighting choice that you decide to go with, you can better determine the lighting’s aesthetic and maximum efficiency rating. Whether that is LED, fluorescent, halogen, or xenon.

 

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting is energy efficient and doesn’t produce a lot of heat. This option is also very cheap, but it has many downsides.

  1. These tubes produce a harsh light that is not aesthetically appealing. 
  2. Fluorescent lights cannot be used with dimmer functions so the lighting is either at full lighting capacity or off.
  3. Fluorescent bulbs last a long time, but lots of switching on and off significantly reduces their lifespan.
  4.  They also tend to require a “warm up” period before they are fully illuminated.
  5. These bulbs can develop a slight but annoying buzzing sound the older they are.
  6. Disposing of these bulbs need to follow the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines due to using a mercury vapor substance. 

This lighting source is unfavorable with consumers due to the many downsides listed.

 

Halogen Lighting

This is a good mid-range that will provide decent lighting at a moderate cost.

  1. Halogen lights use a gas compound containing a halogen vapor within. When the electricity runs through it, it will produce a clear, white light.
  2. These bulbs are a step above fluorescent bulbs using between 25 to 80 percent less energy. 
  3. These bulbs become very hot very fast and should not be used where you might accidentally touch them. 
  4. You are able to still see a large variety of halogen under-cabinet lighting options in the stores. They are easy to install as they mainly come in round pucks that can be stuck to the bottom of your cabinets. 

This lighting source seems to be slowly fading out as more and more LED options become affordable. 

 

LED Lighting

This choice is the most popular as well as the most energy efficient kind of under cabinet-lighting on the market. 

  1. While initially costlier, LED bulbs outlast their counterparts by double or triple the time length. It is not uncommon for quality LED lights to last 10+ years even with continuous use.
  2. They also emit less heat for your kitchen. This is important for not only energy efficiency, but also safety.
  3.  LED lights have a large selection of colors to choose from for aesthetic purposes.
  4. LED lighting is even capable of being smart home compatible. 

 All of these benefits for LED lights make them the preferred choice for many consumers for under-cabinet lighting. 

 

Types of Under Cabinet Lighting

 

  • Bar Lights- This lighting option comes in sizes that are custom fit where you need to be conscious of what cabinet you are putting them under and measuring distances from the edge. Bar lights range from 6 to 48 inches in length. They create “hotspots” of light resulting in dark corners.
  • Puck Lights- These lights get their name from being shaped like hockey pucks. Their design is to create spots or pools of light instead of an even beam of illumination across an area and give a spotlight effect. Depending on your tastes and preferences, this may or may not be a desired look. Also, keep in mind that you will want the appropriate quantity along with appropriate spacing to determine the look that you are wanting to achieve.
  • Strip Lighting- This lighting comes in rolls that can be stuck onto a surface via backing adhesive. This is an excellent option in that they are flexible, customizable and are able to provide unique layouts. Since they are flexible, they can make easy turns around corners and can be mounted to the underside of virtually any surface. When used for large areas, LED strip lights can be a more cost-effective solution.

Overall, purchasing new under-cabinet lighting for your kitchen is a great choice. This will provide more cost-efficient lighting for cooking and food prep. It also is a great way to showcase your backsplash that may otherwise get lost in the shadows. Call Anchor Electric Florida Inc to schedule your free estimate to go over the options for your under-cabinet lighting today!