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Lighting in the kitchen

Light is often called the most important element of the interior, so the fashion for it affects all areas of design without exception. How often, you see, without realizing it, we fall under its influence! At the same time, we intuitively understand that light must be used wisely: it should not be too much, but not too little.

If you think carefully about the lighting solution, then any interior, including the kitchen, can appear, as they say, in a new light. Let's shed light together on the most beloved room in an apartment or house and make its future bright. In the kitchen, the right lighting will help create a unique atmosphere of warmth and comfort. The main task of a lighting designer (this profession is in demand today more than ever) is to create an organic environment so that people feel as cozy and comfortable as possible in it. All that is required from you and the specialist is a little imagination and the ability to choose ergonomic fixtures. There is no doubt that the main furniture element of the kitchen is the dining table. It is he who should be lit brighter than other furnishings.

The traditional version, which was widely used in the Soviet years, is a chandelier. Specialists have no special claims to her. However, the chandelier does not always fit harmoniously into a modern interior. The most acceptable alternative is a pendant lamp. The choice of such devices today is great: the distribution network offers a lot of products made in various shapes and styles. Perhaps the best option here would be a pendant lamp model that can be raised and lowered. Thanks to its position, the lamp above the dining table is always the center of attention. That is why experts recommend avoiding frilly, catchy models.

In a modern interior, a simple lamp will look more advantageous. For an elegant, classic setting, a lamp with a traditional dark shade is suitable - it will illuminate only the surface of the table.

The only requirement for a luminaire above the dining table is that it should not give a bright light. As for the optimal distance from the surface of the table to the lamp, it should be at least 50 cm. In this case, the light source must be at eye level of the people sitting at the table. With a lamp that gives a narrow directional light, you can achieve the same effect as a lamp with a lampshade. If you add such a lamp with a combination of several lamps, a floor lamp, a wall lamp, then your favorite kitchen will be illuminated not only beautifully, but also correctly. Just do not overdo it - the floor lamp and pendant lamps should be of the same design. Not bad if the selected lamp is equipped with a dimmer. It saves electricity, extends the life of the light bulb, and most importantly, allows you to vary the brightness of the lighting. At the same time, when starting to organize the light space in the kitchen, it is necessary to take into account how the windows are located: it is desirable to make the most of natural light.

Modern luminaires emit uneven light. So, the usual incandescent light bulb gives a warm yellow luminous flux, which evokes thoughts of comfort and emphasizes the texture of wooden furniture. Halogen light - bright, good color. Its source is recommended to be installed so that the light is reflected from the walls or ceiling. It is not recommended to stay under a halogen lamp for a long time - sorry, heat stroke can easily be enough. Fluorescent lamps emit a coolish light, a bluish tint. More often they are used in the design of dining rooms in a modern style. LED equipment is becoming more and more in demand today. According to experts, it is for him - the future. The power of an LED lamp is 4 times lower than that of a halogen one, therefore, the energy consumption is the same amount less. At the same time, the service life of the LED lamp is 10 times longer. LED technology is more expensive in terms of initial costs, but its operating costs are negligible. In terms of brightness, LED lamps are comparable to halogen lamps. This means that they have the ability to put a beam of light on the surface that is required, because it is not always necessary to fill the entire space with light. And often there is no need to brightly illuminate the entire kitchen. Light should not affect the perception of certain things, objects, etc. At the same time, it often happens that when, say, the kitchen table door is opened, its internal space turns out to be “elusive” for the human eye. In such situations, light bulbs mounted directly in the cabinet will come to the rescue. When you open the door, the light in it lights up automatically. Almost all of our kitchens today flaunt a TV. It has long been an element of the dining room interior. Let's be honest: we install it spontaneously - that is, where there is a suitable place. However, this approach is not entirely correct. As lighting designers note, TV should not be placed on the dark side of the room: it is very harmful to the eyes. The lamps, in turn, must be placed so that the keeper of the hearth can easily reach them. The fact is that the bulbs burn out sooner or later, and the bodies of the lighting devices are covered with dust and kitchen fat. Nobody, except the hostess, most likely, will do their cleaning.

Kitchen lighting tips

At the very beginning of a conversation about kitchen lighting, you should say a categorical “no!” the location of the first lamp that came across in the geometric center of the ceiling. Regardless of the planning concept of the kitchen in the overall structure of the apartment, you should carefully consider the number and appearance of lighting fixtures, as well as the only right place for each of them.

At present, it is rather difficult to find a golden mean among mass lamps: they are either too decorative or purely functional. Everyone is already tired of lamps that give a rough, directional beam of light. Just lighting fittings are boring, a lamp should be a self-sufficient object. It's time to do nice stylish things, but at the same time they should not go out of the context of the interior.

As for the light at the dining table itself, the meal is a rather intimate act. There should be either a very good light that highlights the texture of the table and dishes on it, but in no case interferes with communication, or a very light decorative lamp that gives almost no light, but is a kind of decoration.

If the kitchen is small, the general light can be directly generated by sources designed for different functional areas - this will be discussed later. But the room of a fairly spacious kitchen should be equipped with special general-purpose lamps. For general lighting, the top, evenly distributed light, abundantly and softly pouring from the ceiling, is optimal. To create such light, several categories of lamps are used. First of all, these are all kinds of point sources, both stationary and mobile, freely rotating in several directions.

The main purpose of overhead lighting is to keep the kitchen bright in the evening. In addition, if the kitchen area in an open-plan apartment does not have a window, the overhead light serves as a complete replacement for daytime orientation lighting. In such kitchens with constantly on lamps, it is difficult to predict the required amount of light. As a rule, spotlights are either not enough, or their light is too annoying. You can get out of a difficult situation in different ways, creating, for example, the illusion of a window cut into the ceiling. For this, suspended structures are used, modeled from translucent, light-transmitting materials. At the same time, sufficiently powerful evenly distributed lamps are placed between the ceiling and the ceiling plane. It is best to use elongated linear sources of artificial light in such a situation. If the kitchen is located directly under the roof of the building, the best solution is to use natural light from the ceiling. In this case, “lanterns” of various configurations are arranged using special roof windows.

General lighting can be created with several ceiling lights that provide evenly distributed light throughout the kitchen space. However, this often requires too many sources. Therefore, sometimes it is better not to flood the kitchen evenly with general light, but to concentrate ceiling sources over its main functional areas: the work front, the dining table and the bar counter, if any.

Two variants of luminaires are effective for illuminating the working front: a row of single luminaires fixed to the ceiling, and spot luminaires built into the eaves above the upper edge of the wall cabinets. The higher the ceiling, the longer the cords of the fixtures can be. But you should not place them below the top edge of the kitchen shelves, otherwise the lamps will interfere with the opening of the doors.

It is better not to overload low ceilings with lighting forms. A neat cornice, which is part of the kitchen furniture, is an excellent place for mounting miniature orienting light sources. By the way, spotlights with halogen lamps have the smallest dimensions today. However, this lighting option has spread too widely and has already lost its originality. Recently, spotlights have been successfully replaced by elongated lamps, also built into the protruding part of hanging cabinets.

Above wall cabinets without eaves, you can place luminaires on flexible or movable brackets. Such lighting allows you to adjust the direction of the light flux. This is always convenient, because it creates the conditions for the individual "staging" of light.

Often the designated types of general lighting are casually referred to as "backlighting" and considered decorative excess. In fact, the light correctly installed along the upper cornice of kitchen furniture plays a leading role in the light zoning of the working front.

Work light

Overhead lighting alone is not always enough for comfortable cooking and pleasant meals at a carefully set table. Since the kitchen is primarily a functional room, one of the leading roles is given to working lighting in it. Ceiling light is sometimes not even mandatory, it just complements various types of functional.

The working lighting of the kitchen is formed by local light sources. At the same time, the lamp will help the case only if it is located in a strictly defined place, at the required level, because the countertop must be sufficiently well lit. In addition, the incident light should cover the area of ​​the desktop, sink and stove as much as possible. Sometimes there is enough lighting built into the hood, for which a wide variety of lamps are used. If the light from the hood is supplemented by other lamps, in order to avoid color and light inconsistency, which is very unpleasant for the eyes, it is better to choose spectrally similar sources.

However, the most mobile option for work lights in the kitchen are clip-on lamps. No responsibility: hung up - did not fit - removed. Brilliant!

The most common way to illuminate the work area is with luminaires built under the shelves. The best option is elongated lamps that provide an even distribution of light along the work surface, especially if the kitchen has an extended front. Such lamps are compact and therefore almost imperceptible, they are good to use when installing hidden lighting.

If this type of lighting is provided for kitchen furniture, it may be enough to lead the wire out of the wall at a level just above the bottom edge of the wall cabinets. If the luminaires are installed stand-alone, they will require separate sockets. In the case when autonomous lamps are equipped with a separate switch, it is enough to connect the wire in the manner described above.

The space above the worktop is most often saturated with all sorts of household trifles and kitchen utensils. In this case, hidden light sources will not create or enhance the impression of chaos. But, let's say the design of the kitchen is deliberately laconic. Then the deserted, almost colorless front is effectively emphasized by several designer lamps with characteristic shapes.

Stand-alone luminaires are a great solution for a kitchen without wall cabinets. (Well, if not along the entire front, then, for example, along the window wall.) Almost all models of wall lamps are suitable for this, the main thing is that they fit into the style of the kitchen. By the way, table lamps can also be used here, why not? And of course, all kinds of lamps on flexible brackets and pantograph levers, thanks to which the shape and place of the light spot can be easily adjusted.

Light additions

An unusual addition to the main lighting of the kitchen is the light inside the cabinets with translucent doors. On the one hand, such lighting has a purely functional purpose - to highlight the interior space and the contents of spacious shelves. Of course, you can do without a light bulb in the shelf, but once you try it, it is already impossible to imagine a closet dark and uncomfortable. It's the same as with a refrigerator, which becomes completely unattractive when a light bulb burns out in it. In addition, the light pouring through the light doors creates a soft halo of unique comfort in the kitchen.

Away from the walls

Modern kitchens are characterized by a fairly free approach to planning. The working front does not have to be extended along the walls, it can be located, for example, in the middle of the room. Quite a lot of layout options can be created in this way - from a narrow high countertop for eating "on the go" to bringing all the equipment to the center of the kitchen. Such a layout requires a certain approach to lighting, since there is simply no other place to place lamps other than the ceiling.

If a stove is located in the middle of the kitchen, it is advisable to equip the working area with a solid extractor fan with powerful built-in lights. Together with the overhead general lighting, they will be quite enough for all kitchen chores.

When there is no hood above the autonomous front, comfortable lighting can be created with a variety of luminaires with extended cords. The axes of the fixtures should not go beyond the contour of the work surface, but it is best if they intersect with the axis of the tabletop. The light from hanging lamps should not hit the eyes, so diffused "milky" lampshades in this case are the best solution. The number and power of sources are specially selected in each individual case.

A common lighting option for a free-standing front is a special design with spotlights. Unfortunately, in most cases, such a structure looks too rigid and trivial, although its cost is comparable to the cost of several ceiling lights.

Above the dining table

The lighting in the dining area needs special attention. Creating the mood for a meal, it is impossible to get by with only general lighting.

The placement of the lamp in the dining area directly depends on the location of the table. There are two main options: the table is located freely in the room or adjacent to the wall. In the first case, most often a single lamp is suspended from the ceiling above the table. Its height is chosen arbitrarily, depending on specific requirements. It is always convenient if it is adjustable: a high-placed lamp makes the table more solemn, a low one makes it “cramped” and cozy. The appearance of the lamp above the table can be complex and very pretentious. The main thing is that the surface of the table is covered by a spot of light. So the main requirement for a lampshade above the table is that it provides intense light directed towards the tabletop. The rest of the room may remain, depending on the design of the upper part of the lampshade, immersed in darkness, in partial shade, or be full of contrasting patterns of light shining through the slots of a dense cap.

The space above the large dining table can be marked with a group of small lamps on long bases. They can be arranged geometrically and arbitrarily, vary the length of the rod and thus create very original compositions.

Quite often during operation the position of the dining table is slightly adjusted, while the lamp remains in the same place. If such permutations are the norm for you, then it is better not to initially make holes in the ceiling, but to place a floor lamp with a high arched “leg” near the table, the light from which will be directed directly to the table top.

A table against a wall can be illuminated with one or two sconces fixed at a height of about a meter from the level of the tabletop. It is best if the sconce has long arms, and the light flux is directed downwards. By the way, the place on the wall is successfully occupied by lamps with a pantograph. And on the dining table, a tall table lamp with a dense lampshade feels great. She decorates the table, and is a functional addition to midnight gatherings.

The dining area, as a rule, in almost all houses has a simple, very standard look: a table and chairs, well, sometimes a vase with fruits or flowers. It is in such a situation that the emphasis can be placed on the witty form of a designer lamp, which will immediately take a leading place not only in the evening, but also in the daytime interior.

In conclusion, it is necessary to say about the main technical indicators of light sources in the kitchen. In the work area, high-quality cooking requires intense countertop lighting and a neutral spectrum of lamps is preferred, which does not distort the natural appearance of food. At the dining table, lighting should be such that the dish looks pleasant and appetizing. Soft, discreet light will create a favorable atmosphere for both a quiet everyday and a festive home meal.

Bon appetit in the cozy kitchen!

We automate lighting in the kitchen. What devices are needed for this?

20 Dec 2016

Arranging lighting in the kitchen at first glance is not so difficult. It is enough to place the main lamp, add a few small light sources to it and you're done.

But according to statistics, we make the greatest number of mistakes when organizing kitchen lighting. After all, it is especially important to provide light in all functional areas.

Which lamps are suitable for the kitchen?

Before moving on to the organization of lighting in the kitchen, let's figure out which lamps are suitable for lighting the kitchen. Traditionally, designers use five types of fixtures:

• chandeliers or pendants;
• recessed spotlights;
• overhead lights;
• LED backlight;
• tire lights.

The devices can be combined with each other. For example, the main light is provided by a chandelier or pendant, and the secondary light is provided by built-in lights. This is an almost universal option, as it is suitable for almost all traditional styles.

For currently popular loft-style interiors, tire lamps are more likely to be chosen - several lamps placed on a massive iron base. Complement their minimalistic overhead lamps.

In a high-tech style, simple lamps and pendants are complemented by abundant LED lighting. One type of lamp in the kitchen is never used. This is considered the main mistake when arranging kitchen lighting.

Proper kitchen lighting

The key to proper kitchen lighting is having multiple levels. One ceiling lamp will not be enough here: when cooking, you simply close the back of the light that enters the work surfaces.

Because of the falling shadow, it will be inconvenient for you to work with the products, so the small light bulbs above the tables are not just a design decision, but a practical necessity.

You can place them not only under cabinets, but also above them. If the work surface protrudes from the storage areas, and most often it does, then the light from the lamps placed directly above it will fall into the cooking area.

Enough light should also be provided in the dishwashing areas, the dining area and the breakfast bar, if there is one in the kitchen. Home plant lovers should also take care of the light above the windowsill.

The lighting at the bottom of the cabinets will be no less functional. This lighting resembles the one used to illuminate the bedroom. It will turn on at night when you, for example, get up for a drink.

LED lights are recommended for this and other secondary areas. They save energy while still providing adequate lighting for the kitchen.

Economic lighting in the kitchen

Motion sensors will help make lighting not only functional, but also economical. They will be triggered only when a person appears in the detection zone of the sensor.

You don't have to look for the lamp in the dark, because when it sees you at night in the kitchen, the sensor will turn on the lower lighting itself. During cooking or cleaning, you do not need to constantly press the on / off buttons for additional lighting.

The sensor detects that you have left a functional area, such as the sink area, and switches off the light itself.

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