How to plan KITCHEN LIGHTING

Achieve the perfect lighting scheme that's bright, hard-working and looks good

- THEA BABINGTON-STITT,LISA FAZZANI

Plan lighting early on

When it comes to designing a new kitchen, it's important to think about lighting at the planning stage. Lighting is an integral part of any kitchen, so it makes sense to plan out the lighting scheme early on and install electrics and fittings at the beginning of the project, before plastering, fitting and decorating has taken place so minimum disruption is caused.

Think about how you use the space

The kitchen plays host to a multitude of activities, from cooking and prep to homework and family dinners, so plan your lighting scheme around how you use the space. Consider dimmable lighting for cosy dinners and spotlights for brightly-lit work surfaces used for food preparation.

Get the height right

It's important that any pendant lights are hung at a practical height, so that you can use the space without banging into them. Ensure island pendants are positioned so they don't block the view and allow a clearance of 75-90cm between work surface and the bottom of the pendant. If the island includes a hob or sink, avoid positioning directly above.

Aim for three lighting types