Part 1: Some Basic Concepts in Lighting Technology

Part 1 – The Role of General, Task, and Accent Lighting

In a well-designed kitchen, lighting does not consist of a single light fixture. The kitchen serves simultaneously as a workspace, a passageway, a storage area, a dining or serving zone, and in many cases, it is also part of a communal space open to the living room. For this reason, multiple types of lighting are needed, each serving a specific purpose, and together providing comfortable and harmonious lighting.

The most common mistake is relying on a single central ceiling light. This may seem sufficient at first, but in practice it quickly becomes apparent that certain parts of the countertop are in shadow, there is insufficient light under the upper cabinets, the area around the sink or stovetop isn’t clearly visible, and in the evening, the kitchen has either too bright or too cold an atmosphere.

Good kitchen lighting consists of layers: general lighting, task lighting, and mood or accent lighting.

The Role of General Lighting

The purpose of general lighting is to evenly illuminate the entire kitchen space. This is the basic light that allows you to move around safely, unpack, clean, and see the entire room. This may include ceiling lights, recessed spotlights, track lighting, or larger light sources.
With general lighting, it’s important not to illuminate only the center of the room. If the light is distributed poorly, the corners and areas around tall cabinets or countertops may remain darker. The goal is to create even, pleasant ambient lighting that isn’t glaring but also doesn’t leave any unusable, shadowed areas.

In an open-concept kitchen-living room space, the general lighting should also complement the rest of the living area. It’s not ideal if the lighting in the kitchen has a completely different ambiance or is too bright compared to the living room.

Why Isn’t a Central Light Fixture Enough?

The biggest problem with central lighting is that it often comes from behind or above the user. When working at the counter, your body can cast a shadow right onto the surface where you’d be cutting, mixing, or preparing ingredients. In such cases, even with a bright light on the ceiling, you still can’t see the actual work surface clearly.

This is particularly common in counter areas located beneath upper cabinets. The cabinets partially block the light, leaving the back of the counter in shadow and making food preparation more tedious. Around the sink and stovetop, it’s also important to have not only general lighting but also task lighting.

Central lighting is therefore a good foundation, but on its own it rarely provides truly comfortable kitchen lighting.

The Purpose of Task Lighting

The purpose of task lighting is to provide adequate light where we’re actually working. The most important areas are the prep counter, the sink, the stovetop, and the serving area. These areas require sharper vision than the general walkways of the kitchen.

LED lighting built into the space under the upper cabinets is one of the most practical solutions because it shines directly onto the countertop. It’s best if the light is even, without spots, and doesn’t cause distracting glare on the surface of the countertop or backsplash. The LED strip should be positioned so that it doesn’t shine directly into your eyes but instead illuminates the work surface.

Kitchens without island counters or upper cabinets require a different solution. In these cases, pendant lights, adjustable spotlights, track lighting, or recessed ceiling lights can provide task lighting.

Lighting the Stove Top and Sink

When cooking, it’s important to be able to clearly see the cookware, the state of the food, and the surrounding countertop. If a range hood is installed above the stove, its built-in lighting can play a role, but it’s not always sufficient on its own. This is especially important if the cooktop is on an island or if the range hood’s lighting is dim.

Targeted lighting is also useful at the sink. This is where we clean, rinse, wash dishes, and run water—and often need to spot small stains or details. If the sink is located under a window, it may receive good natural light during the day, but artificial lighting is still necessary for evening use.

When it comes to task lighting, the question is always: Can we see clearly where our hands are working?

Storage Units and Interior Lighting

Task lighting isn’t just for countertops. It can also be very useful for certain storage units. For tall pantry cabinets, deep cabinets, glass display cabinets, open shelves, or wardrobe-style kitchen storage units, interior lighting greatly improves usability.

In a pantry cabinet, for example, it’s easier to find food items if the interior is well-lit. In a glass-fronted cabinet, lighting serves both practical and decorative purposes: it makes the beautiful glasses, bowls, or ceramics stored inside more visible.

With interior lighting, it’s important that it isn’t too bright or distracting. The goal is clarity and subtle highlighting, not to turn the cabinet into an overly glaring light source.

The Role of Decorative Lighting

Decorative lighting isn’t primarily intended for working. Rather, it serves to create ambiance, add depth to the space, and highlight unique details. Examples include display cabinet lighting, LEDs built into shelves, baseboard lighting, recessed ceiling lighting, or a decorative pendant light above the kitchen island.

Accent lighting works best when it is understated and purposeful. It can subtly highlight beautiful wall cladding, open shelves, glass elements, or unique materials. In the evening, it helps ensure that the kitchen doesn’t appear as a dark, closed-off block next to the living room, but rather blends into the home’s atmosphere with pleasant ambient lighting.

Decorative lighting generally does not require high brightness. Much more important are proper placement, a soft lighting effect, and the ability to switch or dim the lights individually.

Individual Switching and Dimming

Kitchen lighting works best when the different layers of light can be switched on and off separately. You need different lighting for cooking, cleaning, evening conversations, and when you just need ambient lighting.

Having general lighting, counter lighting, island lighting, and decorative lighting on separate circuits allows for much more flexible use. If the brightness is adjustable, it’s even more convenient. This way, whether during the day, in the evening, while cooking, or when entertaining guests, the ambiance can always be adjusted to suit the situation.

This is especially important in open-concept kitchen-living room spaces, where the kitchen lighting influences the atmosphere of the entire space.

Well-Layered Lighting Is Both Comfortable and Beautiful

Good kitchen lighting isn’t about using a lot of lights. It’s about each light having its own purpose. General lighting provides a safe, basic glow. Task lighting helps with work. Accent lighting creates ambiance and character.

When these elements work in harmony, the kitchen becomes functional in every situation. It provides bright, focused light when we’re working in it, and softer, cozier light when we simply want to enjoy the atmosphere of the space.

Lighting is at its best when you don’t have to think about it. It simply always provides the light you need at that moment.