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Suggestions for light to replace ugly kitchen fluorescent

6 years ago

Help! I want to get rid of the ugly, standard 4 foot fluorescent light in my kitchen but am unsure of what to get. This light is the primary source of light so it needs to be bright. Just not sure what other options I have that will add some style but will also provide the light needed in the room. Any recommendations?

Featured Answer

jhmarie

6 years ago

If you google "kitchen fluorescent light replacement" several ideas will come up, and if you do it as an image search you can see lots of pics.

Here is an example:

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Comments (7)

Bunny
6 years ago
I had a big framed fluorescent fixture before my remodel:

I had it replaced with 4 can lights and pendants over the peninsula after the soffit was removed. Obviously some drywall repair was required.
homepro01
6 years ago
Krista,

What is your budget? What is the installation situation - single story house, multiple stories, etc. Do you want one or multiple fixtures to replace the fluorescent light?
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One option would be, you buy new fixtures and have LL install - my sister has done that. Yes you're improving somebody else's property, but prorated over a yr it wouldn't be that much of an outlay for your own aesthetic enjoyment If handy, you could install them yourself Above the stove, you could take some wood and make a light rail/skirt molding to place in front of fixture, staple heavy-duty Velcro to top of frame and underside of cabinet, possibly do same for sink https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpqVwOogqUQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFZmJpocAHs My sister when a renter used plug-in GE Brightstic flourescent fixtures as under cabinet lighting.She would leave one on 24/7 so she never had to deal w/timers or walk into a dark apartment. BTW, remember, you're not limited to cool white tubes--most common, they also have daylight/kitchen tubes which are warmer in color. The also have LED tubes that can retrofit into existing fixture for even more energy efficiency and $$ savings.
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We just removed a similar light box in our kitchen! The drywall under it was in good shape except for a few holes, like where the wires came from the attic. We have a rancher, so it wasn't too hard for an electrician to put in half a dozen insulated, LED can lights. I know we got a bargain, but our (licensed) electrician charged us about $700, including removing and disposing of the light box, buying and installing the can lights and dimmer switch, and he also installed an outside spot light and replaced an under cabinet lighting. I love the change in our kitchen! I just finished patching and painting the ceiling. We didn't go with any pendants over the island. I love the bright, wide open look, and the lights are energy efficient, cool, and dimmable.
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Best is probably getting someone in to put in recessed lights, appropriately positioned around the work areas. It isn't really hard to do, so shouldn't be horribly expensive and if your ceiling can't accept cans (as mine could not because of duct work) there are now flat disc lights that work with standard shallow boxes. So you will have better lighting overall. You can have a decorative fixture along with those if you wish. I would say get LED lighting instead of fluorescent. I think the light quality is better, they last longer, and use less electricity. I like the 3000k, 800 lumen LEDs that are in my recessed lights. Other than recessed depends your taste and style, how much area you need to light, and so forth. You might like track lights, like this or this one. There are hundreds of decorative fixtures in all styles and colors. Just pick something that will be easy to clean. And they do still make the traditional round, square or rectangular flush mount ceiling light like these only with LEDS instead of fluorescent or incandescent bulbs.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I got a long bendable track led light fixture that allows me to focus the various lights exactly where I need the light. I got it from Lowe's and I use daylight led for bright white light. I don't use halogen bulbs they get too hot so I replaced all the bulbs with led.

Not exactly the same as mine but similar

https://m.lowes.com/pd/Cascadia-Lighting-6-Light-72-in-Satin-Nickel-Flexible-Track-Light-with-Glass/4595585
Krista Jarvis
Original Author
6 years ago
Budget - Up to $300. Would love to get can lights but that's not in the budget currently. Two story house. Kitchen in on main floor with a floor above it.
beachem
6 years ago
You probably can do can lights if you do some of the work yourself. $24 for 4 housing and $40 for 4 can lights Led at Costco. Cut the holes yourself and get an electrician to wire.
homepro01
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I would use the surface mounted recessed cans. For $300, you can get 5 of Lotus LED lighting. I have one of the Commercial Electric from home depot and they run about $40, I did not like color rending on these. Another option is surfaced mounted fixtures that are very slim so that you don't have to worry about adding a recessed housing fixture in the ceiling.

Lotus LED recessed lights

Lotus LED slim Lights

George Kovac Surface Mount

Commercial Electric surface LED fixtures

There are quite a few options it just depends on what you want the kitchen to look like. Also budget for LED fixture compatible dimmer switches.

Good luck!

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