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Home Decorating Design Dilemma Kitchens

How to add more natural light to my kitchen?

4 years ago

I have REALLY weird lighting in my kitchen. Theres a ton of windows, but none of them actually seem to reach the kitchen and light it well. I'm on cabinet color #4 and still can't find a good color that works with the lighting.

Attempt #1: white. Turns out my walls are actually an off white/yellow/tan color and it didn't look good at all

Attempt #2: Gray. In my weird lighting, grey pulls purple/blue

Attempt #3: A dark almost Navy blue. It pulled purple and lasted just until I bought another can of paint

Attempt #4: Blue. Went for bold and ended up decided on Behr's color of 2019 - Blueprint. It looks like a really nice color with tint hints of turquoise (or whatever other color that's kinda green). In my kitchen, it decidedly pulls more blue and looks much darker. Here it is (please excuse the embarrassing mess-this was after a full day of painting): https://i.postimg.cc/bwHthksz/IMG-0422.jpg I would even go as far as to say that this is a good picture, since I feel like it's much darker and more blue in person.

I'm undecided on if I should paint my cabinets a more greenish blue, or leave the cabinets (I just painted them in October) and instead try to brighten it up with decor. I was thinking about maybe doing some white runners for the kitchen and a large white rug to go under the kitchen table. I was also thinking about switching out my current table and going for a round white or light wood table instead. Would that help? What are your suggestions for the space?

Featured Answer

User

4 years ago

Pics? Windows in an adjacent room, or that face north, do not add good light. The solution is about 2-3K spent with a lighting designer and electricIan.

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Comments (10)

misecretary
4 years ago
I would take a good hard look at the light bulbs and see if changing those in the kitchen area would help. Have you tried a bright white bulb? Perhaps some lights beneath the upper cabinets to shine on the counter top. I would not paint cabinets any darker because light does not bounce off a dark surface.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Change all the bulbs to LEDs 4000K then work on choosing colors Since you probably do not want to do more mess in there I would do LED track lights you just don’t have enough actual light in the kitchen.Alsi add some under cabinets lighting . When I say change the bulbs change them everywhere. BTW best to post your pics in a comment .. Leave the cabinets they look fine as is , look for a wall color with no yellow undertone
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threers
4 years ago
The blue is fine...you need more lighting.....as a chandelier over dining table; floor lamps or table lamps in the living area and good lighting in the kitchen, over head and under the cabinents
shirlpp
4 years ago
Please don't put a white rug or runner in your kitchen. It will get dirty really fast. I have two white throw rugs at my master bathroom sink and I have to wash them way too often. I can't imagine doing this for a white rug in the kitchen.
PRO
Open House Home Staging & Redesign, LLC
4 years ago
I personally would have just painted the cabinets the same color as your trim. It would have brightened things up, and given a cohesive look to the small space.
katinparadise
4 years ago
Here's your pic in the comments.
mnmamax3
4 years ago
I think the blue is pretty and actually seems to coordinate with the rug in the living room. I agree with others, it's all about the lighting.
C R
4 years ago
I think you can leave the cabinet colors blue they look nice! I would instead do 2 pendant lights by the island area. That will make it more bright.
Michelle misses Sophie
4 years ago
Paint colors don't add light. White doesn't add light. Windows and lighting fixtures do.

Paint does react with the existing light, so if things are pulling blue/purple look to the other side of the color wheel for guidance as to the direction to go. Colors turning blue in an artificial light can mean two things - color temperature of the bulbs (go warmer, which is lower in degrees K) and CRI - color rendering index (look for bulbs rated 90+. Anything less is going to give you "off" colors and if the bulb doesn't proudly state 90+, you have to assume it's only CRI of 80 or so).

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