Guide to Undercabinet Lighting
Weigh the pros and cons of undercabinet lighting options and find the best undercabinet lights for you
Kelsey Roadruck
March 28, 2018
Houzz Contributor
There are many must-haves in any functional kitchen, but good lighting is one of the most important features. Pendant and recessed lights are great for illuminating large spaces, but undercabinet lights provide even, targeted light for tasks such as cooking and cleaning. While undercabinet lighting is most commonly found under kitchen cabinets, it can also be implemented under shelves in other rooms, like offices or bathrooms.
Why do you need undercabinet lights?
Many designers suggest a layered lighting plan in which undercabinet lights are a crucial layer. Undercabinet lighting eliminates shadows cast by cabinets and illuminates work areas to make daily chores, like food preparation, easier. It can also be used as night lighting to light a path to your midnight snack or as accent lighting to highlight a display, backsplash or countertop. Undercabinet fixtures can be recessed or mounted. Contrary to popular belief, most surface-mount lights are thin enough to disappear behind cabinet face frames. You’d have to intentionally get under cabinets and look up to see surface-mount fixtures.
Types of undercabinet lighting
There are two major types of undercabinet lighting options: linear and puck lights. Linear lights run the entire length of cabinets, provide uniform light and are easier to install. Puck lights are adjustable, individual fixtures that cast concentrated beams of light to add ambience.
Linear light types:
Linear light types:
- Light strips: Also called tape lights or ribbon lights, the length of light strips are customizable for irregular cabinetry with both normal and low voltage undercabinet lighting. They’re thin and flexible, which makes them a strategic option for cabinets with a short face frame. You can apply light strips to cabinets with a simple peel-and-stick adhesive.
- Rope lights: A bit thicker and firmer than light strips, rope lights have a plastic tubing that runs along cabinets and toe-kicks.
- Light bars: Bars are bigger and brighter than light strips and rope lights. They’re not as long or as low as tape and rope lighting, but light bars still provide more coverage than puck lights.
Undercabinet bulb types
- Halogen bulbs: Halogen produces the brightest light, but burns faster and hotter than the bulbs below.
- Xenon bulbs: Although not cool to the touch, xenon bulbs are dimmable. They have a warmer color temperature for a cozy, warm glow.
- Fluorescent bulbs: Not all fluorescent lights can be dimmed, but they do not emit as much heat as halogen or xenon bulbs. They are an energy-efficient option with a long lifespan.
- LED bulbs: LED undercabinet lighting is the most energy-efficient option. They’re often dimmable and cool to the touch with a lifespan of almost six years.
Note: It’s wise to buy bulbs from the same family products for consistent color. Warm-colored bulbs are great for ambience and accent lighting while cool-colored bulbs are usually brighter and better for task lighting.
How to install undercabinet lighting
There are three types of installation: battery-operated, plug-in and hardwired undercabinet lighting. The latter requires a skilled electrician.
Installing undercabinet lighting can be as easy as sticking battery-operated puck lights under the cabinet. Just be sure to pay close attention to spacing. You’ll want one puck light for every eight to 12 inches of cabinet space to prevent pooling.
Plug-in light strips are a manageable DIY undercabinet lighting option. You can connect and control multiple light strips from one parent fixture. If you don’t have a well-placed outlet to use a cord discreetly, you’ll probably want to opt for hardwired or wireless undercabinet lighting.
When installing undercabinet lights yourself, position the fixture close to the front of the cabinet, behind the face frame and toward the backsplash to avoid glare.
The sleekest solution is to hardwire undercabinet lights directly to a power source. Hire a professional if you don’t want any cords or wires to be visible.
Installing undercabinet lighting can be as easy as sticking battery-operated puck lights under the cabinet. Just be sure to pay close attention to spacing. You’ll want one puck light for every eight to 12 inches of cabinet space to prevent pooling.
Plug-in light strips are a manageable DIY undercabinet lighting option. You can connect and control multiple light strips from one parent fixture. If you don’t have a well-placed outlet to use a cord discreetly, you’ll probably want to opt for hardwired or wireless undercabinet lighting.
When installing undercabinet lights yourself, position the fixture close to the front of the cabinet, behind the face frame and toward the backsplash to avoid glare.
The sleekest solution is to hardwire undercabinet lights directly to a power source. Hire a professional if you don’t want any cords or wires to be visible.
Choosing the right undercabinet lighting
Follow the guide below to find the best undercabinet lights for you:
- If you want to conserve energy, choose fluorescent or LED undercabinet lights. These are more expensive upfront, but they are long-lasting and produce little to no heat. You’ll save money on replacement bulbs and energy bills in the long-run.
- If you want to age in place, install dimmers for more control over the lighting as your visual needs change. As we get older, our eyes need more light to complete daily tasks, like reading a recipe.
- If you want to do it yourself, install battery-operated or plug-in undercabinet lights for easy installation and instant gratification. Light strips are typically easier to install than puck lights.
- If you want to highlight a design feature, use puck lights as spotlights. Some puck lights are adjustable, so you can direct them toward the detail you want to show off.
- If you want to make a house feel more like home, use xenon or colored bulbs. Xenon bulbs will attract you to a room with soft, warm radiance. Light strips and rope lights are available in accent colors if you’re going for a contemporary vibe.
- If you use cabinets for food storage, avoid halogen and xenon lights. These emit more heat than other bulbs and could melt snacks in an upper cabinet or spoil produce below on a countertop.
- If you have glossy countertops, fit fixtures with a lens to soften the light output and reduce glare.
- If you have dark or matte countertops, use bulbs with higher lumens to counteract the light absorption of a dark surface.
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