• Adding a Touch of Luxe to Your Cabinets with Lighting

  • Looking for the final addition to your cabinets? Whether it is your kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, or entertainment center, a little decorative lighting can go a long way to completing a space. For an inspired way to make your cabinets pop, try cabinet lights!  
     

    In-Cabinet Lighting 

    There are a variety of lights you can use to illuminate the interior of your cabinets. Glass cabinet doors enhance the appeal of in-cabinet lights as it allows you to put items on display. In this case, lights are typically installed on the underside of shelving and can range from minimalist LED light strips to round puck lights. In-cabinet lights can also be used for open shelving.  

    While in-cabinet lighting looks stunning in cabinets that are fitted with transparent or frosted glass doors, doors made of an opaque material such as wood can utilize them as well. Motion-activated varieties allow interiors to be illuminated only when the door or drawer is open and motion is detected, giving you a clear view of the contents inside.  

    An illuminated custom entertainment center with open shelves and glass doors. – The Cabinet Doctors

    Over-Cabinet Lighting  

    When installed above cabinets, light sources can permeate space beneath. As you only need enough to fill the top of the cabinet space, this is a good option for those who do not want to spend a lot of money on lights. One light is typically adequate for an area up to 30” wide, depending on how well-lit you want it to be.  

    An alternative option to over-cabinet lights is light strips. Instead of illuminating the cabinets themselves, light strips are designed to light up the space between the ceiling and your cabinets, as shown in the example on the right.  

    Two types of over-cabinet lighting, overhanging and led strip lighting. – K Lighting Supplies and Pinterest

    Under-Cabinet Lighting  

    Instead of (or in addition to) illuminating the space inside your cabinets, you may opt to light up the space underneath. This is often used under upper kitchen cabinets and floating bathroom vanities.  

    Soft lighting adds ambiance to the space when the primary lights are off. Observe how both designs below feature dark cabinets illuminated by under-cabinet lighting! 

    Strip lighting is installed under upper kitchen cabinets and under floating bathroom cabinets. – Angi.com and Normandy Remodeling

    Back-lit Kitchen Island 

    If you would like to take your lighting up a notch and go with something more extravagant and less conventional, a back-lit kitchen island may be a viable choice. In this configuration, the countertop stone is illuminated from behind so that it gives the appearance that it is glowing from within. Your kitchen island will surely become the focal point of the room! 

    A beautifully back-lit, oversized stone kitchen island. – backsplash.com

    Back-lit Backsplash 

    Using a similar concept, you can also have an illuminated backsplash. This is a luxurious feature that can be found in luxury homes and hotel establishments. 

    A backlit backsplash constructed from book matched calcatta onyx. – NKBA.com

    Types of Light Bulbs 

    Whichever location you choose to install your cabinet lights, the standard type of lighting used in cabinet lighting applications is LEDs (light emitting diodes). LEDs consume little energy, are long-lasting (can last up to 15 years), and come in many forms.  

    For a built-in and expensive look, we recommend varieties where the individual diodes cannot be seen. Refer to the example below comparing two types of LED strip lighting. Due to the obvious and sparsely placed diode pattern, we think the one on the left may suit a gaming room but would look out of place in a luxurious kitchen or bathroom. By contrast, the one on the right is refined and elegant. This is particularly true if the lights are attached to a location in which the lights themselves are visible.  

    Not all LED strip lights are created equal – choose wisely! – IKEA and Dazuma US

    Lighting Controls 

    Lights can be controlled with a traditional power switch. But nowadays, installations often come with mobile apps that include smart controls and customization options such as a timer or scheduler. In the featured image of this article, the colored lights can transform into white lights and vice versa!  

    A recommendation is to streamline your controls by sticking with one lighting brand that includes a robust variety of features and installations. That way, if you ever wanted to add additional lights or controls, you would not have to add or open another app. 

    Installation Tips 

    As with any home renovation project, safety is key. This is especially critical when it comes to electrical components, of which issues may not be immediately and visibly apparent but can be fire or electrocution hazards. 

    Second to safety are factors such as function and aesthetics. When it comes to aesthetics, it is ideal for cables to remain completely concealed behind cabinets and/or within the walls. Functionally, you want to ensure that controls are easily accessible. For the reasons mentioned above, we highly recommend consulting with a professional when installing cabinet lighting.  

    Here’s a Bright Idea! 

    Not sure where to start when it comes to your home renovation? Let our team at The Cabinet Doctors guide you in the right direction. With decades of experience in home remodeling and custom cabinetry, we will ensure you are happy with the outcome, down to the very last detail! Contact us or get an estimate today! 

    Featured Image: The Cabinet Doctors