Lighting the working area in the kitchen: helpful tips on selection and correct installation

Lonely hanging chandelier or spotlights on the ceiling are not able to create the desired illumination of the working zone. Light or falls behind, or get distracted. See anything on the table, stove or in the washing becomes impossible. However, the successful variants of illumination of the working area in the kitchen is still there, and they should pay special attention - they will help preserve vision, do the cleaning and cooking more comfortable. Thinking design project premises, immediately decide, manner in which to realize illumination of the working area and schedule extra outlets.

How to organize the work area lighting

The kitchen worktops need additional lighting, stove and sink. The easiest way to deal with the plate, because it is set on hood with integrated lamp. Backlight countertops in the kitchen and cleaning coverage achieved by installing additional lights, which should create:

• Sufficient brightness - on the surface of the square is required 40-50 W;
• directed, but diffused light, not to tired eyes.

These criteria are met fixtures, which are mounted under the cabinets or on the wall. fluorescent, halogen and LED bulbs - that the three leaders, among which the working area is selected lights. Thus each of the light sources has advantages, disadvantages and install nuances.

Fluorescent Lights

So called fluorescent lamps, which are familiar to everyone. Illumination of the working area in the kitchen is done using conventional luminaires or special lamps, giving diffused light.

Advantages and disadvantages of fluorescent lamps

Incandescent, are installed in the working area, characterized by the following benefits::

• easy installation,
• Reasonable cost,
• Lamps are sold everywhere,
• Low energy consumption,
• Fluorescent lamps for illuminating the working area in the kitchen serve long,
• included the socket without acquisition of additional devices,
• Quality lighting complies with - 40-50 W / m

In this case, it stands only two drawbacks - Lamp size does not always fit into the design space, and without having to install the diffuser lamps dazzle the eye. To solve the problem with too bright light, optional strap-diffuser in the same place, where to buy lamps. The second option - to buy a special lamp for the kitchen of the desktop, the design of which allows to protect your eyes from the bright rays.

Features installation of fluorescent lamps

When purchasing fluorescent lamps are equipped with brackets. It only remains to fasten them to the desired place and switch the socket. To protect the eyes from bright rays strap-mounted diffuser.

If possible, buy special furniture lighting, which is equipped with everything you need - it is fixed by fasteners and connected to the power supply.

Halogen light sources

Spotlights for illuminating the working area in the kitchen, equipped with halogen lamps, available in a large range. They are embedded and patch.

Pros and cons of halogen lights

Of the advantages of the halogen lamps over other lighting sources are allocated:

1. The emission spectrum - as close to the sun,
2. radiation directivity,
3. Lamps do not dazzle the eye,
4. When properly installed, provide illumination for the working surface normal,
5. Matched by any design and environment - particularly impressive look spotlights with light from the LEDs.

The disadvantages include the complexity of installing recessed lights, which require special grooves - to do them in the lockers is not always possible. The need to purchase additional wiring to reduce the voltage transformer also applies to the downside halogen lamps. AND, finally, when installing halogen lamps light in the kitchen above the work surface is difficult to make uniform.

mounting Features

First of all, optional wiring and transformer, which lowers the voltage in the network - you can buy it from a seller of lamps. Secondly, installation of halogen lamps depends on, what type of fixtures selected - recessed or surface.

If the working area in the kitchen is illuminated by recessed halogen lamps, the space for installation of lamps are determined at the stage of a design project - they cut into the lockers at depth 2 cm. It helps solve the problem of creating a niche plasterboard provided, that it will fit into the interior. The distance between the lamps in 50 see allows illumination rate. If recessed lights are mounted in a decorative visor, but light to the working surface becomes insufficient.

Surface halogen lamp for illumination or countertop sink has no difficulties during installation. The lamps are mounted on the lower plane of the lockers, They do not require penetration and selected by interior. The difficulty arises from the blinding light eyes, so the overhead lights are mounted only on the lockers, installed below eye level.

LED bulbs

LED lights for the kitchen recognized as a leader in creating a comfortable environment in the work area. Lighting arranged with individual lamps, fixtures or tapes, which have already been installed LEDs.

The pros and cons of LED lighting

The indisputable advantages of this type of lighting are:

• Reducing energy consumption 7-10 time;
• The emission spectrum is in a cold, warm or neutral range - typically selected neutral, since cold blinding, and the warm lighting makes it blurred;
• No flicker;
• LED strip lighting in the kitchen and do not cause difficulties during installation, but require additional equipment.

When buying bulbs discard those, which consist of white LEDs, and give preference to blue with phosphor-coated - in this case, the work area will be brightly lit with white light

The disadvantages of glued strips is their vulnerability to moisture and impurities, and the fixing strength of the selected surface. If you are flashing lights in the kitchen LED tape, the selected product silicone coating to protect from dirt. When selecting bulbs, consider, they create directional lighting. Powerful lamps give a spot on the surface. Uniform light output is obtained by correctly found mutual arrangement of low-power lamps.

Installation of LED lighting

LEDs connected to the network 220 The impossible. It is necessary to use a power supply, step-down voltage and ground loop - driver. Tape pasted on the double sided tape or glue on its own basis. If desired, the profile used for LED backlighting, which is straight or angled. Profile made of aluminum and equipped with lens. Finished lamps are mounted on the surface using the existing fasteners.

LED recessed lights to the ceiling and equipped with spring-loaded brackets are mounted in the prepared holes. The diameter of the hole is slightly smaller, than the outer diameter of the lamp - it allows you to hide the mounting clearances. Used for stretch, suspended or plasterboard structures.

Self-production of the lamp

If you have LED ribbon, some of it made original lamps and even LED Chandelier own hands. Couple great chandeliers illuminate the bar, if you use it as a work surface. To work need to tape with LEDs, pieces of PVC panels, driver, wire.

PVC creates chandeliers frame, and on the perimeter or the inside of the set tape. The easiest way to give a three-dimensional geometric shape of the plastic or cut a flat piece.

brief summary

Lighting of the working area in the kitchen is functional and decorative character. By the brightness increased requirements - it depends on the health of the eye, mood and overall health. To decide on the, which option to choose the backlight, should be at the stage of the project, in due time to install sockets and prepare technological holes for recessed luminaires. If desired, mounted motion sensor or light switch - on-off function should be simple and convenient.