Working in a kitchen that was designed with the end user in mind will always be easier and more pleasant than using one where no consideration has been given to those that spend hours preparing food for their family.
In many older homes the kitchen has not been designed well, with the result that the cook gets irritable and is less likely to want to spend enough time there to create meals that are delicious and healthy. Lighting is an important factor in the overall pleasant stakes. Here are 3 reasons why lighting in the kitchen is really important. More on kitchen design
- Visibility – everyone would agree that good visibility is essential in an office, living room, bathroom and even in the bedroom, so why not also in the kitchen? If you have to work in your own shadow it makes your job just so much more difficult. The cook has to read recipes, measure ingredients carefully, find things in the back of cupboards and chop up vegetables. All these tasks require good visibility.
- Aesthetics – when your work area looks attractive and pleasant you will feel better about being in it. When you feel good your stress levels go down. We all know these days that being stressed causes many other health problems. Thus, having an attractive kitchen is good for your health.
- Safety – When your home is an open plan one the kitchen becomes an area that the family will be in. Children may play or do their homework there. If it is not well-lit, it will become a hazardous place to be whether you are trying to cook, clean up, wash up or supervise the children.
There are two types of lighting; natural and artificial. Natural lighting comes from kitchen windows and depending on your house design, windows in other areas of the home. Enlarging the window area in your kitchen can really enhance this essential room. Having a window over the sink or the preparation area will allow natural light to flood in. Even if the artificial lighting is in the wrong place for some of your kitchen chores, the natural lighting will alleviate the problem, at least during the day.
No kitchen can be complete without artificial lighting, since a great deal of food preparation is done in the late evening. Having good artificial lighting will create a space that is safe and that welcomes you. Not all fancy lighting gives off light that is bright enough for work in the kitchen, so it is essential to choose fittings carefully. Here are some more tips.
- Avoid the kind of light covers that will create shadows instead of allowing the light to spread out.
- Downlights are not always a good idea unless they are combined with another light source.
- Lighting can be enhanced by light coloured cabinetry, as well as light ceiling and wall colours.
- Getting more light into your kitchen may be as simple as using a different kind of window treatment. Vertical blinds can be adjusted to reveal more of the window cavity, thus allowing more natural light in.
- If all else fails, install a skylight.
Once you have a good look around, you are sure to find many ways to increase the light in your kitchen.
