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What is Under-cabinet Lighting?

Types of Under-cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting can be purchased at home improvement centers and specialty lighting showrooms, as well as from online distributors. The fixtures available from these suppliers may use one of three types of bulbs:

• Incandescent
• Fluorescent
• LED

The type of lamp influences the performance of the fixture, including the amount of light, the light's color, the life of the lamp or fixture, and its energy use. The type of lamp also often dictates the style of the fixture.

Incandescent Lamps

Incandescent lamps are the most common light source found in homes Incandescent lamps comes in a variety of styles for under-cabinet lighting.

Incandescent lamps are readily available, inexpensive, and easy to replace when one burns out. However, they typically have the shortest life (2) years on average at 3 hours per day, and highest energy use for equal light output of the three types of lamp available.

Fluorescent Lamps

Under-cabinet fluorescent lighting is available with linear fluorescent lamps or compact fluorescent lamps. Linear fluorescent lamps are the most popular type of fluorescent lighting for under-cabinet fixtures because they are thin, allowing them to be concealed behind the cabinet trim. Newer fluorescent lamps have many improvements over older designs, including choice of light color (from warm to cool), good color rendering, instant-on, no flickering, and no buzzing or humming.

Fluorescent lamps have the advantages of high efficacy, long life (7 years on average at 3 hours per day), and bright, uniform lighting. Fluorescent under-cabinet fixtures are sold as both plug-in types or as fixtures to be hard-wired.

LEDs (light-emitting diodes)

White LEDs have become popular for a variety of task lighting uses because of their low energy use. Some LEDs may be quite small, they still require other components that enable their proper operation, making the size of an LED fixture about the same as other fixtures used for under-cabinet lighting.

LEDs are also popular for their long life. Properly designed LED fixtures can last longer than 10 years. Unlike incandescent and fluorescent lamps, LED lamps typically do not burn out. Rather, they get dimmer over time to a point where they do not produce enough light to see by, even though they are still operating.

White LEDs are generally a bluer-white in color appearance than incandescent lamps, though warm-white LEDs that mimic incandescent are becoming more common. White LEDs are generally available in the same color range as fluorescent lamps.

Selecting and Installing Your Under-cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting should be considered the workhorse of the kitchen, but it is too often underestimated by kitchen designers in relation to the benefits it can provide. It should be smooth, uniform illumination for a variety of tasks and purposes ranging from reading the faded handwriting on an old recipe, to mincing and dicing meats and vegetables, to simply displaying a colorful blown glass decanter or a piece of kitchen art. With good under-cabinet lighting, colors of food are vibrant and textures are enhanced. As the social center of the home, kitchens are often the primary location for family activities and parties. Adjustable light levels allow for a transition from a bright, clear visual environment, to a lively setting, to one that is quiet and relaxed when the day's activities are over.

The variety of under-cabinet lighting fixtures available can make it hard to choose what is best.

Getting the Best Lighting for Kitchen Counters

There are two main criteria for good task lighting: the amount of light falling on the work surface, called illuminance level, and the evenness of the lighting, called uniformity.

The illuminance of a kitchen counter is measured using an imaginary square grid laid out on the horizontal surface of the counter.Measurements are taken at each spot on the grid and then averaged to determine the average illuminance of the work surface.

Uniformity is a measure of the evenness of the lighting. Uniform lighting is easier to work under because the surface has a constant illumination, rather than "pools" or "spots" of light and dark areas. Uniformity problems may be created by the fixture spacing or the design of the fixture itself. Irregular light patterns will hinder performing tasks, detract from the counter and backsplash design, and create an unattractive overall appearance.

Each cabinet features an LED fixture. The fixture on the right provides poor uniformity and distribution, creating a central pool of light on the counter, poor lighting on the backsplash, and dark areas on the counter.

Incandescent Puck

Lighting Puck lights, so named because they look like a hockey puck, are round or oval fixtures good for cabinet and display lighting. They are low-profile (less than 2 in. depth) and can be concealed under cabinets easily. The fixture housing comes in several colors (generally black, white, or metallic finish) to match different decors. Some puck lights can be mounted in different positions to aim the light either straight down or at the backsplash.

Because of the nature of their design, puck lights can create scallops, spots, or pools of light, rather than even illumination across the counter, especially when spaced far apart from each other. In general, one puck light is needed for every 8-12 in. of cabinet length. This spacing will provide the best uniformity and distribution of light and avoid any dark areas under the cabinets. Incandescent

Linear Lighting

Incandescent linear lighting comes in two forms: as a light strip or as a linear fixture or light bar. They can be normal voltage (120 volt) or low voltage (12 volt).

Light strips

Light strips use 5, 6, or 10 W festoon lamps and may have 20 W halogen MR11 lamps added as well. Light strips are quite narrow (less than 1 in.) and have a height of less than 1 in. They are sold by the foot and can be cut to length during installation. The space between lamp sockets can be anywhere from 2 in. to 6 in., though a spacing of 2-3 in. between sockets is best for under-cabinet lighting. Some light strips include reflectors for each socket, which help direct the light down toward the counter, rather than up toward the cabinet. Reflectors reduce wasted light and help put the light where it is needed.

To illuminate countertops evenly, cut the light strip to fit the full length of the cabinet. For a low voltage system, allow room at one end of the run for an integral electronic transformer; alternatively, the transformer can be located in a remote location, such as the top of a cabinet. Flexible or straight connectors can link the light strip from one cabinet to the next, depending on the cabinet layout. If the counter space will be used to perform a variety of tasks, use frosted festoon lamps. These will provide more uniform lighting. If the counter will be used as a display space, use clear festoon lamps, which provide accent and sparkle.

Linear fixtures

Linear incandescent fixtures or light bars typically use 18-35 W xenon lamps or 20-25 W halogen lamps. The lamps may be shielded behind a lens to create a uniform illumination across the length of the fixture, similar to those used with fluorescent lamps. Or they may look like individual puck lights installed side by side into one fixture. As an alternative to dimming, some fixtures have two light level settings, high and low.

Xenon fixture produces a more uniform distribution of light than the 12 in. halogen fixture. Fixtures should be sized according to the length of the cabinet. Mounting should be at the front edge of the cabinet; if the fixture is lensed, the lens should face the backsplash.

Fluorescent Linear Lighting

Linear fluorescent under-cabinet fixtures are available in a multitude of lengths and depths. A limited selection is available at home improvement centers, while more lengths can be found through online distributors or special order. The lenses or housing may be adjustable to different aiming positions. As an alternative to dimming, some fixtures have two light level settings, high and low. For linear fixtures, a slim profile not greater than 1 in. high x 4 in. wide is recommended to conceal the fixture behind the cabinet trim molding. For the most uniform lighting, use fixtures of the same length for the entire kitchen. Select the longest length that will fit in the shortest-length cabinet and then use multiple fixtures of the same length to cover the cabinet. If the entire length of the cabinet cannot be covered by fixtures mounted end to end, try to cover at least 2/3 of the cabinet with each fixture spaced at even distances over the entire length of the cabinet.

Compact Fluorescent Puck Lighting

CFL under-cabinet fixtures typically use 9 W replaceable lamps. These fixtures produce more light than an incandescent puck light and also use less energy. The fixtures are usually linkable and can be plugged in or hard-wired. Based on the light distribution shown in the photo below, fixtures can be spaced 16 inches on center, so one fixture would suffice for a 12-18 in. cabinet, two for a 27-30 in. cabinet, etc. Mounting toward the front of the cabinet is recommended to cover as much of the front edge of the countertop as possible, while still lighting the backsplash uniformly.

LED Puck Lighting

These fixtures use several LED lamps, either 5 mm or high-power, inside one puck light fixture. In most cases, the LED lamps cannot be replaced if one burns out; the entire puck light has to be replaced. However, a well-designed LED puck light may last 20 years or longer. The recommended installation for LED puck lights is the same as for incandescent puck lights. The selection of LED puck lights should be carefully considered, however, because they may not provide the same amount of light as incandescent puck lights. Unfortunately, most product packaging will not state the light output of the fixture.

LED Linear Lighting

LED linear fixtures use either clusters of many 5 mm lamps or several high-r-i power lamps equally spaced 1-4 in. apart. Like LED puck lights, the LEDs cannot be replaced if one burns out; the entire fixture has to be replaced. Lamp failure is generally not an issue with LED fixtures, however. Fixtures should be sized as closely as possible to the length of the cabinet. As in most cases, mounting toward the front edge of the cabinet is recommended. If the fixture is lensed, the lens should face the backsplash. Some fixtures have adjustable switching to provide higher or lower light levels. Because heat is an issue for LEDs and can affect the overall life and light output of the fixture, LED fixtures should not be mounted flush with the cabinet. Mounting brackets can be used to create a small gap between the fixture and cabinet where air can circulate, allowing heat to escape. This will ensure a longer life but will increase the overall height of the fixture.

Learn more about kitchen cabinet lighting at www.kmrenovate.com

About the Author

I began remodeling 27 years ago when I started a construction business and garden center, I attended Rutgers for landscape design. Since then I have shifted my focus to the inside the home, I am known best for my innovative Kitchen | Bathroom design and remodeling.  My creative abilities have long been the cornerstone of my ability to unlock the hidden potential of a project bringing your vision to life.

 

Kitchen Cabinets | Kitchen Design | Kitchen Remodeling

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