Kitchen lighting plays a crucial role in both functionality and ambiance, directly affecting cooking efficiency and the overall atmosphere. A well-designed lighting plan can provide ample light, reduce shadows, and enhance the visual appeal of ingredients, making cooking more enjoyable.
How to choose the Right LED lights for kitchen?
1. Ceiling (General Lighting)
Install LED downlights in the center or evenly spaced across the ceiling. That ensures uniform brightness across the entire kitchen. They are ideal for general illumination, ensuring you can see clearly while cooking, cleaning, or moving around.
3. Sink Area (Task Lighting)
Track and magnetic track lights offer task lighting that helps you clearly see what you’re doing while washing dishes or food. The flexibility of magnetic track lights allows you to adjust the direction of light to avoid shadows, while downlights provide consistent, even illumination.
4. Countertops and Workstations (Task Lighting)
Recommended Track Lights, Magnetic Track Lights, LED Downlights above the counters or workstations for adjustable and focused lighting. Or place LED downlights above these areas if you prefer a more even light distribution.
5. Under Cabinets (Task and Accent Lighting)
LED strip lights are perfect for task lighting over countertops and workstations, ensuring better visibility while working on food prep. They also provide a soft, ambient glow that can enhance the overall kitchen atmosphere.
6. Dining Area (Ambient and Accent Lighting)
Install pendant lights above the dining table or use track lights along the ceiling to create a customizable lighting arrangement.
7. Above Cabinets (Accent Lighting)
Install magnetic track lights or LED strip lights above kitchen cabinets can create a warm, soft glow above the cabinets, enhancing the kitchen’s overall ambiance.
Led Colour Temperature for Kitchen Lighting?
KLM Lighting suggested 4000K in kitchens to make food colors look better. The 4000K will give you more realistic tones, now the kitchen is very modern, So choose the 4000k light source fills the room with a more natural looking light and works very well with the colors in the kitchen.

Why NOT Warm White (2700K-3000K)?
While warm white lights create a cozy atmosphere, they may not offer sufficient brightness for tasks requiring precision, such as cutting or cleaning.
- Tip: Consider layering lighting with a combination of neutral white for work areas and warm white for dining spaces in open-plan kitchens.
How Many LED Lamps Should You Install in Kitchen?
Determining the number of LED lamps for a kitchen is an essential part of the design process because it ensures adequate lighting without over-illumination or creating dark spots.
- Brightness Requirements: Need to know how many lights are needed to achieve the right level of brightness based on their kitchen size and layout.
- Lighting Placement: Need guidance on how to space the lamps properly to ensure even lighting, especially for specific areas like countertops, islands, and sinks.
- Aesthetic Considerations: advice on balancing functional lighting with the overall look and feel of their kitchen.

Here’s a simple table layout to help guide customers on how many LED downlights they may need for their kitchen based on the size of the space and spacing requirements:
Kitchen Size (㎡) | Number of LED Downlights | Spacing Between Downlights (m) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
5–10 | 2–4 | 1.5–2 | Suitable for small kitchens. Focus on even lighting. |
10–15 | 4–6 | 1.5–2 | Ideal for medium kitchens with work zones like counters and islands. |
15–20 | 6–8 | 1.8–2.5 | Larger kitchens; ensure uniform brightness. |
20+ | 8+ | 2–2.5 | For very large or open-concept kitchens. Consider layering with task and accent lighting. |
How to avoiding glare and overlap in kitchen lighting?
- Choose the Right Fixtures: Like anti-glare LED downlights and Track lights.
- Proper Spacing of Lights: Adjust spacing based on ceiling height and beam angle, like downlight space about 1.5~2m.
- Lights distance from Walls: Keep downlights at least **50–60 cm** away from walls to avoid creating harsh light patterns and glare.
- Use recessed downlights or ceiling fixtures for overall brightness.
- Focus on functional areas like countertops, sinks, and stoves using track lights, magnetic lights, or under-cabinet LED strips.
- Add subtle lighting above cabinets or on decorative elements to enhance aesthetics without increasing glare.
- Select the Correct Beam Angle: For general lighting, use wider beam angles (60–90 degrees). For task lighting, use narrower beams (30–45 degrees) to focus light precisely without affecting nearby areas.
- Avoid Reflective Surfaces: Be mindful of reflective countertops, stainless steel, and glossy tiles. Position lights so they do not shine directly onto these surfaces to minimize glare.
- Install dimmers and consider smart lighting systems for that control zones and reduce overlap by activating specific lights as needed.
Thats why avoid use simple lighting like ceiling light or panel light in the morden kitchen reason.
Why is CRI Important for Kitchen Lighting?
CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a crucial factor to consider when choosing kitchen lighting. It measures how accurately a light source displays the true colors of objects compared to natural light. The higher the CRI, the more vibrant and true-to-life colors appear. In a kitchen, where tasks like food preparation and cooking are essential, CRI becomes even more important for practical and aesthetic reasons.
- A high CRI ensures that the colors of vegetables, meats, and other ingredients are perceived correctly, making it easier to identify ripeness, freshness, and quality.
- Lighting with a high CRI reduces eye strain and provides a more natural, pleasant atmosphere. This is particularly important in kitchens, where tasks like chopping, mixing, and cooking require prolonged focus on details.
- CRI also affects the way your kitchen looks. With a high CRI, surfaces, walls, countertops, and even your kitchen decor will appear more vivid and true to color. This enhances the overall look and feel of the kitchen space, making it visually appealing.
What CRI Is Best for Kitchen Lighting?
For kitchen lighting, a CRI>90 is recommended. This is a good range for kitchen lighting. Lights with a CRI of 90 or higher provide high color accuracy and are commonly used for kitchens, ensuring food and surfaces are illuminated realistically and comfortably.
CRI >95 is more application for professional kitchens or those with a strong focus on design and aesthetics. It ensures the highest level of color accuracy, making it perfect for kitchens where lighting plays a significant role in the overall ambiance and functionality.
Contact us for kitchen lighting!