Light Switch Placement - kitchen

4 years ago

I'm remolding my kitchen and expanding the opening between the dinning room to the kitchen (6ft opening) for better flow. My contractor is suggesting putting the light switches for the kitchen (uc lighting, pendants and can lights) on the side of the expanded dinning room wall prior to walking into my kitchen so you can turn the lights on before walking in the kitchen. Is that the usual placement for light switches for a kitchen prior to walking into a room? So technically you see the switches on the dinning room wall side but they are for the kitchen. Also, should my UC lighting switch be on that switch plate or should it be on the backslash somewhere?

Featured Answer

PRO

Carolina Kitchen & Bath

4 years ago

He's trying to make his job easier. Put the kitchen light switches in the kitchen and the dining room light switches in the dining room.

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Comments (13)

Sammy
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Where does he suggest the dining room switches go, in the kitchen?

That’s weird. Put them in the kitchen. :)

P.S. My undercabinet lighting switch is on the backsplash, since, technically, it’s a point-of-use type situation. I do wish the switch was with the overhead lighting switches, though, since I keep them on all the time. But, whatev.
sls18
Original Author
4 years ago
He said it could put the dinning room switch in the same place as the kitchen switches or relocate it to the opposite side of the dinning room by the other entrance.
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sls18
Original Author
4 years ago
Can I put the switches on the same wall the refrigerator butts up to? How far way from the fridge would I have to put the switch plate? Also is there any difference on putting the light switches on the left hand side vs the right?
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
4 years ago
Hard to comment without seeing a plan. My breakfast room light is in the dining room as the kitchen is entirely cabinetry on that wall, the rest of my kitchen light switches are in the kitchen by the range.
chiflipper
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
We really need a floor plan. Light switches should be intuitive (natural), which usually means on the right hand wall just inside the room. (90% of the planet is right-handed.) OR on the non-hinge side if there's a door. The whole point of "where to locate the switch" is to be able to illuminate the room before entering it. If the only entry into the kitchen is through the dining room locating the switch on the dining room wall would be acceptable. If you have two doorways into the kitchen the general room lighting (like can lights) should be a on a 3-way switch, allowing you to turn the lights on or off from either doorway.
sls18
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
**please see below for plan**

Revised plan of this (don't have pic) fridge is on left side and oven/mico comb slide over next to right wall. He made the dinning room opening 6ft he said he can reconfigure to 5ft and put the switches on kitchen wall by oven. He is also putting a 3-way switch for the lights by the stairs leading down to my family room. Should I reconfigure the wall? How do you feel about the switches on the dinning room wall? Any other options?
sls18
Original Author
4 years ago
sorry wrong plan uploaded - here is the official one
cmy
3 years ago
What did you end up doing? How is it working for you? I can see why he wanted to put them in the dining room wall ... so that you could keep the wider opening to the kitchen.
sls18
Original Author
3 years ago
I put them on the dinning room wall and for the most part it's works. I do like the larger opening between the rooms
cmy
3 years ago
I was hoping that's what you did :)

After you put the layout up it was clear that it came down to the opening size.

We have a similar problem except the opening is already made (8' wide). I could put a pantry cabinet right up close to the door or I could leave 10" for the light switch. I guess another option would be to put upper/lower cabinets there and then have the switch sitting above the counter. But I really want to have the pantry.
cmy
3 years ago
What is the yellow rectangle in your layout diagram?
sls18
Original Author
3 years ago
The light switch isn't a huge issue so if you want the pantry I would do that. Most of the time as I'm walking into/out of the room I'm turning the light on/off. The yellow rectangle in the diagram is my island.