Software
Houzz Logo Print
webuser_516088657

do you need recessed lighting as well as pendants in kitchen?

4 years ago

I am attempting to get my better half to realize that we need some more recessed lighting around the area - specifically the new island we built - and not just have a pendant light. Please help with ideas to convince him! Much appreciated!

Comments (9)

  • 4 years ago

    floor plan or photos or both

  • 4 years ago

    Yes, how can we tell without photos?

  • 4 years ago

    Lol I am not too tech savvy to download photos. We have a ushaped kitchen for the main part of the kitchen that includes oven, stove top, fridge etc. We have about 6 recessed lights in that area. We added a new island 4 feet length that we put a pendant light over. We only have two recessed lights in that area over top of a coffee bar to the left of the island. I feel like for symmetry at the very least, we need some recessed lighting to the right of the island. Does that make sense?

  • 4 years ago

    ​Light and bright means less stress on the cook's eyes. As we get older,  the amount of light we need to see increases significantly.  Try putting on a pair of sunglasses and reading product labels at night or imagine trying to clean up broken glass from the floor.


    My parents remodeled a home for retirement 25 years ago and their electrician thought they were crazy with the amount of lighting they installed. Turns out, they have sufficient light for most tasks but have had to upgrade the lightbulbs for increased output in the kitchen, bathrooms and office. So when we started our project, that was their most repeated advice: Add more lights!


    When you are working on a remodeling project, most work is done during daytime so it isn't obvious when the lighting isn't bright enough. You won't be wrong with adding more lights and it will be more expense and hassle to bring the electrician back in a year or two. If budget is tight, I would choose cheap fixtures and replace later before omitting additional fixtures.

  • 4 years ago

    awesome advice! thanks so much for taking to time to comment with three reasons to think about adding more light! I agree btw :)

  • 4 years ago

    Task lighting of 450 lumens at the counter surface is recommended. The recessed lighting is placed about 6" in from the edge of the counter, so you don't create a shadow with your body. Having really good light to cut things is important. Once you've worked with good lighting you'll not choose less. Under cabinet lights can also be used. LEDs use minimal watts and last forever.

    V S thanked dan1888
  • 4 years ago

    Lyndee Lee is right, you can't have too much light, and the more switches you have, the more options. The older I get, the more glad I am that I planned for many types of lighting in our kitchen.

  • 4 years ago

    I totally agree about having extra light! We have spent a ton on this kitchen and we def watched out budget. The extra recessed lighting may have to wait right now but I truly appreciate all of the advice. I totally want a couple more lights and would love to change my old recessed lights by my kitchen window and make flush mount lighting sounds wonderful Lynda Lee! And I totally intend to do the under cabinet lighting as well Dan1888 do you have any that you like? Ive been looking its to overwhelming to chose. I may just do LED lights that are not hard wired for now!