The LED lighting should last a very long time so why not worry about it when it is needed .

Get LED tape light with a diffuser. Make sure you select the Kelvin (color temperature) that you like best. I used 3500K for my under cabinet LED lights, which matched the recessed lights in my house.

@chispa Could you please link what you used in your kitchen? TIA!

If you have a electrical plug in a cabinet then you might consider a Phillips HUE LED light strip or two. Select your own white color temperature, dim it, turn it red and green for XMAS and control and schedule it with your phone. That's what I'm using it once my cabinets are installed.

no one regrets getting under cabinet lighting. Go for it!

We've had hardwired LED bars for six years now. They work great and last a long time, but yes, someday when they fail an electrician will have to deal with it. I'm hoping for 20 years from them.

@cupofkindnessgw, I don't know! I just told the electrician what I wanted and how I wanted it to look and he purchased all the parts.

I used InspiredLED for my UCL and the light looks great, and the electrician had no problems intalling it. It’s a very thin tape an continuous beam, not the dot-light look. (I can come back with pics in a few days after my counters are installed!)

A hardwired UCL is no different from the vanity light in your bathroom, the chandelier in the Dining Room, or the ceiling light in a hallway. The house wires connect to the fixture and those connections are hidden. In the hardwired UCL, they will be hidden in the UCL's integral box (it's "cover"), whereas in the other fixtures (some vanity lights notwithstanding) the connections are hidden in the house's outlet box in the wall or ceiling.

To change any of them you just shut the circuit off and reverse the install process. Some people are uncomfortable around electricity and hire electricians, others can DIY a fixture change.

@snappity and @chispa - I'd love to see photos! And silly question - how do you know your preferred Kelvins?

@snappity The lights you are describing sound amazing. How did your electrician prep for these lights? Thank you so much! 🌸

@cupofkindnessgw Honestly, I have no idea - I had InspiredLED do the design and ordered all the parts, and the electrician installed - my kitchen was a gut job so everything was opened and I think that made it easier for him to set it up so one switch controls both sides. (all of my electrical was new anyway). Inspired sends all the parts as well as specs like dimmer compatibility. This is the tape I got: https://www.inspiredled.com/product-category/12v-flexible-led-light-strips/12v-cob-led/

As for Kelvins, for UCL I wanted bright and specified 3k as that would be working/task lighting, but I ended up with 3k for my recessed as well. I had assumed the variable temp lights that electrician was providing would have a 2700 setting, but they are 3000/4000/5000, so everything is 3000. I slightly wish that I had 2700 but the dimmability makes a huge difference. I had them drop two in my living room while everything is open, and that's where I'd really prefer 2700, but it's kind of a temporary fix as next year I want to do that side of the first floor with new ceilings, electric and hardwood floor refinishing, so I will be sure to specify when we get to that project.

For UCL I actually bought some inexpensive plug in UCL with different temps to try, and I might install those in my sink / trash cabinet when we are all done. It was worth the $15 for testing purposes, though.

Sally, here are some pics as promised. The UCL on full bright, the tape mounted underneath, and that loop of light tape is awaiting an open shelf that it will be mounted unde, but gives you an idea of the lighting style.

@Sally T - one more photo, my hood lights are definitely cooler than my 3k lighting, 4 or maybe even 5k? You can see the difference in this pic. I think I can swap those out, but honestly I probably won’t bother. The wall color si BM’s White Dove, for reference.

I loathed my original dotted LED tape UCL and it took a long time to find the electrician to actually replace them. I had to go with continuous light tape, without diffuser, due to cabinets lacking a lip. Mine are 4000 K and all my other lighting is 3000. I tried all 4000 and could not tolerate that look for my home.

One more pic - I have now waxed the counter, but it’s still matte, but I realized you could see the reflection on my range - might help folks know what the tape looks like over a glossier surface. And on color temp, I emailed the range hood manufacturer and they are 5000k, but I could order 3500k replacement bulbs if I want to warm it up.