Lighting is a vital function in any room in the house, and it’s one not everybody might think of during the process of doing a kitchen remodeling in Columbia. The fact is, lighting is especially important in the kitchen, where inadequate illumination can quickly create a safety hazard if chefs can’t see what they’re doing. What’s more, because there are separate work stations that focus on specific tasks within the kitchen, you need more advanced lighting techniques than what’s required in most other rooms.

Pendant lights are one great way to make sure that these tasks are well lit, especially for over sinks or counters. Keep lights like these within about three feet of what they should be illuminating. This provides what’s called task lighting, which is different from the standard lighting that’s the focus of most rooms. Task lighting will ensure that you’re able to see well while you wash dishes, cook, or do other chores at your sink or counter.

One particularly effective way to spread a lot of light around is to use wall washing, which is a technique of using trim, evenly spaced lights, and other elements to cast light across an entire wall. This is one lighting method to consider as you’re planning your kitchen remodeling in Columbia, since this is something that shouldn’t be skimped on in this room. Another method to consider is using under-cabinet illumination as an extra way of producing task lighting.

Remodeling a kitchen offers the difficult task of combining what looks good with what’s useful and practical. Lighting makes this particularly challenging. Recessed downlights are a good idea for the overall lighting of the room, with task lighting installed over work areas only. Of course, if the room has windows, there’s also the option of utilizing natural lighting. One way to do this is to consider the colors of the room.

Painting is more than just making a room pretty and comfortable: it also has the added benefit of helping direct light, depending on the shade of the paint. White, for example, is particularly good at throwing light and brightening a room, but it’s not necessary to make all your cabinets stark white if you don’t feel like it. Do some research to find out what colors absorb light and what reflect it, making sure you consider things like what kind of light bulb you’ll be using and how sunlight will come into play. Don’t be surprised if you find that light and color affect one another dramatically depending on many factors, including time of the day and coat thickness.

All of this can definitely seem a bit overwhelming as you approach tackling kitchen remodeling in Columbia, but once you have a plan in mind, it’s much easier to start bringing it to life. It’s all about finding a balance between function and aesthetic. With that in mind, you’re well on your way to a gorgeous kitchen that offers everything you need for the heart of your home.