The Best LED Under Cabinet Lighting
Furthermore, LED lighting provides a more customisable and controllable source of light, can be fitted to almost any required shape and location, has improved energy efficiency, and lasts for a much longer time than older alternatives which also makes it a cost-effective solution.
It’s easy to understand why bars and restaurants, hotels, and even offices are turning to LED lighting solutions, but many people don’t feel confident enough to add them to their own homes. The main reason for this is that there is a lot of information to work through and it can be overwhelming to take in, especially as much of it is conflicting.
However, there’s no doubt that adding LED lights is an improvement on most traditional lighting and the following guide will help you to understand what types of lighting are available, what brands are preferable, and how to easily install them as under cabinet lights.
LED Strip Lighting
Fundamentally, this kind of lighting consists of many LEDs mounted across a strip. The strip can come in a couple of forms:
- Flexible – LEDs are mounted over a tape-like strip that is easy to apply around different shapes and angles.
- Rigid – LEDs are mounted over a firmer strip that has less flexibility.
The benefit of using LED strip lights is that they are easy to apply. The strips can be bought in a variety of lengths, can be shortened at home with scissors, and can be fitted in seconds due to their self-adhesive backing. Furthermore, LED strip lighting provides a range of different colour options, including warm white (cosier candle-like yellow), cool white (bright and clear), and RGB (customisable hues of red, green, and blue to create a huge variety of ambient colours).
These lights can often be dimmed to the user’s preference from high to low. This is also useful for different times of the day and subsequent levels of natural light available.
To install LED strip lights, they are connected to an LED driver which tends to be mounted on top of the kitchen wall unit. From this LED driver, a small cable is then placed down the small void between the back of the kitchen cabinet and the wall, which is then connected to the LED strip. The final step is to stick the LED strip onto the bottom of the kitchen cabinet.
The price of LED strips will depend on the length required, but they are certainly a low-cost option. Reputable brands such as Aurora, All LED, and Ansell offer a wide range of LED strips, including full 5m kits for approximately £40 so you can cover a large area while keeping the price low. When buying online, it can be worthwhile to sort products by price low to high or price high to low to get a feel for the products available to you.
T5 LED Under Cabinet Lighting
The benefit of using a T5 LED light is that it is easy to fit but is also much more energy-efficient than older fluorescent high price alternatives. This drives running costs down which is a big positive when fitting LED lighting for kitchen spaces that will be used regularly.
Furthermore, LED lighting in kitchen spaces doesn’t need to be drab because the T5 light again provides a range of different colour options, including warm white (cosier candle-like yellow), cool white (bright and clear), and RGB (customisable hues of red, green, and blue to create a huge variety of ambient colours).
These lights can often be dimmed to the user’s preference from low to high. This is also useful for different times of the day and subsequent levels of natural light available.
The T5 LED light is a mains fed tube that is often 230v and does not require a driver. To install these lights into a kitchen, they are mounted underneath wall units with a cable that plugs into the light fitting itself. The other end of the cable is then connected to a small junction box which is also mounted underneath the unit.
Of course, if you are fitting this kind of light next to a water source such as a kitchen sink, then it’s important to check for an adequate IP rating prior to purchase. When changing a T5 under cabinet bulb, the existing fitting can often be reused.
The price of T5 LED under cabinet lighting will depend on the length of the bulbs and number required, but they are again a reasonably priced option. Reputable manufacturers such as Aurora, Ansell, and JCC offer a range of sizes, including a 30cm version for as little as £8 so it’s not difficult to keep the cost low. When buying online, it can be worthwhile to sort products by price low to high or price high to low to get a feel for the products available to you.
There is also a very similar light fitting called a T4 Under Cabinet Lighting. These are very similar but differ in size slightly.
Under Cabinet LED Spotlights
A final choice to consider when experimenting with LED lighting kitchen plans are LED spotlights. These lights are popular for all of the same reasons – they’re affordable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective forms of lighting that can be used commercially as well as in residential properties.
The benefit of using LED spotlights is that they can be focused on specific areas. For businesses, this can be used to highlight specific parts of a display or shop.
However, it’s also useful for LED kitchen lights as the light can be focused on important areas such as sinks, food preparation areas, and hobs. Furthermore, LED spotlights can come in a range of shapes such as round, rectangular, triangular, and slimline to best suit their purpose.
Again, LED spotlights can provide a range of different colour options, including warm white (cosier candle-like yellow), cool white (bright and clear), and RGB (customisable hues of red, green, and blue to create a huge variety of ambient colours). These lights can often be dimmed to the user’s preference from high to low. This is also useful for different times of the day and subsequent varying levels of natural light available.
There are a couple of different ways to fit LED spotlights depending on the model you purchase:
- Driver – These under cabinet lights are connected to an LED driver which is usually mounted on top of the kitchen wall unit. From this LED driver, a small cable is then placed down the small void between the back of the kitchen cabinet and the wall, which is then connected to the light fittings. The final step is to mount the light fittings to the bottom of the kitchen cabinet. If a model requires screws, it’s important to use short screws to avoid screwing through to the inside of the wall unit.
- Mains – These lights do not require a driver and instead connect straight into a 230v supply.
The price of under cabinet LED spotlights depends on the brand and sort of functions you require but reputable manufacturers such as Ansell, Leyton, and Knightsbridge offer dimmable varieties for as little as £13. When buying online, it can be worthwhile to sort products by price low to high or price high to low to get a feel for the products available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Lighting for Under Kitchen Cabinets?
In terms of effective usage, LEDs also provide the benefit of a wide colour range which means customisation is much easier. Furthermore, LEDs are capable of putting out much-improved levels of brightness over traditional bulbs which is certainly useful when cooking.
What Is the Best LED Under Cabinet Lighting?
On the contrary, T5 LED tubes offer a simple application and can even be retrofitted into older units. Likewise, LED spotlights can be fitted with ease and also provide the benefit of focused lighting which is useful for illuminating key areas of the kitchen such as sinks, food preparation zones, and hobs.
How Do I Choose Under Cabinet Lighting?
Where Should Under Cabinet LED Lights Be Placed?
The key here is to avoid the strips themselves being visible while allowing the light to fall elegantly over the background. However, if you are adding task lighting, such as spotlights to illuminate a food preparation area, then the tube or spotlight LEDs may need to be positioned further back so they can be adjusted accordingly.
It is important to test the location of your lighting before fitting to make sure you’re able to achieve the desired effect.
Conclusion
Ultimately, adding LED under cabinet lighting in your kitchen is an easy, cost-effective way to improve the atmosphere of your home.