How can you make the kitchen brighter?

Today, many homes are designed with large windows that provide plenty of natural light indoors. To make the most of it and move around comfortably and safely while cooking, it is essential to avoid both glare from direct or reflected sunlight on the worktops and, conversely, any areas of shadow. In the first case, we recommend favouring natural light that falls sideways across the worktop surfaces and, if necessary, choosing sun-screening solutions; in the second, there are countless options for adding artificial lighting. To select the most suitable solutions, technicians will assess which shadowy areas need to be filled with light or, after dark, fully illuminated.

What are the sources of kitchen lighting?

In addition to natural light from outside, there is direct or accent lighting, which provides excellent visibility in specific areas, and indirect lighting, which diffuses light to make the surrounding brightness feel more even and reduce contrasts. The latter is also known as ambient lighting because it is soft and serves an additional purpose that is emotional rather than functional: making the room feel warmer and more welcoming.

Where should accent lights be placed?

Direct accent lights make it easier to move comfortably around the kitchen during different activities and to see food clearly. They provide targeted illumination, so they are particularly useful when aimed at surfaces used for food preparation, such as worktops, sinks and the hob, or - for many, though not everyone - at areas where meals are eaten, namely dining tables and snack counters. These may be under-cabinet lights, adjustable spotlights, track lights or pendant lights, provided the latter are positioned in front of the user (or centrally above a table) so that they do not cast shadows, as they would if placed behind the person working.

How can indirect lighting be created?

Ambient lighting should create a welcoming and pleasant sense of even illumination, providing overall comfort. The aim is therefore to soften the contrast between direct light and shadows using diffused, indirect sources, such as:

• adjustable spotlights that create pools of ambient light, for example on a table centrepiece or a distinctive furnishing element such as a picture or shelf
• LED profiles on shelves, open compartments, bookcase uprights, the sides or backs of shelves in wall or tall units with glass doors, or even along the plinths of base units
• pendant or track lights, with individual lights that can be switched on independently, allowing you to choose how to illuminate the room each time

Light-dimming systems are particularly useful for achieving the most suitable result in every situation.

Would you like to see practical applications? Browse our kitchen catalogues.

How do you choose the lighting level?

Beyond the obvious choice of bulb wattage and professional guidance on how much light is needed to create comfortable rooms, personal preferences also play a role. For this reason, light-dimming systems are increasingly recommended, as they are ideal for achieving the most suitable result according to the activity being carried out and individual preferences. Some can therefore provide both ambient and accent lighting. Certain solutions also offer a 'dual colour' option: their LEDs can emit two colour temperatures, providing both warm and cool light.

How is the light intensity adjusted?

Depending on the model and the buyer's choices, lamps may operate using integrated controls, a remote wall control or a handheld remote. The latter option, naturally based on wireless technology, is often very convenient for those whose kitchen does not allow renovation work or an extension of the electrical system. Finally, some solutions are equipped with motion sensors, making it easy to switch the lights on and off even when your hands are full.