Almost every housewife is faced with the fact that for comfortable work in the kitchen, it is not enough only natural light or only overhead light. This is especially true in winter, when it gets dark early, and in a small kitchen cluttered with wall cabinets, you can hardly see anything. It is inconvenient to install additional table lamps in such places, and hanging LED lamps become a saving way out of the situation.
Features and Benefits
The main advantage of LED lighting under kitchen cabinets is ease of location. Being below eye level, the light will not dazzle, and at the same time, it will evenly illuminate the work surface. Compared to conventional lamps, they are characterized by low energy consumption.
LED luminaires have a high luminous efficiency - almost 100% of the electricity is converted into light, and do not heat up. They have a favorable spectral characteristic, without ultraviolet radiation, due to which the eyes are less tired. Also, this light is well suited for the cooking process - it does not distort the color of the food.
Furniture lamps allow you to save space in the kitchen, they are easy to install and move if necessary. They are characterized by a long service life (40,000-50,000 hours) and, unlike energy-saving lamps, do not have mercury elements.
The only drawback of these devices is, as a rule, their high price.
Varieties
Currently, there are three main types of LED lamps or, as they are often called, LED lamps (from the English Light Emitting Diode), differing in the type of installation:
- waybills;
- suspended;
- built-in.
Surface-mounted luminaires differ from the others, first of all, in the ease of installation - they are attached to a metal profile or a wooden lattice directly to ceilings or suspended structures. There is a wide variety of models of surface-mounted luminaires, all of which have a very aesthetic appearance.
Suspended luminaires can be conveniently installed in rooms with high ceilings. Most often these are offices, warehouses, gyms, etc. Fastening is carried out using special brackets or cables.
Recessed or recessed luminaires are designed for suspended ceiling structures. The instrument cases are equipped with spring-loaded legs, which are used for secure fixation to special platforms mounted in the ceiling.
The touch-sensitive LED lamp looks like a fluorescent lamp, and is a linear lamp, which can be switched on and off simply with the touch of a finger. They can be attached to magnets to metal surfaces or to metal brackets, which are usually included in the package.
Panel-lamp is one of the latest developments in the led industry, gaining more and more popularity due to its features. The thickness of the panel does not exceed 14mm, which makes it possible to mount it even on very low ceilings. At the same time, diffused white light visually raises the ceiling and expands the space. Energy savings are up to 50% compared to other lighting fixtures. The panel-lamp can be used both in various institutions - schools, offices, hospitals, and in residential premises.
Corner LED luminaire is a structure of two luminaires connected at right angles to each other. Such elements are useful for creating continuous streaks of cool white light, which is sometimes necessary for the embodiment of design ideas.
Spots are LED spotlights with directional light. As a rule, they are a structure of several separate lamps, on legs or flat, each of which is directed in its own direction. Spots are reversible and non-reversible.
Colorful temperature
According to the color temperature of the emitted light, LED lamps can be divided into three groups:
Warm light devices - emitting radiation in the range from 2700K to 3200K. Such lighting is recommended for living rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms
Devices for neutral light. The emission spectrum is in the range from 3500K to 4200K. Such lighting is usually used in office buildings or other public facilities - hospitals, shopping centers, office buildings
Cold light devices with radiation over 5000K. Well suited for lighting kitchens and other areas where bright, but not harsh light is important
How to choose
The choice of LED lamps for the kitchen should be based not only on their appearance, but also on their technical characteristics. Key points to consider:
- Colorful temperature;
- luminous flux (the higher, the lighter);
- power (the larger the room, the more power is required for lighting);
- manufacturer;
- service life of LEDs;
- supply voltage;
- angle of dispersion of the light flux.
Also, when choosing luminaires, it is important to take into account that together they create a continuous luminous flux, without forming unnecessary shadows and thereby not complicating the work
An excellent solution for illuminating the work area is the Fraga kitchen cabinet lamp. It is a touch-sensitive linear device with equally spaced LEDs (from 12 to 18, depending on the length). Such a lamp has a rather high cost (from 2,000 rubles), but at the same time it meets all the requirements for lighting a kitchen countertop.
In addition to spotlights and linear lights, a conventional LED strip is often used as a backlight. It can be simply glued under the wall cabinets under the entire length. This is the most budgetary and easy-to-install option, besides, the tape serves for a very long time, is absolutely not afraid of kitchen moisture and exists in a large assortment of colors, which allows you to create the most original lighting solutions.
Locations
The choice of the location of the lamps depends on the characteristics of each individual kitchen and on the imagination of the designer or the hostess herself
Under the wall cabinets. The main location, very convenient for the work area. Luminaires are installed in the corner between the bottom surface of the cabinet and the apron, in the middle of the bottom surface or closer to the edge, depending on the width of the cabinet and their power
Under the top cabinets above the sink. With such an arrangement, it is important to take into account that the backlight does not blind the eyes and the lamp itself is not afraid of moisture and splashes
Above the wall cabinets. The luminaires are installed in a special panel and can be used as the main light source
Inside drawers and cabinets. This option with a subdued light effect will help create a romantic atmosphere in the kitchen in the evening.
Installation
Surface-mounted LED luminaires are usually supplied complete with fixing elements, and the installation process is quite simple and does not take much time.
You need to do the following:
- Turn off the electricity at the meter.
- Drill holes for the mounting plate.
- Attach the lamp to the dowels and screws.
- Using the terminal blocks, connect the contacts of the luminaire to the power supply wires.
- Turn on electricity.
After finishing the installation, you should think about where to remove the hanging wires, which will inevitably spoil the whole view. The simplest solution is to put the wires in an insulating box, which will not only preserve the aesthetic appearance of the room, but also serve as additional protection. You can also resort to using various decorative panels.
Interesting interior solutions
In addition to their main function, LED lamps are also an important decorative element and can play a significant role in creating a harmonious interior.
One of the most unusual solutions is the placement of lighting under the cabinets along the entire length of the headset. This method creates the effect of "floating" furniture, which always looks very original.
Lighting can be more than just white. Shades made of colored plastic allow you to create backlighting of any color - blue, green, purple.
It is convenient to use spots as an element of space zoning - one structure can illuminate a separate working or dining area, while the light can have different characteristics.
If you have a light-colored apron lined with tiles in your kitchen, then LED strips fixed under the wall cabinets and on the surface of the upper cabinets will create the effect of a luminous wall, which will visually expand the space.