You guessed it – but you read the title of this article!  So, why is it so invaluable?

The primary purpose of kitchen under cabinet lighting is to provide task lighting for countertops, sinks, and stovetops that complements the general lighting in the room.  The underside of cabinets provides an absolutely ideal location for task lighting since the light source is close to the tasks being performed but is concealed to avoid direct glare to your eyes. This is one of those perfect lighting situations where you see the light but not the light source. Under cabinet lighting also reduces the shadows created by the wall cabinets and the overhead ceiling lighting. The illumination on the backsplash also can create a bright attractive surface that introduces a bit of accent lighting that enhances the appearance of the entire kitchen.  If the under cabinet light is dimmable or has a low light level choice, it can sometimes be used as a very effective night light.  In short, good under cabinet light has the potential for adding another “layer of light” to your kitchen lighting scheme that greatly improves the task lighting, enhances the accent lighting, and adds valuable night lighting.

You say that you already knew about the importance of the layers of light in your kitchen but what you don’t know is what to buy.  Well, here’s a very brief primer organized by light source.  In most cases, halogen light (especially 120-volt halogen light bulbs) is way too hot (it has been known to melt chocolate chip cookies that are lying on the counter).  Xenon under cabinet lighting provide a wonderfully warm appearance to your kitchen and can easily be dimmed to just the right level of brightness.  Fluorescent light sources have been and continue to be very energy efficient, which is something that we finally are becoming much more aware of. However, small fluorescent under cabinet lights cannot be dimmed and some people think that fluorescent light is too bluish and provides an ambiance that some describe as “cold” and “office-like”.  However, these don’t have to be “your grandfather’s fluorescent light bulbs”. Fluorescent light can be very warm in appearance and render colors extremely well – unlike the fluorescent light bulbs of the 1950s.  If you want very energy efficient lighting with a bit of panache, you may want to consider LED under cabinet lights.  Here again, some LEDs (like some fluorescent lights) can be too “bluish” in appearance but you don’t have to settle for those.  Some LED light fixtures have two levels of brightness although most of them cannot be dimmed. They can be a little expensive but (a big “but”) they really are extremely energy efficient, contain no mercury like fluorescent light bulbs, and should last for years (estimates run from about 10 years to as much as 20 years).

About Pegasus Lighting

Pegasus Lighting is a nationally recognized e-commerce site that sells unique lighting products to a wide spectrum of customers in a manner that can only be described as friendly, helpful, efficient, and enlightening because we carefully blend state-of-the-art technology with the personal touch of outstanding customer service and an information-rich web site.

Begun in 1993, Pegasus Lighting is a division of Edison Lighting Systems, Inc., which, in turn, has been in business since 1987. Pegasus Lighting is a member of the Better Business Bureau (www.BBB.org) and provides its e-commerce customers with a secure website through Yahoo Merchant Services. The Pittsburgh Business Times has identified Pegasus  Lighting as one of the top 100 Fastest-Growing, Privately-Held Companies in the Pittsburgh area for 2007 and 2008.