Since your kitchen is one of the most used rooms of your home, you want to be sure it’s properly lit. The purpose of your kitchen lights should be for both safety and ambience. Lighting can also work as decoration. The right kind of lighting can have you cooking and entertaining in style. There’s certain points around your kitchen that will be vital for you to light for a smooth functioning room. We call these “key lighting locations.” You’ll want to focus on these. There’s also certain types of lighting fixtures that work better in different types of kitchen setups. Specialty lighting could work wonders in a kitchen that has hard to illuminate areas. Hanging lights, for example are great over counter areas that are in the center of the room. Also, hanging lights work well over the areas where you prep and cook and other lights don’t reach. For safety reasons, you want to be certain that these areas are particularly well-lit. Dining in the dark isn’t the best approach for having guests over! You also don’t want to cook in the dark, since that has obvious safety concerns. There’s 4 main types of lighting that you should have in your kitchen. These include: task lighting, ambient lighting, accent lighting and decorative lighting. Task You want task lighting to deter shadows and illuminate work areas adequately. This would be the first type of lighting you’d think of when designing a kitchen because it has a certain function. Ambient This type of lighting is more of an indirect kind of lighting and is important for a decorative touch in your kitchen. Think of these lights as illuminating the edges of the room. Accent Accent lighting is still not very common in kitchens, but it can be an asset to your design and decor. Accent lighting allows you to highlight a focal point in the kitchen such as a piece of artwork. This type of lighting can include track lighting, directional lighting or recessed lighting. Decorative This types of lighting would include chandeliers and hanging pendants. Decorative lighting is more about the fixture snd less about the function of the light. Lighting Design Types Hanging Lights Hanging lights are a particularly versatile option since they come in many styles. from modern to classic designs, there’s a type of hanging light that can suit your kitchen style and bring your kitchen to another level. Under Cabinet Lights Under cabinet lights are another type of lighting that you should consider for your kitchen. These lights work more than just decoration. These lights give you additional lighting throughout the kitchen in places where overhead lighting may not reach. You’ll be able to see what’s on the counter no matter what time of day it is. These provide task lighting as well as a secondary form of ambient lighting. No matter what style lighting you choose in your kitchen, make sure it suits you. Authentic style in your home is the best way to give it a “homey” feeling!