Lighting tips from home design professionals for your kitchen and bathrooms.
Lighting is too often an afterthought in home improvement projects. And that’s to the detriment of the room and, potentially, your health and safety. “Lighting is one of the most powerful yet least understood tools in the designer’s tool kit,” according to a June 2024 research report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Here’s what the pros want you to know about making your kitchen and bathrooms the best they can be.
“It is much more expensive to add lighting after the fact!” declares San Diego-based lighting designer Vicky M. Lodge, urging homeowners to think about current and long-term needs when approaching a kitchen and bath redo. Today, you might live alone, but in the future, your household could add a partner, children, parents, grandchildren or grandparents, even roommates or full-time caregivers. “All will have different lighting needs,” she cautions.Health Factors
When energy savings became a priority decades ago, builders began shifting from incandescent to fluorescent lighting. While that likely enhanced the health of the planet, it created health issues for people living under those fixtures. A 2008 study conducted by the European Union’s Public Health section reported adverse impacts on migraines, epilepsy, and possible eye and ear issues for some individuals. A 2021 National Institutes of Health study pointed to negative outcomes for anxiety patients.Safety Factors
Bad and inadequate lighting of all kinds can lead to increased fall risks and injuries. In one study, good (circadian) lighting showed a 43% reduction in falls among a nursing home population.
In a kitchen environment, lighting quality can be the difference between a julienned carrot and fingertip, between seeing a tsp. and tbs. measurement in a recipe. “Since most of the accidents in a home happen in the kitchen,” Lodge comments, “and since it is often attributed to low light levels, it is important to have several layers.”
Buffalo-based designer Lauren Schulte, one of the 50,000 members* of the NKBA and a contributor to the lighting report, suggests, “By incorporating a blend of natural and artificial light, homeowners can create a space that supports their well-being. Safety is key and proper lighting prevents accidents, such as falls [and] cuts and creates a secure environment.”Designers Weigh In
Indiana-based designer Adam Gibson, another member and report contributor, educates his clients: “I explain the nuances of each light placement and what it will do for the homeowner. Foot candles (FC), color temperature, Color Rendering Index (CRI) circadian rhythms…these are all essential to a quality lighting plan,” he explains.
