LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Basics

When lighting your home, a few places are easy to overlook

. The space beneath your kitchen cabinets is one of these spots that usually doesn't get too much attention, but one that can benefit greatly from a touch of illumination.

Under-cabinet lighting is exactly like it sounds-it's low-maintenance lighting that's installed beneath your cabinets in the form of a bar fixture or a series of smaller discs.

Under-cabinet lighting uses a few different types of bulbs-halogen, fluorescent, compact fluorescent (CFLs), xenon and light emitting diodes, or LEDs.

LEDs are the emerging standard for under-cabinet lighting with many benefits.

They'reenergy efficient, using just a fraction of the power standard incandescent bulbs use.

LEDs can last up to 10 times longer than CFLs and more than 100 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

They're cool to the touch, producing 95 percent less heat than incandescent-a safer option if you have children in the home.

LED casings are made of a high-density, shatter-proof plastic rather than glass and are resistant to vibration, shock and impact.

Finally, LEDs are very cost effective. Although they typically cost a bit more, you'll spend less money through energy savings and fewer bulb changes.

Another design consideration is the slim design of the lights. As under-cabinet lighting, they're designed to remain hidden from view. This should be no problem, with very few exceptions, depending on how big the lip on your cabinets is.

Under-cabinet lighting is usually quite easy to install. We recommend asking an electrician or contractor if all of your materials are in agreement with local electric codes before you begin.

When planning to install under-cabinet lighting, here are some basics you should know about. First, there are two types of under-cabinet lighting-bar and disc. And for each option, you'll need the proper hardware, including mounting brackets, a junction box, and power supply. Options include a power switch and dimmer.

Whether you use it for a dramatic effect or to simply provide accent lighting to a darkened kitchen, under-cabinet lighting is an effective way to flood countertops with light. It's a decorative and functional upgrade that should give you thousands of hours of effective and non-invasive lighting.

So, whether you're installing a multi-light fixture or a series of discs beneath your cabinets, there are plenty of options out there.

LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Basics

By: Sean Murphy

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