How to install a backlight on a kitchen set

Ceiling lights don't always do a good job of lighting up a kitchen. The work area is particularly affected.

Hanging cabinets interfere with the uniform distribution of the luminous flux ... and the person who cooks and casts a shadow on the work surface. The problem is solved by lighting the kitchen unit. The easiest way is to install and connect the LED strip.

What is the backlight for the kitchen set for?

Backlighting a kitchen unit can solve several problems:

• Creation of a home-like cozy atmosphere.
• Full illumination of the work surface.
• Create a romantic setting (for example, for a candlelit dinner).
• Additional lighting of individual areas with a minimum investment.

Types of lighting in the kitchen

For lighting, spot, surface-mounted, built-in and classic pendant lamps are used. Ceiling, less often - wall. Additional illumination is usually provided by spotlights and recessed lamps, LED panels and new-fashioned LED strips, both "self-adhesive" and laid in a special profile.

General lighting in the kitchen

The planning of general lighting should be approached carefully and taking into account several facts:

1. Dark surfaces reflect up to 10-15% of the luminous flux, light ones - up to 80%.
2. An overhead light that is too bright can be just as uncomfortable as it is too dim.
3. The dining area and work area need different levels of lighting power. If a place for eating is enough 50 watts per "square", then the working surface needs at least 100 watts.

General lighting is usually provided by either one central luminaire, or several spotlights, distributed over the surface of the ceiling. In the latter case, light sources can also be built into a suspended ceiling.

It's not a bad idea to install a rheostat that allows you to change the intensity of the light flux. With a light movement of your hand, you can both flood the entire kitchen with bright light or create an intimate atmosphere for a romantic dinner.

Illuminated dining area

The easiest way to provide zone lighting is with an LED strip. Simple installation, easy connection. How to glue the LED strip to the kitchen unit? There are two options. The first is to stick the self-adhesive LED strip directly to the kitchen cabinet bottoms. The second is to put it in a special profile.

Decorative lighting

The main lamps can also carry a decorative function, but the design can also be refined with additional sources that play an exclusively aesthetic role. These can be:

• LED strip at the bottom of the headset cabinets.
• Floor standing diffuse light sources.
• LED strip installed between the ceiling and the top of the cabinets (for example, behind the plexiglass mounted in this space).
• Base illumination. It looks very impressive + visually expands the space (especially important for a small kitchen).

Natural lighting in the kitchen

We cannot adjust the intensity of the sun's rays, but we can make the most of natural light. Here are just a couple of tricks:

1. Light-colored walls have high reflectivity.
2. The lack of natural light can be slightly compensated for by transparent curtains, glossy surfaces, and widening the window opening (although the latter option is not suitable for apartment buildings).
3. Blinds are a great way to adjust the light output.
4. Acute lack of sunlight can be compensated for with fluorescent wall lamps.

Which lamps to choose

Traditional incandescent bulbs are going out of style. They are unreliable, short-lived and not economical. In modern kitchens, they often prefer to install halogen, fluorescent lamps and LED sources in the form of light panels or LED strips. All of these options are more economical and durable. The longest "lifespan" for LEDs. They also have a high light output.

Criteria for choosing a LED strip:

• Light intensity. Normal light - 30 LEDs / meter, bright - 60, very bright - 120.
• The degree of protection is not less than IP65.
• Power is indicated per 1 meter of tape. We calculate the required power of the power supply (multiply by the number of meters) x 1.25 (make a small margin).

For zone illumination, "self-adhesive" SMD 50 × 50 is suitable. An additional plus is that it is easiest to attach.

DIY LED strip installation

Let's figure out how to make a backlight on a kitchen set with our own hands.

SMD LED strips can be glued directly to furniture. This is the easiest installation option. SMD stands for adhesive tape. No additional hardware required.

Installation algorithm:

1. We make measurements.
2. The tape is cut only in specially marked places.
3. We choose a power supply unit that is suitable in terms of power (see above).
4. We solder the wires from the transformer to the tape.
5. Insulation of wires.
6. Installation of the tape (fasten directly to the surface or lay in the profile).
7. Additional tapes are connected to the power supply unit in parallel.
8. Installation of a box for electrical wiring.

So we figured out how to attach LED strips to a kitchen set. For greater convenience, you can include an infrared sensor in the circuit, turning the light on and off with a wave of the hand.

Important! The wires are connected with the correct polarity! "+" And "-" are marked with a mark.

Lighting planning errors

It remains to list a few major mistakes when planning lighting:

• Insufficient or excessive amount of light / sources in the entire kitchen or specific areas.
• Placement of switches outside the kitchen (for any on / off switch, you will have to go out and then go back in).
• Not using dimmers. The ability to adjust the lighting power is very important for the kitchen.

It is better not to delay planning the lighting of the kitchen. It is optimal to decide on all questions even at the stage of developing the design of the room. Otherwise, there is a high probability of unnecessary spending of time, nerves and finances.

Video: lighting the working area in the kitchen

Examples of lighting in the kitchen