LED strips add style and bring light to your kitchen

Compact and effective LEDs enable a more adaptable and versatile lighting solution than conventional light sources. We no longer have to settle for just fluorescent tubes and ceiling luminaires for kitchen lighting. Once you’ve tidied away the chopping boards and pots, your adjustable and versatile lighting solution transforms your kitchen from an efficient work area to a cosy living space.

In new builds, the only limit is your imagination, and numerous options are also available for renovation projects. Consulting lighting, electrical and kitchen design experts ensures that your kitchen lighting will be a functional, high-quality entity.

LED strips offer a popular, hassle-free option, thanks to their easy installation, efficiency and versatility. If you are planning to mount an LED strip underneath your kitchen cabinets, there are a couple of points you should bear in mind:

• LED strips emit bright light and the light source is clearly visible. Because of this, the strip must be mounted in a way that prevents glare and reflections from shiny surfaces, such as worktops. With an LED profile, the strip is easier to mount and the light becomes softer and more dispersed.
• LED strips or profiles can be hidden from view by making a groove on the bottom of the cabinet or by building a false bottom.
• If you want to install an LED strip in a corner underneath a cabinet, we recommend using the Corner profile to distribute the light at a 45° angle and to prevent glare.

To create an uninterrupted line of light and to eliminate distracting shadows, the LED strip must be covered across the entire length of the cabinets. If you have open shelves at the end of the cabinets, make sure to use an end cap for the profile to create a neat finish.

Pay attention to surface materials

Cables should be installed in an inconspicuous manner. Any left-over LED profile can be used as a cable cover. The darker the surfaces in the kitchen, the brighter the LED strips must be. For worktops the recommended luminous intensity is 300–500 lux to ensure that visibility is good and food looks fresh and appetising. A warm colour temperature gives the space a yellow hue while a colour temperature that is too cold makes the surroundings look sterile and blueish. The colour temperature also influences the appearance of food. A suitable colour temperature for kitchen worktops is 3,000–4,000 K.

LED strips are also suitable for use in wet spaces. LED strips can be mounted above or behind cabinets to generate soft and glare-free indirect lighting when light is reflected from the walls and the ceiling. Work with designers and discuss the options for adjusting the lights in line with the need and situation.