The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house.People spend a lot of time on it: they cook, eat, read a newspaper with a cup of coffee, etc. The significance of this room is great, so when it is arranged it is very important to choose all the details of the interior with particular attention. Highlighting the working area in the kitchen requires a carefully thought-out approach. Places such as sink, hob, countertop, often remain in the shade. This is mainly due to the fact that above them are mounted cabinets, hood, dryer for dishes. This is what leads to some discomfort during use. The solution to the problem is quite simple - a beautiful LED backlight in the kitchen's working area.
Common types of lighting
- Chandelier. Main light source. Most often mounted on the ceiling in the center. Her role is more aesthetic than functional.
- Fluorescent fixtures. Mounted on the bottom of wall cabinets. Their light is soft but bright. Highlight the entire work surface quite well.
- LED Strip Light.It can be used in the most inaccessible places. Performs as a decorative function, and practical. Its light can be classically white, as well as all other colors of the rainbow. Installing dimmers - the most successful option to completely changed the kitchen. LED backlighting in the work area is considered an economical and quite original design move.
- Skinali - special glass panels thatused for finishing the kitchen apron. Their feature is the built-in LED backlight. She effectively highlights the ornament depicted on them, giving the space originality.
- Dot LED bulbs emit a soft diffused light. They cope well with the main task, however, they can distort the natural color of products.
- Suspended and swivel lamps can bothinstalled on the ceiling, and mounted on the furniture. Their advantage is that they not only capture the work area, but are also ideal for basic lighting.
- The spots have a clearly directed light. Installed in furniture cornices, cabinets, ceiling structures. Most often, such devices are designed to illuminate a specific zone.
Choosing lights for the working area in the kitchen
In order to properly positionlighting, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the level arrangement. As a rule, the kitchen has 5 levels:
- The first level - the ceiling.Can be used as pendant chandeliers, as well as a variety of compositions of spotlights. Their location should take into account certain areas: dining and working. For the first version of the ideal chandeliers. They will give harmony and comfort to the space of the kitchen. And for the working area are good spotlights, which are quite well cope with the lighting.
- The second level is the upper area of wall cabinets.If there is a special cornice in the design of the furniture, then the installation of spotlight would be an ideal option; you can also use rotary lights. Their advantage is mobility, if necessary, such devices are deployed in a certain direction. This is what allows high-quality coverage of that part of the working area that is needed at the moment.
- The third level is the bottom of the cabinets.Here, the lighting of the working area in the kitchen can be varied. These are LED tapes, fluorescent lamps, spots, etc. As a rule, only personal preferences are guided by this issue.
- The fourth level is the tabletop. For this part of the work area, only waterproof LED strips are suitable.
- The fifth level is the floor. The lower part of the table is decorated in the same way as the table top.
It should be noted that the LED tape is ideal for installation at all levels.
What are the backlight options?
The most effective solutions:
- General lighting allows you to fully illuminate allkitchen space. This option will make the room as comfortable and bright as possible. The following sources will do: spotlights, ribbons, chandeliers. Preference is given to LED lamps.
- Локальная подсветка рабочей зоны на кухне, а namely, countertops, provides comfortable conditions during a certain process, for example, cutting meat, washing dishes, slicing lettuce, etc. It is designed to illuminate the sink, bar counter, hob.
- Decorative lights serve as decorationsspace. In order to achieve excellent results, the most relevant LED strip with light bulbs of different colors. Can be installed on multi-level ceiling designs, kitchen cabinets, countertops.
Examples of decorating the kitchen using LED lighting
- Skinali - the most common and successful option.
- Difficult ceiling construction in several levels with installed LED lamps of different luminescence.
- Combining light sources such as chandeliers, spotlights and LED strip.
- The effect of soaring furniture is achieved by installing a special light on the lower part of the tables.
- It is recommended to additionally install light sources near glass and mirror inserts. This will not only decorate the space, but also visually increase its size.
- Kitchen lights countertops and work areas with lamps and LED strips.
- The ideal option would be a parallel distribution of sources, for example, at the top and bottom level of cabinets.
- In the case of a glass tabletop, you can use a LED strip of a certain color. Combined with skinali, the effect will be overwhelming.
In fact, there are much more such options; the use of LEDs to illuminate the kitchen space makes it possible to make wide use of imagination and experiment.
How are the LEDs? The principle of their work
LEDs are semiconductors, withconnecting to electricity they emit light. Depending on the chemical composition of its changing brightness and saturation. Directly connected to the network is prohibited, as this will lead to overheating, and the LED will burn. It is recommended to use a special device that stabilizes the mains voltage - a stabilizer. LEDs are infrared, ultraviolet, yellow, white and other colors. Between themselves, they differ in the type of glow, size and number of crystals.
LED backlight: advantages
- Significant energy savings.
- Resistant to mechanical damage.
- LED lighting in the kitchen has a varied color palette.
- Environmental Safety.
- There are models with a high level of protection from moisture.
- Long service life: 15-20 years.
- Bright but soft light.
- Affordable price.
Highlighting countertops
Equipping the kitchen, it is important to fully illuminateplot countertops, since it is here that you need to do a lot of things. However, choosing devices, one should take into account the specificity of its location. The tabletop is constantly under the influence of water, grease, soot and other dirt. Therefore, it is very important to choose LED strips with specific specifications. There are models that have a special layer, it will protect the lamp from moisture, vaporization and pollution.
There are several types of mounting LED backlight. The most common:
- Fastening occurs with the help of the LED-profile, it is quite light, as it is made of aluminum. It also provides complete security, well hiding the wires.
- Sticking.Recently, self-adhesive LED strips have become in great demand. Their installation is quite simple, but in quality they are not inferior to ordinary models. However, the advantage is obvious: in those places where there is no possibility to install a profile, self-adhesive tape will lock in place quite simply.
- Installation of LED lights. As a rule, they are placed in the corners of the table top. They are small, so you can install them without additional effort. And the wires are hidden using the LED profile.
Advice of professionals
In order for the LED backlight in the kitchen to please the owners for a long time, the following rules should be followed for its installation:
- Power tape and power supply should be the same.
- Contacts are better to connect with a soldering iron.
- Cut the tape is allowed only in a place with signed contacts "+/-".
- To adjust the brightness, it is recommended to install a dimmer.
- When the tape is connected, the contacts must be completely insulated, that is, absolutely not in contact with each other.
Highlighting the work area in the kitchen: installing tape
- Removal of the sizes happens to the help of a roulette.
- The tape cuts the required length with a margin of 1-1.5 cm to release the contacts.
- Before gluing, the surface must be completely degreased.
- Cables are soldered to the contacts, then connected to the power supply unit.
- It is necessary to install a profile and a special box in which the remaining wires will be hidden.
- The switch is installed and connected to the LED strip.
Cost effective, versatile and durableThis kind of backlight brings it to the leading position. However, she also has a weak point - the power supply. It is worth noting that it often fails, so you need to install it in a place where it will be enough just to replace it with a new one or repair it.
