1. Ambient
2. Accent
3. Task
Ambient lighting is used to illuminate a room. An example would be a ceiling light or recessed lighting.
Accent lighting is used to create a mood, theme or particular style. An example would be in-the-cabinet lighting, above-the-cabinet lighting, pendant lights or wall lights, such as sconces.
Task lighting is the most important type of lighting in a kitchen. Task lighting enables you to see very clearly what you are doing or about to do, such as cutting up your vegetables. I am positive you can see why this is important.
Too frequently I see clients who only have ambient lighting in their kitchen. This is usually a ceiling light in the center of the room. This can create a problem because your primary light source is behind you.
My favorite lighting option is to put everything on a dimmer switch. I can create multiple moods in my kitchen with a just a slide of the dimmer. For evening parties, I like to put my in-cabinet lighting and under-the-cabinet lighting on a low setting and leave my pendant lighting on full to highlight my mini buffet.
Lori Lesnick is owner of and kitchen consultant for Kitchen Tune-Up in Portland. She believes that education is a key part of remodeling and knowing your options ensures the right decision. Ask questions at loril@kitchentuneup.com.