Why should you use Daylight bulbs in the kitchen?

With the large variety of bulbs and colour temperatures available it can be tricky to pick the right one for the right job.  We at BLT Direct would recommend using Daylight colour temperature bulbs in the kitchen due to their crisp bright light making it much easier to do the daily tasks required for your kitchen at home.  We class a Daylight coloured bulb as anything between 5000K to 6000K (This is the measurement used to indicate the light temperature given out by a light).  We aim to answer all commonly asked questions below about these lights to help you make the right choice for lighting in your kitchen.  

What level of light brightness is best for a kitchen?

In terms of lighting brightness is measured in lumens rather than wattage.  To determine the amount of brightness required for your kitchen you will need to consider the size of your kitchen and how it’s used.  Keeping in mind that it should be brighter than other rooms within the home as it is often a place that is used to cook and clean.

• For the kitchen as a whole: We would recommend 3000-4000 lumens for an average sized kitchen (which we would estimate to be 90 to 150 square feet).  You can reduce or increase the level of brightness based on the measurements given  here.
• Dedicated task areas: This would include countertops, sinks or above ovens.  If you are looking for focused lighting for these areas we would recommend around 300-500 lumens per square metre.
• Accent Lighting:  If you are looking for a focused or accent lighting to focus on an art piece or other decoration in your kitchen we would advise 100-300 lumens for this depending on what it is that you are looking to highlight.

Daylight bulbs will stand out in your kitchen as the higher colour temperature will enhance the perceived brightness compared to another bulb using the same amount of lumens as a warm white or a cool white bulb.

Why do daylight bulbs work so well in kitchens?

Daylight lighting gives out a crisp bright light that is made to resemble natural sunlight as closely as possible.  This is useful for a kitchen as it will help/contribute to:

• Improved visibility: Colours and textures will appear clearer making it easier to assess the freshness of food and how it has cooked.
• Reduced eye strain: To put it simply the brightness of the daylight colour temperature will make it easier to see meaning they will be reduced need of squinting and a reduction of shadows or dark areas within the kitchen.
• Clean, modern feel:  Daylight coloured lighting will help contribute to the appearance of white surfaces and stainless steel appliances giving your kitchen a cleaner more modern feel.
• Safer food prep: A better illuminated kitchen will reduce the risk of accidents within the kitchen, especially when handling sharp objects or hot cookware.

Should I use daylight LED strip in a kitchen?

Absolutely. We believe that Daylight LED strip is a fantastic choice for kitchens due to its slim size; the level of brightness you can get from it and the great versatility it has to fit into a wide variety of applications within a kitchen.

Under-cabinet LED strips for example can be one of the most effective ways to give a consistent bright light to your kitchen area.   Thanks to their slim and discreet design they will take up minimal room and are a great way to add light to the areas where you need it most.   And being LED you will be choosing a product designed to last and that is covered by our 2 year warranty.  

You can also use Daylight lighting for the same reasons as above for other applications such as toe-kick lighting, above cabinets, or inside pantry shelving and any pictures or decoration you may have in your kitchen to give your kitchen a clean contemporary look.

To Summarise

Daylight lighting is a highly practical and versatile choice of lighting for nearly all styles of kitchens.  It helps to provide the ideal level of brightness required for food preparation; cooking and cleaning.  It makes it easier to concentrate and see what you are doing in the kitchen and compliments the vast majority of kitchen decoration; appliances and counter-tops.  

Whichever type of LED lighting you choose for your kitchen we hope the above has helped you make the right choice to brighten up your kitchen and home.