Led Light Strips to Brighten Kitchen Cabinets
Tired of dim, dreary kitchen cabinets that seem to swallow light? Installing LED light strips under your kitchen cabinets can make a dramatic difference, flooding formerly dark spaces with bright, beautiful illumination. With their versatility and customization potential, LED strip lights allow you to not only brighten your kitchen, but also make a unique design statement.
You'll learn how to choose the perfect strips for your needs, get tips for quick and easy installation, and uncover clever ways to showcase your kitchen with strategic LED placement.
Benefits of Under-Cabinet LED Light Strips
Compared to traditional lighting options like fluorescent tubes, LED strip lights offer many advantages for kitchen illumination, including:
- Energy Efficiency - Consuming up to 90% less power, LED strip lights slash energy costs.
- Long Lifespan - LEDs can last up to 50 times longer than halogen bulbs, resulting in fewer replacements.
- Versatile Placement - LED tape bends and contours for lighting even hard-to-reach areas.
- Task Lighting - Bright, focused light makes food prep areas safer and easier to use.
Beyond pure function, under-cabinet LED strips allow you to add a gorgeous design accent. Their sleek, streamlined form factor and vibrant glow make kitchens feel modern, stylish, and updated.
Accentuate Kitchen Features
Strategically placed LED strip lights serve to spotlight your best kitchen features and decor choices. Use LEDs to:
- Showcase display cabinets filled with beautiful dishes, glassware or collectibles.
- Illuminate artwork, ceramic tiles or a statement backsplash.
- Highlight a prized countertop material like granite, marble or quartz.
DIY Installation
Installing LED tape lighting doesn't require an electrician or special tools. DIY under-cabinet lighting is an easy, affordable way to transform your kitchen with dramatic results. We'll provide helpful how-to advice in this guide.
How to Choose LED Strips for Kitchen Cabinets
With the right LED tape lights, you can achieve perfect under-cabinet lighting tailored to your unique kitchen needs. As you shop, consider these factors:
Determine Needed Brightness
First, decide if you primarily want strips for accent lighting or to brightly illuminate task areas for food prep and cleanup. Most quality LED tape puts out anywhere from 1100-2500 lumens per 16 feet. Measure cabinet dimensions to calculate required lighting output.
Consider LED Strip Shapes
LED tape comes in rigid light strips, flexible strips, and round rope configurations to accommodate different cabinet angles, surfaces and lighting needs:
- Rigid strips - Best for straight cabinet runs
- Flexible strips - Bendable for curved areas
- Rope lights - Provides softer, more diffuse glow
Select Desired Color Temperature
LED strip lighting is available in different color temperatures, from warm white to daylight. Warm white emulate soft incandescent light, while cool white strips provide a crisper, more energizing glow. Choose what's most pleasing for your kitchen environment.
Consider Smart Options
Many LED tape lights offer handy features like Wi-Fi connectivity, compatibility with smart home devices like Amazon Alexa for voice control, ability to create custom color schemes and scenes and dimming capability using a compatible dimmer switch or remote control.
Installing LED Tape Lighting Under Kitchen Cabinets
Once you've selected the perfect LED strips, it's time to install them for maximum visual impact. Carefully planning placement is key to effectively showcasing kitchen features.Map Out LED Placement
First, standing in the center of your kitchen, visually divide the under-cabinet space into separate sections - left wall, right wall, island, etc. Decide where you want the most intense lighting, such as food prep zones, then plan accent strips to spotlight display areas or architecture details.
Prepare Mounting Surfaces
Thoroughly clean under-cabinet surfaces to remove dust, grease and debris so LED strip adhesives adhere properly. Wipe down any textured areas like tile or rough wood where needed.
Install Cabinet Rail System
For the most seamless, integrated lighting look, install sturdy aluminum LED mounting rails first, then simply snap LED tape strips into the channel. This also allows easy strip repositioning down the road.
Affix LED Strips
LED tape comes in both self-adhesive and clamp-mounted versions. Adhesive tape is easiest for fast installation. Take care removing backing slowly to avoid tearing. Apply firm, even pressure for 60 seconds to ensure strong bond to surface. Use screws or clamps to install strips on uneven or textured surfaces.
Hide Wires and Connectors
Connect LED strips to power source according to manufacturer's instructions, taking care not to pinch or crimp connectors. Hide wires and connections up inside cabinets for clean, integrated look.
Creative LED Lighting Ideas for Kitchen Cabinets
Beyond illuminating cabinet undersides, flexible LED tape opens up countless possibilities for unique and artistic lighting effects. Here are some creative installations to inspire you:Perimeter Accent Lighting
Use LED strips to accentuate cabinet tops, sides or legs. Grazing light across cabinet edges creates brilliant lines and dimension.
Vertical Side Lighting
Affix LEDs vertically along cabinet sides or the sides of kitchen islands to add sleek lines of light for dramatic impact.
Light Up Glass Cabinet Interiors
LED strips inside glass-front cabinets cast a gentle glow to brilliantly display cherished dishware, collectibles and more.
Under-Counter Lighting
Install LED tape lighting underneath bottom cabinets and counter overhangs to illuminate work zones for food prep, cooking and clean-up.
Operating Your New LED Lighting
The final step is setting up any needed controls so your new LED tape lighting can be easily used and customized to suit any activity or mood.Connect to Power Source
Plug LED strip power cord into nearby outlet, hardwire to home electrical system or connect to remote 12V DC power supply, depending on lights' voltage requirements.
Integrate Any Smart Features
If strips have Wi-Fi connectivity or Alexa compatibility, download smartphone app and follow prompts to connect. This allows remote on/off control, custom lighting schemes, schedules and voice commands.
Install Any Controls
If LED strips include or support any control accessories like dimmers or remote controls, install them in accessible spots to allow easy light adjustment. Program scenes like "dinner party" or "late night snack."
With the bright, beautiful glow of LED tape lighting, even compact, dated kitchens are utterly transformed. Formerly dull spaces feel modern, sleek and welcoming thanks to strategic under-cabinet lighting. Added safety and convenience ensure your revamped kitchen gets more use than ever.
Ready to unlock the hidden potential of your kitchen with custom LED strips? Let the illuminating possibilities guide you to a lighting scheme that's both functional and fabulous.