Countertop lighting: what to decide before installation

Countertop lighting is the detail that gets left out of most renovations, and it's the hardest to add afterward. There are four decisions that have to be made before the cabinets are built.

1. Where does the light go?

On the underside of the upper cabinets, close to the front edge. If it's placed at the back, the cabinet casts a shadow on the counter, and it will be dark exactly where you work. Where there are no upper cabinets, the solution is an aimed spot from the ceiling or a suspended linear light, shifted slightly forward of the counter's centerline.

Above the cooktop, the built-in lighting of the range hood is rarely enough and rarely of good quality. It's worth checking its color temperature so it doesn't clash with the rest.

2. What kind of light?

300-500 lux on the counter, 3000 K, above CRI 90. The color of the food depends on it: with poor color rendering, meat and vegetables look gray, and judging freshness gets harder. Concealing the light source matters: looking at the counter, the strip shouldn't be visible, because it will glint on a glossy countertop.

3. Where does the power supply go?

The power supply needs a ventilated, accessible spot, typically at the end of a cabinet or in the toe kick, with an access panel. This has to be decided together with the cabinet designer, before the carcasses are built. It shouldn't go next to the washing machine, oven or dishwasher.

4. How is it switched?

On a separate switch or scene, independently of the ceiling lighting. In the evening, it's often the only light you need in the kitchen. A touch or motion switch mounted on the cabinet edge is convenient, but keep in mind: with wet hands, touch controls don't always work reliably.