If you are planning on renovating or sprucing-up your kitchen, it’s probably a good idea to map out a detailed lighting plan as well. Most people find this a little strange as they feel that lighting in a kitchen isn’t something that needs too much of consideration or planning. It’s just a place where you cook and probably where you have an informal meal after all.

However, the fact is that it’s important to plan kitchen illumination well if you want to make optimal use of your kitchen spaces. Here, we would like to share some basic lighting ideas to create the right balance of functionality and aesthetics.

If you want to get a better idea about what type of lighting would work best for your kitchen, it’s vital to understand how your kitchen spaces relate to the different type of lighting. Let’s start off with understanding what type of bulbs you can use for the best effects:

These bulbs emit a yellowish light and you will now find many artistic versions of these on the market today.

These bulbs throw off a flat, cold light that has a bluish tinge, which lends a very harsh effect to the room.

These have a warm light that makes the place look very inviting and comfortable

These are the latest in light bulb technology and are available in a range of effects including white, cool daylight, warm light, yellow and a range of other colours and hues. Aside from this, LED bulbs are also 80% more energy-efficient than standard bulbs; and most property owners are now opting for these fixtures.

In addition to the types of bulbs used, the style of lighting or the lighting effects are what impact the ambience and appearance of a room. With this in view, here we discuss the different lighting effects that can be used in your kitchen:

This is one of the simplest ways to create the right lighting effect in your kitchen. This type of lighting is designed to help you move comfortably around the room. In most instances this type of lighting comes from grid-style can lighting, widely-spaced, wall and ceiling lamps, semi-translucent skylights or even the natural light that streams in through glass windows and doors. This is the base layer of any lighting plan.

In your kitchen, task lighting would be required to illuminate kitchen counters and food preparation spaces. Since you will be cooking in your kitchen every day, it’s important that the task lighting be planned and installed well. If you have only recessed lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will feel the lack of focused light when you are cleaning, cooking or prepping in that space.

If you install one-dimensional lighting in the kitchen, it creates unsightly shadows in different areas of the room, while ceiling lighting is ineffective in illuminating spaces like sinks, under counter or cabinet areas etc. On the other hand, if you add special pendant lamps over the counters or even your kitchen island it can prove to be a more practical solution. Under-cabinet lighting can also help in illuminating the cabinets that are positioned there.

This effect doesn’t seem as necessary as ambient or task lighting does in a kitchen space, as the illumination it provides isn’t as functional as the first two. However, it can have a significant impact on the way your kitchen spaces look. If you want to enhance the appeal of your kitchen (regardless of whether you are getting it entirely renovated or are opting for a lighting upgrade), it’s important that you plan your accent lighting well.

While you’re probably more focused on maintain holiday cheer, you should also focus on safety in regards to your home’s electrical system. An electrical safety inspection in Manassas may be the single-most important thing you do this season, as a single inspection from a professional can lower the risk of electrical shocks and residential fires.

A workshop is a place full of productivity. Filled with tools and devices, this small hub can produce the most amazing and practical creations – but in order to keep it operating, there needs to be a significant amount of electricity. To keep your workshop running smoothly, here are some things to consider when it comes to the electrical setup.

Lighting is extremely important in the workshop. Often our workshops are found in a garage or a dark room off the home. In order to see all the intricate details and get your cuts just right you need to be able to see what you’re doing. Don’t compromise safety by working in a dimly lit room – install proper light fixtures. The most common electrical fixtures are fluorescent overhead, these are easy to install, energy efficient, and provide sufficient lighting. Correctly placing these around your workshop will help brighten up your workspace and allow you to move about freely without adjusting lamps. Another option to consider is track lighting. With track lighting and floodlights you can adjust the lights to cover your workspace and provide vivid lighting to the area that needs it the most. When installing these light fixtures it is important that everything is connected correctly. You don’t want your lights shorting out, flickering, or causing interrupts for your tools.

In addition to the electricity consumed by workspace lighting, you have a number of high-powered tools constantly in use. From table saws to routers, there is always a strain on your electrical system to power these tools. When setting up your workshop, it is a good idea to place the circuits on their own breaker separate from the rest of the house. This will prevent other appliances and electronics in the house from causing trips in the breaker when activated simultaneously while other tools are in use.

Another option to consider is to install a surge protector on the breaker that is being used for your workshop. The last thing you want is to have all your expensive equipment damaged by an electrical surge.

Lastly, ensure that GCFI receptacles are installed in the workshop. These outlets will shut off immediately to prevent the risk of electrical shock if a danger becomes present. These receptacles should be installed correctly for them to work properly. You will also need them placed around your workshop correctly so you do not need to constantly adjust the position of your tools.

Setting up a workshop can be complex and if not done properly, it can also be dangerous. We recommend that if you have a workshop at home or a business, that you have an expert electrician review the electrical setup and bring everything up to code for maximum safety.

Are you impressed by the nation's current lineup of efficient electrical appliances and devices? You ain't seen nothing yet, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The DOE recently released a report previewing some of the big technological breakthroughs that are poised to help you get the most out of your residential electrical work. These advances promise to reduce the energy consumption of the average household while still delivering effective performance. Read on to learn what your next refrigerator, clothes dryer and lighting system could look like.

More Efficient and Effective Electrical Work

The Department of Energy predicts the following leaps forward for some of our commonly used appliances:

Cut Back on Energy Use Sooner, Not Later

Don't wait until the future to beef up the efficiency in your home electrical work. For help identifying opportunities to cut back on energy use, contact a licensed electrician to conduct a thorough energy efficiency audit.