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Close to Ceiling  Close to ceiling lighting is great if you need general illumination or ceiling heights of 8’ or less where people walk underneath the light.   Island Lights From pendants to chandeliers to track lights, downward-facing task lighting is the best option here.    Mini-Pendant Glass Lights Mini Pendant Lighting can provide both task and general lighting. They are suspended from the ceiling over tables, kitchen counters or other work areas.    Chandeliers With a great range of sizes from miniature to extra large, these symbols of elegance are a great way to add character and appeal to your home.   Pendant Lights Pendants are perfect for placing directed, deliberate pinpoints of light wherever it may be needed.   Track Lighting Use track lighting primarily for accent and task lighting rather than general illumination. Most spaces require a balance of general, ambient illumination, task and accent lighting.   Cabinet Lighting Under cabinet lighting is important for task lighting. Casting bright light directly onto work surfaces decreases shadows, increasing safety and productivity.   Ceiling Fan Lights The use of a ceiling fan light is a great way to add general light to any room and reduce prices on your energy costs up to 40% in the summer and 10% in the winter.   Pot Rack Lights These chandeliers offer a unique solution for kitchen island lighting. Both stylish and functional, they allow you to show off your cookware and free up cabinet space at the same time.

The first task when creating a lighting plan is to assess the activities that will occur in the space, from cooking to entertaining and other activities.

The three basic types of lighting are general, which provides basic light for the room; task lighting, which highlights a specific work area; and accent lighting, which can create a focal point in the room. Types of lighting should be layered within a space.

The location of counters in the general layout of the room is important in the placement of lighting fixtures.

When designing lighting for cooking, it is important to have adequate light and a good distribution of light for general illumination. Multiple sources are best, so the light is coming in from different directions.

• Accent lighting can provide visual interest and a focal point in the room.
• Under-cabinet lighting does a terrific job of providing task lighting for countertop activities. It is shadow-free and provides a nice architectural feature since it emphasizes the shape and contour of the kitchen.
• Center islands provide wonderful design opportunities for lighting, from simple recessed downlights for task lighting, to pendants or decorative lights that provide ambient or diffused light. General lighting in the center of the room can be recessed cans or more visible pendant lights.

The quality of the light and bulbs will affect the atmosphere in the room. Incandescent light provides soft, warm yellowish light, usually used for recessed cans or downlights. Halogen lights produce a crisp white light that is appropriate for task lighting; fluorescent lights, which have a long life and low energy use, now come in many different shades from warm to cool.

Accent lighting creates a focal point by drawing the eye to a particular object. It can be used to highlight architectural features like a coffered ceiling, arches, or artwork and special collections on display. Cove lighting provides soft, indirect light.