How to properly adjust lighting in a kitchen with a suspended ceiling?

How to organize everything correctly?

First, study the general recommendations and only then move on to the practical part:

• When choosing light sources, you should pay attention to the kitchen finish. Surfaces in light colors reflect the light flux by 80%, and dark cladding – by 12%.
• For a kitchen space made in soft shades, it is better to give preference to devices with warm light. Backlighting in cold shades can contribute to distortion of the environment, especially if the interior is decorated in blue, sand, gray, green or yellow colors. The best option would be neutral white lighting, which will not change the space.
• Since most modern stretch ceilings are made of PVC film, which begins to melt at a temperature of + 55 ° C, you need to choose lamps with a certain bulb power. Conventional incandescent lamps up to 60 watts and halogen models up to 35 watts are suitable. LED and fluorescent lamps have no power restrictions.
• Models of lamps for suspended ceilings with incandescent or halogen lamps should not have lampshades directed upwards. As this will lead to heating, fading and deformation of the canvas.
• If there is insufficient lighting, you can think of a universal scheme that includes different types of lighting – central, wall, spot and decorative.
• It is desirable that the light sources match the size and style of the kitchen interior. The devices that have the same color scheme and are made of identical material look harmonious.

Which lamps to choose?

In lighting design, there are several types of functional lighting.

See a detailed article about the location of lamps on a stretch ceiling.

Spotlights

Such small devices have a small angle of light dispersion and are great for group placement using both parallel and serial connection schemes. A stretch ceiling with spot lighting provides convenient illumination of a certain kitchen area, for example, a work or dining area.

This type can be used to achieve uniform or accent lighting in the kitchen and create any shapes on the ceiling in the form of lines, circles or ovals.

Spotlights can be fixed and swivel, surface-mounted or built-in. Such light sources are easily mounted in the canvas, as well as in walls, niches and furniture.

As for the location of the lamps, install them at a distance of at least 20 cm from the place of attachment to the wall and no closer than 15 cm from the seams. The distance between the lamps themselves should not be less than 30 cm.

To calculate how many lighting points you will need, follow the basic formula: 5 W per 1 square meter. For example, for a kitchen of 6 sq. m. you will need a total power of 30 W – 5 by 6 W or 4 by 8 W.

The photo shows the design of a small modern kitchen with a matte ceiling with built-in lamps.

Chandelier

The most popular option for a stretch ceiling is a chandelier. It is the starting point of the lighting composition, around which the rest of the lighting is built.

Thanks to a wide range of chandeliers, they are installed not only in classic interiors. Original lamps of regular or irregular shape are also found in styles such as modern, high-tech, minimalism, French Provence, retro and others.

Most often, in the kitchen, the chandelier is located in the center of the ceiling. In a spacious room, the lamp can be shifted. For a rectangular kitchen space, it is better to use an elongated chandelier.

For small areas, choose laconic chandeliers so as not to steal space. The best option for the kitchen would be an overhead chandelier.

Since we use stretch ceilings, I do not recommend using models with bulbs upward. If you really like the chandelier, then use either bulbs that do not heat up or those with a power of no more than 60 watts.

The photo shows hanging chandeliers on a two-level ceiling.

Backlight

A ceiling with contour LED backlighting not only has a stylish and unusual look, but is also considered to be a less energy-consuming method. Such additional lighting will especially effectively emphasize a multi-tiered ceiling structure.

The most popular solution is a floating ceiling. It is more decorative in nature. But the kitchen interior is transformed before our eyes.

An original design solution is a ceiling with a light pattern made of LED strip. This will give the kitchen interior an unusual look and achieve partial lighting. No less interesting is the cornice lighting, which creates the impression of a floating ceiling.

In order to create an effect on the ceiling plane such as a starry sky, a burning flame or the northern lights, fiber optics are used. The unique light composition will look amazing in the dark.

The photo shows an example of linear LED lighting in the kitchen interior.

Spotlights

The spotlight system consists of several lamps that can have a different number of lamps and, depending on the type, completely illuminate the space or illuminate only certain areas.

Thanks to the ability to adjust the luminous flux, spotlights create bright and contrasting or, conversely, diffused and strictly directed lighting. Compact, functional and safe lighting fixtures perfectly complement the kitchen design and create the necessary atmosphere.

Spotlights can be suspended, surface-mounted or built-in, and have a laconic, elegant or industrial design.

The installation of track spot systems is quite popular. The main advantage of these models is the free change of location, due to convenient movement along the busbar.

The photo shows a white ceiling with black spotlights and pendant lights in the dining area.

How to arrange by zones?

Dining area

To illuminate the dining area, it is appropriate to equip the suspended ceiling with a pendant chandelier. The lamp can have a beautiful translucent glass shade or a plastic lampshade of a spherical, rectangular, round or conical shape. It is better to choose a convenient design with the ability to adjust the length of the suspension. Thus, when raised high, the lamp will create a bright and festive light, and when lowered, it will create a more homely and cozy atmosphere in the kitchen.

A good option is to install several small light sources at an equal distance from each other above the central axis of the dining table.

Due to light, you can achieve the desired color temperature in the room. The cooking area should have the most natural light with a cold shade. For the dining, dining segment and living room, chandeliers or other lamps that emit a softer and warmer glow are suitable.

The photo shows zonal lighting of the work and dining area in the kitchen with a combined ceiling.

Work area

The area where the worktop, sink and hob are located should be provided with sufficiently good lighting for comfortable cooking. The light should fall evenly and not create shadows or too bright spots. For this, it is recommended to give preference to ceiling lights with LED bulbs. LEDs are more reliable, durable and inexpensive.

The work area is also often supplemented with fluorescent lamps in the form of a cylindrical straight tube. This type of lighting is mounted in the cornice of the kitchen unit, placed under the upper cabinets or in the lower panel of the structure.

The photo shows the interior of the kitchen with a combined stretch ceiling with a chandelier and built-in lamps.

Recommendations for a small kitchen

For a small kitchen with a low stretch ceiling, a chandelier or spotlights are suitable as the main lighting option.

• Lighting fixtures arranged in several rows will visually raise the ceiling plane and give the kitchen atmosphere weightlessness.
• You can erase the boundaries of the kitchen space using lamps with reflectors.
• To favorably emphasize the shape of the room and visually expand the room, choose to organize lighting along the entire perimeter of the canvas.

In a small space, it is inappropriate to install too voluminous and bulky light sources with a lot of decor. It would be most correct to use built-in LED bulbs or spotlights. The kitchen requires diffused lighting, which helps to visually increase the area.

When choosing pendant lights, it is advisable to give preference to models with a lampshade that will be located as close to the ceiling as possible. A good solution would be devices with a light flow directed downwards.

Photo examples for inspiration

The photo shows the lighting of a spacious kitchen with a glossy ceiling.

The photo shows a two-level ceiling with spotlights and pendant lamps in the interior of a kitchen-living room.

The photo shows a kitchen with a matte ceiling equipped with built-in lamps.

Lighting significantly transforms the kitchen environment and emphasizes the beautiful design of the stretch ceiling. The lighting fits perfectly into the overall stylistic concept and turns the interior into a single harmonious concept.