The kitchen is often called the heart of the home. It’s where you cook, eat, entertain and probably spend a majority of your time. That and the fact that kitchen remodels have a large ROI when you sell, are the biggest reasons why kitchen remodels are one of two of the most popular rooms to remodel in your home (the second is bathrooms). And if you are going to invest a significant amount of time and money, you want to make sure you aren’t missing anything. So while you plan out cabinet space, backsplashes and appliances, don’t forget to consider the electrical and lighting.
Plan your outlets
When asked about outlet placement, many clients dismiss this as something they don’t need to think about. After all countertops and paint colors are much more exciting topics! But fewer things will cause more frustration than not being able to plug in your crockpot or toaster when you need them! If you know which cupboard your toaster is going in or where your Keurig is going to be placed on the counter, be sure an outlet is close by. You can even put them inside a cupboard if you plan in advance. Also, if you have an island, code requires that an outlet must be somewhere on it. Ask your electrician about how you can hide these outlets so they aren’t an eyesore when they’re not in use.
Add under-cabinet lighting
Oftentimes, a lot of emphasis is placed on lighting the floor when the countertops are where you really need it. Under-cabinet lighting is the perfect solution and it is extremely versatile. It lights up your counter space while you are cooking or cleaning, it is an accent light for entertaining and it can be a great nightlight for evening. And if you make your undercabinet lighting dimmable, it only increases the versatility. This is the number one lighting suggestion we make for kitchens and we get the best feedback on it!
Make it smart
Since the kitchen is usually where everyone gathers in the home, it is a good place to start adding smart home technology. If you are unsure what smart home options are right for your family, choosing the kitchen as a starting point for smart lighting or a Google hub is a great option. It is in the room where it will get the most use and then you can decide which systems you want to expand into other areas of the house once you’ve tried them.
Go with dimmable lights
Sometimes you are cooking and cleaning and other times you are entertaining or having a romantic date night. Lighting truly makes or breaks a space and if there is anyplace in your home where you know you will need different lighting levels, it is the kitchen. Going with dimmable lights allows you the freedom to have them at 100% brightness or anywhere in the middle. You can change the atmosphere of your kitchen without adding more lights.
Check your panel
Oftentimes a remodel means you are adding things i.e. more lights, outlets and appliances. If you will be adding more things that require electricity, check to make sure your panel can handle the extra load. If your current panel is maxed out, your electrician can add a subpanel but it is a good idea to discuss this in advance so you do not have a surprise expense.
If you have any questions or comments, contact Sasha at sasha@inthelitellc.com. As always, we hope we’ve made your day brighter!
It’s great to learn that you should be lighting your countertops in your kitchen during a remodel. My wife and I are wanting to renovate our kitchen and we were wondering how to add more lighting to the room. I’ll be sure to get more light added to the countertops in our kitchen.