The Best Kitchen Lighting Upgrades for Northern Kentucky Homes

Good lighting can completely transform your kitchen. Whether you’re refacing cabinets, replacing countertops, or doing a full remodel, the right lighting makes your space look cleaner, brighter, and more functional. For Northern Kentucky homeowners, upgrading kitchen lighting is one of the highest-impact improvements you can make—without a massive budget.

Here’s a breakdown of the most effective kitchen lighting upgrades and how to choose the right setup for your home.

1. Under-Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting is one of the simplest ways to improve visibility while cooking and prepping food. It eliminates harsh shadows and highlights your counters beautifully.

Benefits

• Better visibility for chopping and cooking

• Makes countertops look brighter and more expensive

• Affordable and easy to install

Best Options

• LED light bars

• Puck lights

• Dimmable LED strips

2. Recessed Lighting

Recessed lights (can lights) provide clean, even lighting across the whole kitchen. They work well with almost any style and won’t clutter your ceiling.

Pros

• Bright, even illumination

• Great for kitchens with low ceilings

• Works with modern or traditional designs

Cons

• Requires proper spacing to avoid shadows

• Needs a licensed electrician to install

Pro Tip: Use daylight-balanced LEDs to avoid yellow, dingy light.

3. Pendant Lights Over Islands

Pendants create a focal point and give your kitchen personality. They also provide excellent task lighting over islands or peninsulas.

What to Consider

• Height: 30–36 inches above the countertop is ideal

• Quantity: Usually 2–3 pendants spaced evenly

• Style: Match your cabinet hardware or faucet finish

Pendants are one of the easiest places to add character without overpowering the room.

4. Under-Cabinet Toe-Kick Lighting

If you want a subtle upgrade that makes your kitchen look premium, toe-kick lighting is the move. It adds a soft glow around the base of your cabinets that looks incredible at night.

Benefits

• Makes the kitchen feel larger

• Helps safely navigate at night

• Pairs beautifully with cabinet refacing

5. Smart Lighting Controls

Smart lighting lets you adjust brightness, color temperature, and preset scenes with your phone or voice assistant. You can create settings for cooking, entertaining, or nighttime low-lighting.

Advantages

• Full control over brightness and ambience

• Energy efficient

• Pairs well with layered lighting setups

How to Build the Perfect Lighting Plan

The best kitchen lighting uses layered light—a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting.

• Ambient – Recessed lighting for overall brightness

• Task – Under-cabinet and pendant lighting

• Accent – Toe-kick lights or cabinet interior lighting

At NKY Kitchen Remodelers, we help homeowners plan lighting that enhances every part of their kitchen remodel—from cabinet refacing to new layouts and countertops.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading your kitchen lighting is one of the fastest ways to modernize your home. With the right combination of recessed lights, under-cabinet fixtures, pendants, and smart controls, your kitchen will look brighter, cleaner, and more inviting.

Ready to plan your remodel? Contact NKY Kitchen Remodelers for expert guidance and stress-free upgrades.