Under-cabinet lighting: types, placement and color
Under-cabinet lights are the single most useful light in a kitchen. They put bright, shadow-free light right on the counter where you work, and they make the backsplash glow at night.
Types
- LED light bars: the go-to, even light in a slim housing.
- LED tape: nearly invisible and very even, best in an aluminum channel with a diffuser.
- Puck lights: pools of light; fine for display shelves, spotty on counters.
Where to mount them
Mount toward the front edge of the cabinet bottom, not against the wall. That lights the counter instead of glaring off a glossy backsplash, and hides the fixture behind the cabinet lip or a light rail.
Hardwired or plug-in
Hardwired lights on a wall switch or dimmer look cleanest and are best planned into a remodel. Plug-in and battery kits are the easy retrofit.
Color and brightness
Match the color temperature of your ceiling lights, usually 2700K or 3000K, and look for CRI 90+ so food and stone look true. See the color temperature guide.
Dimming
Put under-cabinet lights on a dimmer: bright for cooking, low as a night light. The lumens calculator and lighting layers guide help plan the rest of the room.
Common questions
Where should under-cabinet lights be placed?
Near the front of the cabinet bottom, so light falls on the counter instead of reflecting off the backsplash.
What color temperature for under-cabinet lights?
Match your ceiling lights, usually 2700K or 3000K.
Are LED strip lights good under cabinets?
Yes, in an aluminum channel with a diffuser for even, dot-free light.
Related: lighting, color temperature guide, lighting layers, lumens calculator.
Shop task and under-cabinet lighting
Order online, pick up in Keene, or ask us about installation.
Book a consult
Tell us the room, a rough budget range and when you'd like to start. We'll come back with next steps and a realistic timeline, no pressure, no mystery pricing.
