Cool Ways to Use LED Lights

One of the biggest trends I spotted at the recent National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) Kitchen and Bath Show is the way we light our spaces... in the smallest of places where the sun doesn't shine.  Illuminating hard to reach areas is now made possible by LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

 

[caption id="attachment_820" align="aligncenter" width="617"] close up view of LED chips. Each LED manufacturer has its own proprietary phosphorous coating on the microchips to give them illuminating power and quality[/caption]

These tiny microchips pack a lot of light power (measured in lumens) and they are cool: cool to look at and cool to touch. That's because LEDs don't heat up your living space like other heat-producing bulbs such as incandescents, halogens and xenon lights making them great for kitchens.

[caption id="attachment_776" align="aligncenter" width="560"] LED Tape lighting by Kichler illuminates under the upper cabinets, under the base cabinets for toe kick lighting and under the kitchen island, available in a range of Kelvin temperature options for both dry and damp indoor.[/caption]

We've all experienced how hot it gets in the kitchen when all the lights are on and the oven and cooktop are operating. LED Lighting Expert Jim Morrison says that regular light bulbs run at 200 degrees above room temperature, so you can imagine how quickly a room heats up when the lights are up full blare. Just think about how the heat index in your kitchen rises when you throw a party. People tend to gravitate around the kitchen creating a sort of greenhouse effect. But sweat no more, LEDs are here to light up AND cool off your living space. The NKBA's recent Kitchen and Bath Show offered some ingenious ways to light up your space with LEDs. Here are a few of the more unique ideas that I discovered:

LED Lit Cabinets Inside, Out & Under:

[caption id="attachment_797" align="aligncenter" width="560"] In cabinet LED lighting by Hafele keeps you from hunting around in dark spaces for the contents in your kitchen cabinets. LED Tape, Strips of Panels work well.[/caption]

 

LED Lit Decorative & Functional Accents:

[caption id="attachment_799" align="aligncenter" width="560"] LED lit Corbel by Hafele provides an integrated source of light under the cabinets.[/caption]

 

LED Trim and Baseboard Lighting:

[caption id="attachment_777" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kichler lighting recently launched an LED decorative baseboard that provides night lighting and illuminates the pathways.[/caption]

 

LED Lit Closet Rod:

[caption id="attachment_810" align="aligncenter" width="560"] LED lights are integrated into this closet rod by Hafele to cleverly light the clothes.[/caption]

 

 LED Color Changing Tape:

[caption id="attachment_779" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Color changing LED lights make this bathroom vanity glow. The lighting design was created by Alan Zielinski, CKD
2013 Immediate Past President
National Kitchen & Bath Association[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_780" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Invisiled LED Color Changing Tape Light by WAC creates a rainbow of different hues in this bar, painting the space with light[/caption]

For a more in-depth look at some of the LED lighting tools available, check out my published article on Houzz entitled  The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

Houzz

-

Kitchens

,

Bathrooms

and More »

Interior Design

and Decor- For Example:

Gym Remodel

·

Wine Cellar Remodel

·

Hall Remodel

·

Laundry Room Remodel

·

Dining Room Remodel

·

Entry Remodel

·

Patio Remodel

·

Storage & Closets Remodel

·