Home · Published 2026-06-22 · Updated 2026-07-20
How to Plan Under-Cabinet Lighting That Actually Helps
A practical layout guide for brighter counters, fewer shadows, and cleaner kitchen installs.
4 min read
ICBy Imogen ClarkeEditorial contributor
TL;DR
Start With the Work Zones
Map the counters you actually use: chopping space, hob, sink, coffee area, and any dark corner under deep wall cabinets. You do not need every cabinet lit equally. Spend brightness where hands, knives, and food prep happen, then use softer accent strips on shelves or display zones.
Place Lights Forward, Not Against the Wall
The most common mistake is mounting the light at the back of the cabinet. That lights the wall beautifully and leaves your hands in shadow. Put bars or strips close to the front lip of the cabinet and aim them down or slightly back. This pushes light across the counter surface and keeps glare out of your eyes.
Choose the Right Source
LED bars produce the most even working light and are easiest to keep tidy. LED strips are better when cabinets vary in shape or you need to turn corners, but they should sit inside aluminium diffuser channels for a dot-free line. For kitchens, CRI 90+ is worth paying for because it makes food, worktops, and skin tones look correct.
Control and Cable Planning
Decide before buying whether the lights should work from a wall switch, a motion sensor, a remote, or a smart routine. Plug-in kits are easiest, but visible cable loops can spoil the look. Route cables along cabinet seams, use small clips, and hide drivers either inside an upper cabinet or above the wall units where heat can still escape.
Sources
- 1Cabinet Lighting
Kichler
- 2