Under cabinet lighting can be a huge benefit to your kitchen, office, bathroom, or any other area where you need additional task lighting. Because area lighting is typically placed nearer to the ceiling, cabinets and other fixtures can cast shadows across your task area like kitchen counters, your desk, and so on. Under cabinet lighting provides illumination in these areas, giving you the right amount of light for all your important tasks!
Where to Install Under Cabinet Lighting
Install under cabinet lighting wherever you need additional task lighting. It gets its name from its common placement on the underside of overhead kitchen storage cabinets, which is a great place to install these useful task lights!
There are actually many places under cabinet lighting can be installed. Here are some of our best under cabinet lighting placement ideas:
- Under your overhead kitchen storage cabinets
- Over work benches and desks
- Under shelves to add an aesthetic spotlight to items on display
Pro Tip: Under cabinet lighting can also be installed as cabinet lighting! Install the under cabinet light fixtures inside darker cabinets you need to access often, such as storage cabinets under your bathroom or kitchen sinks, to quickly and easily locate the items you need.
How to Install Under Cabinet Lighting
Installing under cabinet lighting is easy! The fixtures simply mount to any flat surface. Most under cabinet light fixtures come with the mounting hardware required to install them. Simply measure the space you wish to install the under cabinet lighting to, then get the fixture that best fits those dimensions. (See below for more information on different kinds of under cabinet lights!)
Pro Tip: Set the fixtures on your counter before mounting to make sure the spacing works for your needs and the fixtures can reach the power supply without strain!
No additional wiring is needed if you are installing multiple under cabinet light fixtures—just use a joiner connector to link the additional fixture to the one already installed, and this will allow power to run between them.
Under cabinet lights connect to your outlet power source using push-in connectors, making them very easy to install to your existing electrical outlets. Always consult a licensed contractor or electrician if you are uncertain on how to install new fixtures into your existing electric power system.
Pro Tip: If your under cabinet light fixture has a lens, face it toward the wall or backsplash!
Different Kinds of Under Cabinet Light Fixtures
Depending on the location and application of your under cabinet lighting, you may want to use a specific kind of fixture.