LED kitchen lights
LED KITCHEN LIGHTS
Good LED kitchen lights are planned in layers: the light that lets you chop without shadows on the cutting board, the light that showcases the cabinets, the light that softens the mood at dinner. LEDCO brings it all together in one place — recessed ceiling lights, strips and profiles, puck lights, track spotlights and pendants — and builds custom linear fixtures in its Quebec workshop, cut to the length of your cabinets. Full renovation or simple upgrade, the three-layer method stays the same.
LED kitchen lights: three layers that work together
Good kitchen LED lighting never comes from a single ceiling fixture: placed in the centre, it leaves the counter in your own shadow. Three well-balanced layers solve the problem, each with its own role and colour temperature:
- The general layer: recessed ceiling lights, for moving around, cooking and entertaining, in 3000K to 4000K.
- The task layer: strips in profiles under the cabinets, along the full length of the counter, in 3000K to 4000K for food prep.
- The accent layer: puck lights in niches, strips in coves and pendants above the island, in 2700K for a warm ambiance.
Recessed ceiling lights: how many and where
LED recessed ceiling lights are the backbone of the kitchen. Installed in a grid, they deliver even general light; allow roughly one recessed light per 16 sq. ft. of floor. For a clean ceiling, the DLT 4" round trimless recessed light sits flush with the drywall, and above a long counter, the linear recessed light draws a line that follows the work surface. Several models offer selectable colour temperature, and a compatible dimmer lets you soften this layer in the evening.
Under the cabinets: the #300 puck light or a continuous line
For the task layer, there are two approaches. The #300 stainless puck light (PK300) is the classic solution: point-by-point installation, perfect when the budget is tight or spot lighting is enough. The custom linear fixture gives a continuous line instead, with no hot spots or visible joints, and we build it cut to the exact length of the cabinet.
Two profiles to choose from: the #85 surface-mount profile, mounted flat under the cabinet with no machining, or the #86 recessed profile, inserted into a groove and invisible except for its lens. In our custom LED fixture builder, you choose the length, the colour temperature from 2700K to 4000K, the profile and the mounting method; the fixture arrives ready to install.
LED strip in a cove, along the toe-kick or in a display cabinet
LED strips are the most flexible solution for the kitchen. Available in 12V or 24V, an LED strip for the kitchen cuts to exact length and works with a dimmer. In a cove, it creates a halo on the ceiling; under the lower cabinets, a glow at floor level; inside a glass cabinet, it showcases your dishes.
A bare strip stuck under a cabinet looks amateur; a strip in a profile looks professional. Our aluminum profiles dissipate the heat, which extends the strip's life, and diffuse the light evenly. They come in surface-mount, recessed-in-wood or suspended versions that run in a line above the counter.
Puck lights and track spotlights: accent light you can aim
Decorative LED puck lights fit under the backsplash, inside a glass cabinet, around the island or in a niche. Under a sloped ceiling, a cathedral ceiling or in front of an architectural feature, LED track spotlights offer maximum flexibility: individually adjustable, they aim at the counter, the island, the backsplash or a piece of art.
Above the island, the pendant sets the tone
Above the island or the breakfast nook, LED pendant lights are the statement pieces that set the character of the room, whether classic, industrial, Scandinavian or modern. The range runs from the 10" suspended ceiling light for islands to the 4' linear suspended luminaire, which covers a long counter in a single stroke. They complete the accent layer without replacing the task lighting under the cabinets.
Technical tips for a kitchen lit with LEDs
One recessed light per 16 sq. ft. That is the starting point for a regular grid; you then adjust around the counters and the island.
Light the counter along its full length. A task line that stops short of the end leaves exactly the corner where you chop in the shadow.
Never a bare strip under a cabinet. The profile protects the strip, draws its heat away and hides the diodes behind its lens.
One white per layer, not per fixture. Keep the same white for the general and task layers, and save 2700K for the accents.
A dimmer for every layer. You get bright light during prep and soft light for dinner.
For examples, our accomplishments include a kitchen lit with a #86 recessed profile and a residential kitchen fitted with the Rio LED puck light. A question about how many recessed lights you need or the length of a strip? Contact LEDCO and we will guide you through your project.
LED Kitchen Lights FAQ
What should replace an old fluorescent kitchen fixture?
An old fluorescent ceiling fixture is easily replaced by a grid of LED recessed lights, or by a linear recessed light that keeps the look of a line of light. Take the opportunity to add the task layer under the cabinets: that is what really lights the counter. Everything is then set with one dimmer per layer.
How many recessed lights does a kitchen need?
Allow roughly one recessed light per 16 sq. ft. of floor, then place them to cover the counters and walkways, not just the centre of the room. A kitchen with a long counter can replace a row of round recessed lights with a linear recessed light. Send us your plan if you are unsure.
Which LED kitchen lights work best under a sloped ceiling?
Under a sloped or cathedral ceiling, recessed lights do not always land where you need them. Track spotlights solve the problem: each head can be aimed at the counter, the island or the backsplash. Strips in profiles under the cabinets remain the best task layer, whatever the shape of the ceiling.
Where can I buy LEDCO kitchen lighting?
All the kitchen LED lights on this page can be ordered on our website, from recessed lights to strips, and linear fixtures are ordered to size in the custom builder. Our team advises renovating homeowners across Canada every day. Write or call us with the dimensions of your kitchen.
