A good kitchen lighting plan should include task lighting for countertops, peninsulas, or kitchen islands that are used for food prep; general lighting throughout to provide balance when natural light is limited; and ambient light that can be adjusted according to the time of day or the mood you want to create to make the space inviting and relaxing for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between.

To light the kitchen evenly throughout, with an emphasis on lighting high-use areas, grid out the lights in straight lines along the axis of the counters. Add dimmers for better control in a range of lighting scenarios.