Lighting brings a kitchen to life. It is also the line item most often trimmed at the end of a budget, which is how expensive renovations end up looking flat.
Where the money goes furthest
Under-cabinet LED strip is the best value upgrade in any kitchen. It is inexpensive, it uses almost nothing to run, and it fixes the single worst lighting problem most kitchens have. If you only do one thing, do this.
Dimmers before fixtures
Putting existing circuits on dimmers costs a fraction of replacing fittings and changes how the room feels far more than a new fixture would. It also extends lamp life, so it partly pays for itself.
LED throughout
Lower running costs, far longer life and much less heat, which matters in a room that is already warm. Buy on quality of light rather than on price alone: cheap LEDs render color poorly and make good finishes look ordinary.
Spend the design budget on placement
Where the lights go matters more than what they cost. Downlights in the wrong place light your back instead of your counter. Getting the layout right during design costs nothing extra and is the difference between a kitchen that works and one that merely looks expensive.
