Adding Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

Kitchen cabinet lighting is effective enough to make even simple-looking kitchens more practical for preparing food and more presentable as a gathering spot for family and guests. Cabinet lighting is gaining favor as the most practical solution to kitchen lighting issues by ensuring that the cabinets have their own, independent light sources and are well-illuminated. The advantages are both practical and aesthetic, since a well-lit kitchen with well-endowed cabinet lighting looks practical, trendy and tidy.

Installing cabinet lighting is an easy undertaking as long as some basic instructions are followed.

Things Needed To Install Kitchen Cabinet Lighting 

• Cardboard boxes
• Measuring tape
• String of lights
• Plastic clips
• Screws/nails
• Pencil
• Drill
• Hole saw bit
• Adaptor
• String light rope 

Installing Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

Cabinet lighting can be a one-person job, if it is done systematically and the right installation materials are purchased. 

Purchase the Lighting System

Visit any good lighting system retailer to purchase a string of lights along with extra plastic clips that are needed for creating the string of lights. For aesthetic requirements, buy screws or nails that match the color shade of the lighting kit.

Clear the Kitchen Cabinets

Empty the cabinets and place all the items into cardboard boxes to ensure that you have maximum available space for the installation process. If there are any portable shelves, remove them.

Taking Measurements

Using the measuring tape, accurately measure the rear of the cabinets where the cabinet lighting will be installed. The distance should be measured from the rear-end of the cabinet towards the lighting outlet.

Prepare for Drilling

Clean and dry each cabinet. Using a pencil, mark the points in the cabinet where the holes are to be drilled for running the lighting string. Also, mark any circular notches that might be needed in case you plan to install lighting behind the shelves for any future kitchen renovations 

Drill the Holes

Using the adaptor and the hole saw bit, drill all the marked holes for stringing the lights through each cabinet 

Prepare the Lighting System

String the lights through the holes, into each of the cabinets. Using plastic clips, start to line up the lights along the string light rope. Use as many clips needed to ensure that the rope lights are straight and firmly positioned

Testing, Finalizing the Installation

To test the lights, plug them and do the necessary adjustments to ensure that no wobbly strings are found hanging from the drilled holes. Restock your kitchen shelves to check if shadows are as minimal and the lighting as bright as you expected it to be.