How many lumens per m2 for a kitchen?

A well-lit dramatic kitchen can solidify your home's lighting plan, it can have so much character!

So in this guide, I'm going to explain everything you need to know to properly light your kitchen with perfect lumen distribution.

How many lumens do you need to have a perfectly lit kitchen?

An average kitchen needs around 3500 to 5500 lumens of ambient light . You should aim for 35 lumens per square meter (or 380 lumens per square meter) of kitchen space.

Task lighting, for example under cabinets for cooking, should be 70 lumens per square meter (or 750 per square meter) of the work area. LED strips should have a power of 200 to 500 lumens per meter (600 to 1600 lumens per meter).

You can already see that this question is more complicated than it seems at first glance. The lighting in the kitchen should be the best possible so that you can work there without inconvenience.

And even if you follow the general rules that larger spaces need more lighting and so on, you still need to adapt your lighting to your own kitchen design and particularities.

What are lumens and why are they important in the kitchen?

Lumens are used to measure the amount of light emitted by a light source . In short, the higher the lumen number, the brighter the light.

This unit is the only relevant measure of brightness at present. It has almost completely replaced watts, which are outdated.

Watts measure the energy used by the light source , which is no longer accurate since we have developed much more energy efficient light bulbs (e.g. LEDs).

While lumens help us determine how much light we need in the kitchen, we must first establish their relationship to the kitchen space.

Not all areas of the kitchen need the same lumens! You should aim for around 30-40 lumens per square meter (300-400 lumens per square meter), but this only applies to ambient lighting.

The ideal lighting for cooking is supplemental lighting of around 60-80 lumens per square meter (650-850 per square meter).

I recommend installing LED strips under the furniture, they have many advantages over their fluorescent and halogen counterparts. In this case, you should expect between 200 and 500 lumens per meter (600-1600 per meter).

Over 500 lumens is very bright, but it can work if you don't have a lot of ambient light, such as recessed lights, pendants, etc.

Less than 200 lumens might not be enough. If you are not sure, buy dimmable LEDs. This way, you can always control the brightness exactly as you want.

Here are some lumen recommendations for common kitchen areas:

• Accent lighting above a sink: 500-700 lumens.
• Task lighting above a stove: 700-900 lumens.
• Accent lighting above a kitchen island: 800-1000 lumens

Keep in mind that these are general guidelines only and the actual number of lumens you need may vary depending on the size of your kitchen, its layout and the amount of natural light that enters it.

What factors should you consider when choosing lumens for your kitchen?

1. Size of the kitchen

The first thing that will help you determine your lumen needs is the size of your kitchen. You should aim for 30 to 40 lumens per square foot (or 300 to 400 lumens per square foot). However, this is just ambient light, and is intended to create a comfortable and even level of light throughout the space.

For ambient light, you can use ceiling lights, wall lights or recessed spotlights. For most kitchens, ceiling lights and recessed spotlights should be sufficient.

Traditional architectures lend themselves better to the use of wall lighting fixtures such as sconces.

2. Ceiling height and dark kitchen

If your ceiling height is higher than 3 meters, you will need more than 300 to 400 lumens per square meter .

In the case of ceiling lights or recessed spotlights, the light source will be further away from the main area of ​​the kitchen. In the case of wall lights or recessed spotlights, the light will be diffused further away from the source.

Dark kitchens can achieve an interesting, darker effect and are very modern. However, they require more lumens to be properly lit.

If your kitchen has dark paint or low natural light, increase the lumens of ambient light by 10 to 20 percent.

3. Type of task to be performed

While ambient light is very important in setting the overall tone of your lighting system, it is usually not enough for specific tasks. That is why we need task lighting.

In the kitchen, task lighting should be about 60 to 80 lumens per square meter (or 600 to 800 lumens per square meter) of the work area. The most common accent lighting in the kitchen is LED strips under the cabinet, wall sconces, and ceiling lights above the sink.

If you have a kitchen island , targeted lighting can be provided by pendant lights.

Consider installing several large ones and make sure they produce concentrated beams rather than distributing light in all directions.

Although chandeliers are not ideal for direct lighting, they can be perfectly suitable for some kitchens.

4. Color temperature

Color temperature is measured in kelvins and indicates how yellow or blue the light is. Lower values ​​are warmer and more yellowish (2700-3000 K) and higher values ​​are cooler and more blue (4000-5000 K). In general, 3000-4000 K is a good value for kitchens.

However, you can read my guide to color temperature, which explains the benefits of each side of the spectrum and will help you determine what works best for you.

Opt for a consistent temperature that complements the rest of your kitchen design. Warm light works best with earthy colors and materials, such as brown, gray, green, and wood surfaces, while cool light works best with "edgy" contemporary architecture.

5. Style and decoration

Although it is always advisable to use three levels of light, the kitchen may not benefit from accent lighting.

If you have artwork or decorations in your kitchen that you want to illuminate, you can use LED strips , puck lights, or directional can lights.

Conclusion

A well-lit kitchen is essential for preparing meals and entertaining guests. In addition, it can also become a real haven of peace if the lighting is used well.

To achieve a well-lit kitchen, you need to consider the type of light sources, the total number of lumens needed, the placement of the lights, and the type of lighting fixtures you will use.

With the right amount of light, you can create a functional and welcoming space that will be the heart of your home!