Work lighting

• How to plan your kitchen lighting
• Work lighting
• Lighting for dining
• Mood lighting
• Ambient lighting

Every kitchen, no matter how large or small, needs efficient task lighting. This is as much from a safety point of view as anything else. You'll need direct lighting wherever any food preparation is taking place - worktops, sinks and hobs - to make sure chopping and cooking can be done safely and without shadows. Undermounted options are perfect for this and be sure to look for recessed or semi-recessed options, as exposed light fittings will collect grease and dirt more easily

For the hob area, choose an extractor with four or more halogen lights and if the island is to be used for prep, highlight it with pendant lamps combined with recessed downlighters. These should always be controlled on a separate circuit, so make sure you talk to your electrician before any installation takes place.

The latest trend is for easy-to-use sensor-operated products. They're extremely practical - when preparing food, there's no need to wash your hands every time you need to flick the switch, simply wave your hand in front of the sensor. Drawer and cabinet lighting can also be operated on sensors, instantly coming on when the door is opened. Not only do they look great, the lights make it much easier to find that elusive corkscrew or pizza cutter.

Sensio's new Click Slideline is wonderfully simple and allows you to have direct light wherever you want it. It comprises a set of LEDs fitted onto a track, which slides into position wherever they are needed most.

Chosen by Beautiful Kitchens