What Size Light for a Breakfast Nook in a Kitchen?

Natural Light

• Since most kitchen breakfast nooks are surrounded by windows, natural light is an abundant and cheap way to illuminate the space. The natural light reduces the need for artificial light during the daytime and allows you to concern yourself with lighting the breakfast nook only when it is a gray, rainy day or during the evening or nighttime. You'll probably find that you rarely require additional lighting for a breakfast nook located in the kitchen.

Reasons for Additional Lighting

• Even when your breakfast nook receives natural light, there will certainly be times when you'll need something more. When you and your family arise before the sun is up, artificial light suddenly becomes a necessity. When the kids gather around the table to do their homework at night or when you and your spouse meet up for an impromptu midnight snack, you'll also want light that's bright enough to penetrate the darkness sufficiently.

Types of Lighting

• Several types of lighting are available and appropriate for a kitchen breakfast nook. As part of the kitchen, your nook probably receives considerable light already from the fixtures that illuminate your cooking area. Nonetheless, the nook usually requires a dedicated light source to create brightness as well. A light fixture that's suspended from the ceiling is a common choice for a breakfast nook. Opt for a pendant lamp that holds one or two bulbs or a small chandelier that holds three to five. Track lighting, wall sconces or a lamp or two situated on corner tables are other options. Choose an ornate candelabra to light the area when you want to serve a romantic dinner there, or add a dimmer switch to an overhead light so you can adjust the intensity of the artificial light.

Caring for Your Light Fixtures

• Since a breakfast nook is an oft-used space in many households, it's important to keep your light fixtures in proper working order. Stock plenty of spare bulbs with the appropriate wattage for those inconvenient times when one burns out. Clean your light fixtures on a regular basis. Light fixtures in a kitchen breakfast nook often collect grease and grime because of their close proximity to the cooking area.