Kitchen Lighting Design Melbourne
Transform your kitchen with expert lighting design. Task lighting for food prep, ambient lighting for entertaining, and feature lighting that showcases your space.
Why Kitchen Lighting Matters
The kitchen is the hardest-working room in your home. It needs to be bright and functional when you\'re preparing meals, warm and inviting when you\'re entertaining, and flexible enough to transition between both. Good lighting makes all the difference.
At Power Amp Electrical, we specialise in kitchen lighting design across Melbourne\'s western suburbs and Geelong. We understand that kitchens aren\'t just about downlights — they need layered lighting that combines task, ambient, and feature elements to work beautifully at every time of day.
Whether you\'re renovating, building new, or simply upgrading tired old halogens, we\'ll design a lighting solution tailored to your kitchen layout, style, and how you actually use the space.
The Three Layers of Kitchen Lighting
Great kitchen lighting combines three distinct layers, each with its own purpose.
Task Lighting
Bright, focused lighting over benchtops, sinks, and cooking areas where you need to see what you're doing. Typically LED strip lights under overhead cabinets or strategically placed downlights.
Ambient Lighting
General overhead lighting that fills the space with even, comfortable illumination. Usually recessed LED downlights on dimmers so you can adjust brightness for cooking or entertaining.
Feature & Accent Lighting
Pendant lights over islands and breakfast bars, LED strip lighting inside glass cabinets, or plinth lights that add drama and showcase your kitchen design.
What We Consider When Designing Your Kitchen Lighting
Every kitchen is different. Here\'s what we assess during our consultation:
Benchtop material and colour (darker surfaces need more light)
Cabinet layout and whether you have overhead cabinets
Ceiling height and structural constraints
Natural light from windows and how it changes throughout the day
Kitchen style — modern, traditional, industrial, Hamptons
How you use your kitchen — serious cooking vs entertaining focus
Kitchen Lighting Packages
Typical pricing for complete kitchen lighting installations. Final costs depend on your specific layout and selections.
Essential Kitchen Lighting
$2,800 - $4,500
Perfect for standard kitchens up to 15m²
- 8-12 LED downlights with dimmer
- Under-cabinet LED strip lighting
- Pendant light above island or bench (customer supplied)
- All wiring, switching, and installation
- Licensed electrician
- 12-month workmanship warranty
Premium Kitchen Lighting
$5,000 - $8,000+
For larger kitchens or those wanting extra design features
- 12-20 LED downlights with scene control
- Under-cabinet LED strip lighting (warm or tuneable white)
- Feature pendants or multiple pendant clusters
- In-cabinet glass display lighting
- Plinth or toe-kick LED lighting
- Smart lighting integration (Google/Alexa compatible)
- Dedicated circuits for appliances if required
Kitchen Lighting FAQs
How many downlights do I need in my kitchen?
As a guide, you need one downlight per 1.2-1.5m² of floor space. A typical 12m² kitchen might have 8-10 downlights. However, exact numbers depend on your ceiling height, benchtop layout, and whether you have other light sources like pendants or under-cabinet lighting. We calculate this precisely during our design consultation.
Should I use warm white or cool white in the kitchen?
We usually recommend warm white (2700-3000K) for a welcoming, homely feel, or neutral white (3500-4000K) if you prefer a crisper, more modern look. Avoid cool white (5000K+) in residential kitchens as it can feel clinical. For ultimate flexibility, consider tuneable white LED strips that let you adjust colour temperature to suit the time of day.
Do I really need under-cabinet lighting?
Yes — it makes a huge difference. Under-cabinet LED strips eliminate shadows on your benchtops, making food prep safer and easier. They also add a lovely ambient glow in the evenings. Modern LED strips are slim, energy-efficient, and can be dimmed independently from your main lights.
Can you install pendant lights I've bought from a homewares store?
Absolutely. We install customer-supplied pendant lights all the time. We just ask that you check with us first to ensure they're suitable for Australian wiring standards and that you have appropriate support in your ceiling. We can also advise on ideal height and positioning.
What if my ceiling is too low for recessed downlights?
If you have a concrete ceiling or insufficient ceiling cavity depth, we can use surface-mounted LED panels, track lighting, or slim-profile downlights designed for shallow cavities. There's always a solution — we just need to assess your specific situation.
How much does kitchen lighting cost in Melbourne?
A typical kitchen lighting upgrade costs between $2,800 and $6,000 depending on the size of your kitchen, number of fittings, and whether any switchboard or circuit upgrades are needed. We provide detailed, itemised quotes so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Ready to Upgrade Your Kitchen Lighting?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from Melbourne\'s kitchen lighting specialists.