Kitchen lighting can be categorised into three boxes.
There's general lighting, which usually refers to the big wired-in light in the ceiling. Then there's accent lighting or decorative lighting, designed more for ambience and fun than real function. And there's task lighting, ideal for prepping ingredients, reading cookbooks and cleaning up properly.
Task lighting is a popular addition to modern kitchens, especially. Typically installed to the underside of cupboards and cabinets, they shine in areas where the big light can't get to, heightening visibility and making it much easier - not to mention safer - to do jobs like dicing ingredients, prepping marinades and cleaning up thoroughly afterwards.
There’s a lot of choice out there. There are wired and rechargeable options available, with the latter better suited to anyone without the required skills to fiddle around with the home's wiring (understandable) or who doesn't want to risk breaching their tenancy agreement (ditto).
Good lighting matters everywhere around the home, but in the kitchen especially because of hygiene and safety issues. What’s more, under-cabinet lighting is multi-use and can be applied anywhere you need more light, from dark wardrobes to drinks shelves and your favourite reading nook.
If you're thinking about giving your interiors an update with under-cabinet lighting, you’ve come to the right place to start your search.
We've spotlighted the best of them below with a mix to best suit your needs. Think dimmable strip lights, rotating sconces and colour-changing options to give your space a disco-worthy light show.
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KTEBO 2 Pack 54 LED Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Kitchen Lights
These strip lights are specifically designed to bring light to the gloomy area underneath kitchen units. There are three modes - white light, natural light, and warm light - dispersed by 54 LEDs embedded inside. There is no switch to operate. Instead, these lights are motion activated with a sensor detecting movement objects within 10 feet and 120° from the centre. No need to worry about accidentally leaving it on all night.
The battery is capable of running for six hours straight on the brightest setting so they're great for long-term use. Once they start to fade, simply recharge through the USB-C port.
Installing is easy and requires zero drilling. Magnets attach to a piece of sheet metal which can be applied to the underside of shelves and cabinets with double-sided tape.
There are other uses for them too. We've found them useful for lighting tents more effectively than a flashlight - just detach from the sheet metal fixture and go.
Buy now £13.59, Amazon
Feallive Wall Light LED Wall lamp with Rechargeable Battery
Renting is no longer an excuse for living in a poorly-lit space; not now you can get your hands on battery-operated spotlights. These LED devices can be placed anywhere you need a little extra light, adding ambience to your space that the big light just can't rival.
The sconce offers three levels of brightness and three colours, allowing you to tweak it to the task at hand. It can also rotate 360° which means you can turn it from a spotlight to an uplighter with a twist. Best of all, the battery is rechargeable with a USB-C port, a much greener and future-proof alternative to buying batteries.
Buy now £19.54, Amazon
JML Mood Magic Beat Lights
Forget fiddling around with wiring; JML's Mood Magic Beat lights are self-adhesive meaning you need only peel back the tape and stick to your desired surface to make them work. The wireless pack of four lights flashes through 13 colours in time to the radio, ready to take your kitchen disco to the next level. Operate it through a remote that can be used from up to five metres away.
Buy now £20.00, Dunelm
EGLO KOB LED Flush Cabinet Light
Task lighting is important for food prep, enhancing the area's visibility more than the big light might be able to manage. Three LEDs sit embedded in a metal fixture with a rocker switch to flick it on or off. Mains operated.
Buy now £65.00, Dunelm
Argos Home Atollo Set of 4 LED Strip Lights - White
Light cupboard interiors, under shelves and the underside of cabinets with these LED light strips. The energy-efficient bulbs offer an easy route to accent lighting anywhere in the home, from dark airing cabinets to kitchen drawers and skirting. The lights are mains powered but only have a rating of IP20 which rules them out of bathroom use.
They come with a one-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Buy now £18.00, Argos
Argos Home Atollo Set of 4 LED Colour Changing Strip Lights
Prefer a flashier look? This set changes colour, adding to the party vibe when other lights are off. They must be plugged into the mains to work, which does mean wires so consider which outlet you'll be using to minimise unsightly wires. One-year manufacturer's guarantee included.
Buy now £25.00, Argos
HUEMIHUI 24V White LED Lights
Struggling to see cleaning supplies under the sink? Can't tell what you're reaching for from the back of the wardrobe? Light up dark, awkward spots with these LED tube lights. The dimmable set of four offers ultra-bright illumination to banish gloom, although lower brightness settings are available too. The low energy consumption and low heat lights can be used practically anywhere that the sticky-backed stickers will cling to.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Arlec Warm White LED Puck Light Set
Most modern kitchens boast under-unit lighting to illuminate areas that remain in the shadows, even with the big light on. Arlec's disc-shaped LEDs give out 650 lumens of warm white light, ideal for giving coffee stations and worktops a literal glow-up.
Buy now £18.00, Homebase
Hiboitec Store Motion Sensor Night Light
A non-wired option to alleviate your poor lighting woes, this set of three LED lights will transform your space, wherever it is in the house. The 1000 mAh batter charges via USB and can last up to two months on motion detector mode. Place them anywhere you could use more light, from the landing to the kitchen or as extra lighting for your home entertainment system.
Buy now £25.89, Amazon
Under Cupboard Kitchen Lights
A brilliant cost-effective solution to kitchen lighting that doesn’t involve wiring or intrusive installation. These strip lights come in a pack of three, each fitted with a 2000mAh battery that can be recharged once it’s out of juice through a USB-C port.
There are two colour temperatures to play with and adjustable brightnesses too, so you can tweak and tailor the light to suit the task at hand. Best of all, it operates through motion detection, so no fumbling for a switch when your hands are busy or messy with dinner prep.
These are ideal for the underside of kitchen cupboards - they attach with a magnetic strip that has adhesive on one side - turning on like magic when you need some light for cooking tasks or in the middle of the night when you’re making a cuppa.
Buy now £21.07, Amazon
Dunelm Logan Dual Wall Light Grey
A light just to illuminate your carefully chosen wall art - why not? Whether you want to show off a masterpiece or your favourite movie poster, Dunelm’s Dual Wall Light will give it the spotlight it deserves. The industrial look riffs off traditional styles and is best placed in the living room, kitchen or hallway.
Buy now £40.00, Dunelm
DCOC Battery Operated Wall Sconces
DIY skills lacking? No need to call a sparky with this set of bronze wall light sconces; just screw it directly into the wall and use a remote to operate the light through an integrated rechargeable battery pack. They’re helpful in places where you don’t have mains power and can be used even in the event of power outages. A smart hack for the modern home.
Buy now £93.33, Amazon
HONWELL LED Picture Light with Remote
Give your wall art the setting it deserves with this battery-operated wall light. It offers three light modes; warm white, natural white light and cool white light, giving you plenty of options to best highlight your piece.
You could use it as a stand-free lamp over your home office desk or keep it over your cookbook shelf for extra illumination when you’re cheffing in the kitchen.
The lamp head is rotatable and the tube light is dimmable while a timer feature means you won’t zap the batteries if you accidentally leave it switched on.
Buy now £30.99, Amazon
