When it comes to LED strip lights, there are a lot of different ways you can use them in your home. In this article, we will focus specifically on how to place LED strip lights under cabinets for optimal lighting.
I will also highlight the pros and cons of placing LED strip lights at various positions under cabinets. In addition to that, there are a few things you need to take into consideration before installing LED strip lights in those locations. I will go over each of those factors below!
To briefly answer my question of the day, there are five places you can place LED strip lights under your cabinets. But for general lighting for tasks on your countertops, the best place to put LED strip lights is on the front edge of your upper cabinets. For a more ambient look, the back edge is your best bet.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these five places and see how they light up your countertops!
Where to Place LED Strip Lights Under Cabinets – The 5 Places
As I mentioned earlier, there are generally five key places you can put your LED strip lights under your cabinets.
These are;
- The Front Edge Of The Under Cabinet
- The Back Edge Of The Under Cabinet
- The Middle Part Of The Under Cabinet
- Between The Middle Part And Front Edge
- Between The Middle Part And The Back Edge
Each one of these positions results in a totally different lighting effect over your countertops, backsplash, and the general ambiance of your kitchen. So, let’s take a look at each one of these positions in more detail.
1. The Front Edge Of The Under Cabinet
This is the most popular position to place LED strip lights. It offers bright, even light over your countertops that is perfect for tasks like cooking and food prep.
Not only does this offer the best type of illumination for your work surfaces, but it also creates a lovely warm glow in your kitchen.
This is because the light reflects off of the backsplash and walls, creating a more inviting atmosphere.
The only downside to placing your LED strip lights on the front edge of your cabinets is that it can be quite difficult to hide the wires.
If you have glass front cabinets, this may not be an issue. But if your cabinets are solid wood, you will need to find a way to route the wires, so they are not visible.
One way to do this is to use wire channels that stick to the underside of your cabinets and route the wires through there. Alternatively, you can use small clips to attach the wires to the underside of your cabinets.
Either way, just make sure the wires are not visible from the front of your cabinets.
Pros:
- Offers bright, even light over your countertops
- Creates a lovely warm glow in your kitchen
- Is the most popular position for LED strip lights
Cons:
- It can be difficult to hide the wires
Now that we’ve gone over the front edge let’s take a look at the back edge.
2. The Back Edge Of The Under Cabinet
Placing your LED strip lights on the back edge of your cabinets is a great way to create ambient lighting in your kitchen.
The light will reflect off of the backsplash and walls, filling the room with a soft glow. This is perfect if you want to create a more relaxing atmosphere in your kitchen.
The downside to placing your LED strip lights on the back edge of your cabinets is that it can be difficult to light your countertops evenly.
If you have a small kitchen, this may not be an issue. But if you have a large kitchen with a large countertop surface, you may find that the light is not quite as bright as you would like it to be.
Pros:
- Creates ambient lighting in your kitchen
- Fills the room with a soft glow
Cons:
- It can be difficult to light your countertops evenly
3. The Middle Part Of The Under Cabinet
Placing your LED strip lights in the middle part of your cabinets is a great way to light your countertops evenly.
This is because the light will be shining directly on your work surfaces, giving you the perfect amount of illumination for tasks like cooking and food prep.
It’s also a great way to get some lighting both on the backsplash and the front edge of your countertop. The best part about this position is that it’s very easy to hide the wires.
You can simply route them through the middle part of your cabinets, and they will be hidden from view.
Pros:
- Evenly lights your countertops
- Offers lighting on both the backsplash and front edge of your countertop
- Very easy to hide the wires
Cons:
- It May not be convenient for some cabinet designs
4. Between The Middle Part And Front Edge
This is a great position for LED strip lights if you want to evenly light your countertops and have the convenience of being able to hide the wires easily.
This position is not too close to the edge of the cabinet, so it is good for people who do not want their strip lights very close to the front edge of their cabinets.
This positioning offers you both even lighting on your countertop as well as the backsplash and a very pleasant look even when the LED strip lights are off.
Pros:
- Evenly lights your countertops
- Offers lighting on both the backsplash and front edge of your countertop
- Very easy to hide the wires
- Convenient for all cabinet designs
- Aesthetically pleasant even when the LED strip lights are off
Cons:
- None! This is the perfect position for LED strip lights.
5. Between The Middle Part And The Back Edge
This is a great position for LED strip lights if you want to evenly light your countertops and have the convenience of being able to hide the wires easily.
It’s also a good position if you want your LEDs closer to the back edge of your cabinets. This will create more ambient lighting in your kitchen as the light will reflect off the backsplash and walls.
The best part about this position is that it’s very easy to hide the wires. You can simply route them through the middle part of your cabinets, and they will be hidden from view.
Pros:
- Evenly lights your countertops
- Offers lighting on both the backsplash and front edge of your countertop
- Very easy to hide the wires
- Convenient for all cabinet designs
- Creates ambient lighting in your kitchen
Cons:
- None! This is a perfect position for LED strip lights.
Important Tips When Installing LED Strip Lights
Now that you know the different positions for LED strip lights, here are a few important tips to keep in mind when installing them:
- Use a quality LED strip light. This will ensure that your lights last longer and are more energy-efficient.
- Make sure to use the correct power adapter for your LED strip lights. If you use the wrong power adapter, it could damage your LED strip lights.
- Be careful not to overload your sockets. This could cause a fire hazard. If you are using a dimmer switch, make sure that it is compatible with LED strip lights. Some dimmer switches can damage LED strip lights.
- Never cut your LED strip lights. This could damage the wires and cause them to short circuit.
- If you need to shorten your LED strip lights, always use a connector to join two strips together.
- When installing LED strip lights under cabinets, always use tape or another adhesive to secure the lights in place. This will prevent them from falling and breaking.
We hope that this guide was helpful in showing you where to place LED strip lights under cabinets! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or contact us directly. We would be happy to help! Thanks for reading!
