What is the best under-cabinet lighting for NB kitchens?

LED light strips or LED puck lights are the best under-cabinet lighting for NB kitchens, providing excellent task illumination while using minimal energy during the province's long, dark winters. The right under-cabinet lighting transforms your countertop workspace and is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost upgrades you can make during a kitchen renovation.

LED light strips ($50 to $200 for a full kitchen) are the most popular choice because they provide continuous, even illumination across the entire length of your countertops with no dark spots. Look for strips with a colour temperature of 3000K to 3500K, which produces a warm white light that complements both food preparation and the overall kitchen atmosphere. Cooler temperatures like 4000K to 5000K create a clinical feel that most homeowners find too harsh for a kitchen. Brightness between 300 and 500 lumens per foot is ideal for task lighting without creating glare on countertop surfaces.

The choice between hardwired and plug-in systems is an important one, particularly during a renovation when walls are already open. Hardwired LED strips ($300 to $800 installed by an electrician) connect directly to your home's electrical system, can be controlled by a wall switch or dimmer, and have no visible cords or plugs. This is the professional approach and is strongly recommended during a full kitchen renovation when your electrician is already on site running new circuits. Plug-in LED strips are fine for a cosmetic update where you are not opening walls, but the visible cords running from cabinet to outlet look unfinished.

Dimming capability is worth the small premium. A dimmable LED system with a dedicated dimmer switch lets you run the under-cabinet lights at full brightness for food preparation and lower them to a soft glow for evening ambiance. This is particularly valuable during NB's long winter evenings from November through March when your kitchen lighting does heavy duty. Make sure your dimmer switch is rated for LED use, as older dimmers designed for incandescent bulbs cause LED flickering.

Installation Considerations for NB Homes

In NB's older homes with 60-amp electrical panels, adding hardwired under-cabinet lighting may be the tipping point that requires a panel upgrade if you are also adding other kitchen circuits. NB Building Code requires a minimum of two dedicated 20-amp small appliance circuits for countertop outlets, plus dedicated circuits for the refrigerator, dishwasher, range, and microwave. Your electrician should assess total circuit load before adding lighting circuits. Panel upgrades run $1,500 to $4,000 but are essential for safe operation of a modern kitchen.

For placement, mount LED strips toward the front edge of the upper cabinet bottom, not against the wall. This directs light onto the countertop work surface rather than creating a bright spot on the backsplash. A small light valance or trim piece ($2 to $5 per linear foot) conceals the strip from view when you are standing in the kitchen, preventing glare in your eyes.

LED puck lights ($100 to $300 for a set of 6 to 8) are an alternative that creates pools of directed light rather than continuous illumination. They work well for highlighting specific zones like a coffee station or cookbook display area, but for primary task lighting across countertops, continuous strips provide better coverage. Many NB homeowners install strip lighting under most cabinets and add puck lights in accent areas for a layered effect. Simple plug-in LED strips are a viable DIY project, but hardwired installations require an electrician and an electrical permit in New Brunswick. New Brunswick Kitchens can connect you with qualified kitchen renovators and electricians for your project.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations