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Lighting is often overlooked when designing a kitchen, but is one of the most important elements to successful interior design. No matter the how high-quality the materials are, how harmonious the colour scheme is or how creative and well-executed your theme is, poor lighting will leave a kitchen feeling 'off'.

Bright, cold overhead lighting makes your kitchen feel clinical and unwelcoming. Poor placement will leave dark spots in places and cause 'pooling' of light in others, creating an uneven feel. Incorporating nothing but soft, low-level light might make for a relaxing atmosphere, but you'll find it harder to cook and clean!

On the other hand, intelligent lighting choices bring out the best in any kitchen, enhancing favourite features and statement design choices while minimising frustrations and deflecting attention from any unpolished elements. A well-lit kitchen is a kitchen that you'll enjoy spending time in - whether you're preparing a meal, entertaining guests or simply relaxing.

Before making any choices, it's important to understand how lighting works inside a home. No matter the room, there are three basic types of household lighting.

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These aren't hard-and-fast categories - for example, a chandelier can provide ambient light over a dining table and also function as accent lighting to set the mood of the room, especially with a dimmer switch. Adjustable lighting can illuminate a countertop one minute and a favourite vase the next. Don't get too caught up in technical terms - simply consider how the room is used, what you'd like to draw attention to, what you'd like to deflect attention from and how you want your kitchen to feel. Achieve these and you'll naturally incorporate all the lighting you need.

I want lighting like the pros - what should I consider?

Bigger is better. Recessed ceiling spotlights have become the lighting of choice for new kitchens, and for good reason - they're practical, customisable and reliable. However, they don't add much personality to a room! No matter the theme of your kitchen, a bold centrepiece light fitting can add a stunning final touch to your aesthetic. Chandeliers and chunky pendant lights are experiencing a major resurgence in popularity, so there's never been a better time to make lighting a focus of your kitchen, rather than an afterthought.

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These eye-catching candle-effect chandeliers demand attention and really tie this charmingly rustic kitchen together.

Light up the countertops. Of all the changes you can make to the lighting in your kitchen, under-cabinet lights are often the cheapest and easiest to install. Battery-powered lights that stick to the underside of your cabinets are inexpensive and immediately help to light up vital preparation space. You can buy LED strip lights, or even lengths of light tape, to create a perfectly uniform area of lighting. If you ever find yourself squinting while preparing meals, or favouring a well-lit section of countertop over another, under-cabinet lighting will make a huge difference.

Switch it up. Dimmer switches and dimmable bulbs are a wonderful addition to any kitchen. The ability to quickly choose how much light comes into the room is an underrated one - once installed, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. For the technophiles, 'smart bulbs' can even be controlled via an app on your phone.

As above, so below. Lighting isn't just for the ceiling - 'toekick' lights underneath base cabinets add an interesting visual layer to your kitchen. If you're feeling bold, experiment with colour variations to dramatically change the feel of the room in low light. And not only are these lights eye-catching, they're practical - no more stumbles or stubbed toes in the dark when grabbing a midnight snack!

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Lighting underneath the central island in this bold, confident kitchen provides another element of visual interest.

Ask the experts. If you want to pull out all the stops and create a truly stunning kitchen, it's worth commissioning a specialist lighting designer - they can either work alongside architects and kitchen designers, or make modifications to an existing kitchen.

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How to Choose the Right Lighting for your Kitchen