How Can I Maximize Natural Light in My Kitchen Design?

RUTT Kitchen designed to maximize natural light.

A kitchen bathed in natural light transforms the feel of your home and enhances your mood and energy levels. Bright kitchens are inviting, making the space appear larger and more welcoming. This article offers practical tips to effectively increase natural light in your kitchen design, ensuring a brighter, airier kitchen that everyone in the family will love. The goal is to create a space that feels open and connected to the outdoors, making every day cooking and dining experiences more enjoyable. Let’s dive into things to consider for your wonderfully lit kitchen!

What Paint Colors should I choose for my kitchen?

Light colors reflect light, making your kitchen feel brighter. Use whites, creams, or light grays on walls and wall cabinets. These colors will bounce around the room, amplifying the available light from windows and other natural sources. This simple change can significantly affect how bright your kitchen feels throughout the day. Opt for a matte or satin finish for your walls to maintain a soft glow that avoids glare, enhancing the overall ambiance of your kitchen. You should consider hiring professionals for kitchen design who will ensure your kitchen is classy and bright.

Should I use Reflective Surfaces?

Yes, you can install surfaces that reflect light to maximize brightness. Options include glossy countertops, high-gloss cabinets, and shiny backsplashes. These materials help reflect natural light throughout the kitchen, enhancing the overall light without additional fixtures. Reflective surfaces are functional and add a modern touch to your kitchen décor. They work well in both large and small kitchens by maximizing light distribution.

Optimize Window Placement

Placing windows strategically can maximize natural light in your kitchen. This is one of the most important things to know when remodeling your kitchen. Consider larger windows or even skylights to bring in more daylight. Think about your windows' direction; south-facing windows will provide the most natural light throughout the day. Proper window placement can dramatically increase the natural light available and can even help with energy savings. This could involve redesigning window layouts or even adding new ones where feasible.

Modern Italian Kitchen - Glass Doors to yard and adjacent room, Glass doors cabinets.

Keep Windows Unobstructed

Keeping windows clear of clutter and obstructions provides maximum light to enter, making the kitchen brighter and more welcoming. Too many window plants and statues can block natural light.

Choose the Right Window Treatments

Choosing the right window treatments is crucial for enhancing natural light in your kitchen. Avoid covering your windows with heavy curtains or blinds that can block natural light. Use light fabrics or thin blinds to allow more light in while maintaining your privacy. Opt for translucent shades or light, airy curtains that provide privacy without sacrificing light. These materials let in plenty of light while softening the rays, which can help prevent glare on surfaces and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. They also add a decorative touch that can complement the overall style of your kitchen. This simple thought ensures that natural light reaches every corner of your kitchen.

Integrate Open Shelving

Consider replacing some upper cabinets with open shelving to prevent blocking light. This design choice visually opens the space and allows light to travel freely throughout the kitchen. Open shelving will also enable you to display decorative items or neatly organized kitchenware, adding personality to your kitchen while enhancing its openness. It’s a stylish and practical way to brighten your kitchen.

Rutt Kitchen Designed with maximum natural light

Glass Door Wall Cabinets

Glass door wall cabinets creates an additional layer of light and openness. It is an alternative to open shelves for those who either need more storage space and/or don’t want the additional dusting and grease removal of shelves and the items on the shelves.

Use Mirrors Strategically

Placing mirrors in your kitchen can effectively amplify light. A well-placed mirror can reflect light deep into the kitchen, especially in areas that do not receive direct sunlight. Consider placing a large mirror opposite a window or a mirrored backsplash under cabinets to catch and distribute light effectively. This technique increases the amount of light in your kitchen and creates an illusion of more space.

Consider Glass Entry Doors

If privacy allows, incorporating glass doors in your kitchen can significantly enhance light flow. Glass doors allow light to pass through from other parts of the home, maintaining an open, airy feel. They are particularly effective in homes where the kitchen leads to a backyard or patio, bringing in ample light and visually expanding the space. This choice can transform your kitchen into a bright, welcoming hub of your home and give it a designer touch.

Upgrade to LED Lighting

To complement natural light, consider upgrading to LED lighting. LED lights are energy-efficient and can mimic the brightness and quality of natural light. Installing under-cabinet lighting and spotlights can help fill in shadows during the darker hours, ensuring your kitchen remains bright and functional. This is especially useful in winter when natural light is less abundant.

Decorative Light Fixtures & Sconces

Not only are decorative light fixtures and sconces a wonderful design element for your kitchen, they add light in an artistic way. Make sure they are dimmable so you can change the lighting mood at will.

Modern Italian Kitchen (Cesar cabinets) with windows and door to yard for maximum natural light

Optimizing Cabinetry Placement for Maximum Natural Light

Thoughtful kitchen design will focus on cabinet placement and color for overall brightness. When one of your goals is to maximize natural light, placement and color of tall and wall cabinets can enhance or obstruct light flow. Your kitchen designer will ensure the design will complement natural light in your kitchen. By trusting the experts, you can avoid common mistakes that could compromise both the functionality and aesthetic of your newly brightened space.

Embracing Natural Light

Embracing these strategies to maximize natural light in your kitchen can significantly enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of the space. A well-lit kitchen looks better and provides a more pleasant environment for cooking and socializing. With the right design choices, you can create an open and welcoming kitchen, improving your home's atmosphere and, potentially, its value.

Rutt Kitchen designed with windows and doors open to backyard

Swift Moves: When all else fails, move!

Maximizing natural light in your kitchen requires a well-thought-out design and the agility to adapt when opportunities or challenges arise unexpectedly. When all else fails, move! Imagine discovering the perfect house or apartment with the ideal kitchen space that catches the morning light beautifully, but you must move quickly to secure it. In these moments, last-minute movers in NY are your allies.

They enable you to transition to your new space swiftly, ensuring that your dream of a luminous, sun-filled kitchen doesn't slip through your fingers due to timing constraints. Their efficiency and speed ensure that your plans for a naturally lit kitchen environment are realized immediately, even under the tightest deadlines. This is one of the essential reasons to hire moving pros for moving your belongings including large furniture. Professional movers have the expertise to handle your belongings gracefully.

In Conclusion

Maximizing natural light in your kitchen requires a well-thought-out design. Bright, airy kitchens also tend to be more energy-efficient by reducing the need for artificial light during the day. Some of these tips are easy to implement, others entail renovations. Whatever changes you make to attain your goal of a bright festive kitchen; it is worth it!

New Cesar Italian kitchen built with large windows, solarium style, for maximum natural light.

Designing a Kitchen for All Seasons

Here in New York, we enjoy the changes each season brings. Clients have asked how they can optimize their kitchen space to take advantage of each season. We ask our clients what is important to them when it comes to function and design for seasonal enjoyment. Below are our clients desirable outcomes:

Color palettes that are adaptable to each season

1. Durable materials that can withstand winter snow and summer sea and sand.

2. Light to grow herb gardens in the winter.

3. Flow into the yard for entertaining all seasons.

4. Appliances to accommodate all type of meals including holidays

5. Outdoor entertaining from the hot summer to frosty weather.

Following has been our experience.

Color Palette - When a client is interested in accessorizing their kitchen based on the color scheme of holidays and seasonal festivities, we typically recommend staying in the more neutral tones on the perimeter cabinetry, backsplash and countertops. They can be more creative with the floors if they choose as well as the island. We also recommend several glass upper cabinets that can be decorated beautifully. Decorating with seasonal and holiday colors vary greatly. You can go from light blue & pink, to oranges and browns, to green & red, black, dark blue, pastels and more. Building a background of white, light gray or wood stain can accommodate most color schemes.

Durable Materials - Porcelain floor tiles can withstand the harshest snow mixed with salt and dripping bathing suits. Wood floors are less forgiving. Islands with stain on wood or veneers/laminates are more durable than paint. The perimeter cabinetry can be paint since it is less likely to be used by family members just coming in from the cold or hot weather. Counter-tops made of quartz are more durable than most other materials such as granite and marble. As far as seating, pay attention to the materials on the cushions. Clients that have a pool may want to look into materials such as sunbrella on inside seating.

Flow - Considering where people enter into the kitchen will determine the flow of traffic and affect the layout and design of the kitchen. For active families who enter the kitchen through the yard, creating a small sitting area to remove boots, wet towels, etc.. during seasonal activities can help preserve the kitchen. If they enter through another doorway and do not come directly in from the outside, we usually do not design in a special area for outside belongings. When possible, having two entrances into the kitchen is ideal. It helps with crowding when you entertain family and friends. Opening the kitchen into another room is also a wonderful design for all seasons. Holiday parties, summer BBQ's, and casual entertaining are enhanced with the additional space and ability to be part of every moment while food is prepared.

Appliances - Designing an undercounter fridge into an island (or elsewhere) will keep wet hands away from the major appliances. Fingerprint proof stainless steel can be a big time saver if you choose stainless steel appliances - especially on the fridge. For convenience sake, a small wine / beverage fridge makes cold beverages available when you need them. Of course ample burners and oven space is important for larger dinner parties. Specialty appliances such as warming drawers, steam ovens and built in blast chillers make planning easier for all meals.

Position in home - Where is the kitchen located? Is it an ideal location for access to the yard? How about for holiday entertaining? We have relocated kitchens to have full access to the yard since each season warrants this freedom. We have also built extensions to create an all season entertainment area. Backyard heaters on the patio for outdoor entertaining when the weather is cooler is a nice feature. Of course relocating the kitchen or adding an extension is not always possible. Sometimes simply adding a new sliding door into the yard can make the difference.

Lighting - Having a lighting plan is key. This is so important. Designing to allow the maximum natural light keeps the blues away in the winter. We have added larger windows fairly often to let more light in all year round. Natural light keeps the kitchen bright in a spiritual way. Moods are enhanced with nature and what better way than in the kitchen preparing meals. When possible, skylights add a beautiful addition. Adding windows, sliding doors to the backyard, a vaulted ceiling with skylights are great options. You always need to add additional lighting to complement the natural light. Especially when daylight is limited in the winter months. Positioning of lights over prep areas is always in the plan. It is difficult to prep or cook in the dim light.

Herbs - Well, we don't get this request too often. When we do, we try to ensure full natural light is available. Sometimes plant lights are added.

CES Show 2020 - Best in Smart Home

The Annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known as the "THE GLOBAL STAGE FOR INNOVATION".

CES attracts companies worldwide who introduce new products and breakthrough technologies. For 50 years CES has served as "the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace", according to their website.

Let's take a look at several innovative products for the home introduced in 2020.

One of the most unique products introduced at CES was Samsung's Bot Chef, a pair of robotic arms that cooks, chops, cuts, makes salad and uses other small appliances in your kitchen. It is activated by voice commands and can even look up recipes and how to use your coffee maker.

Read the Full Article Here.

Stratuscent introduced the "Electronic Nose" which is poised to unlock the potential of scent detection. Their scent detection technology identifies complex, everyday aromas. This data is translated into a chemical “scent print,” that can be used to map and identify specific variables.Applications for Stratuscent’s scent identification technology include: improving chemical and spoilage detection in the food and agriculture industry; work in concert with smart home & appliances; advance the indoor and outdoor air quality control.

Read more about this amazing break through at their WEBSITE

LG Harvester - In the last several years, there have been many brands of counter top herbal growing units sold. This year, several appliance companies introduced full size indoor gardening units. LG has taken indoor gardening to a new level. - VERTICAL! Indoor vertical farming is gaining traction in urban areas. Great for people with no yards and also attractive for people who want fresh vegetables and herbs in the winter. Similar indoor garden units from Viking and Urban Cultivator are also competing for the indoor garden market.

The LG Harvester is a indoor vegetable cultivator that uses light, temperature, and water controls to garden up to 24 seed packages of vegetables and herbs at the same time. The Harvester can even mimic the outdoor temperature changes that occur depending on the time of the day. Read More

Lyf Board

Designed for family life

Lyf Board is designed to be used for the whole family, not just individuals. They believe technology should bring us closer together, not isolate us. Endless possibilities. Choose from a growing list of Lyf Apps for your family needs: calendar, weather, chores, kid tracking, meal planning, traffic and much more. WEBSITE

Perhaps the biggest news, on the smart lock front, at least, was August ‘s latest WI-FI Smart Lock (above). The clue is in the name but, with its own built in Wi-Fi, there's no need to plug in the August Connect for remote access. The new design sports a softer surface, rounded edges and textured ridges for a more solid feel when you open and close the lock manually. A new small ridge on the lock’s outer ring also helps you see at a glance if the lock is locked or not. Website

Taking on the Meural Digital Canvas, Lenovo's Smart Frame (above) doesn't pull images from Google Photos. Instead, you either load up photos you want on show using the app or choose from “hundreds of art pieces". It uses AI to pick out the best shots and images and the best way to show them off on the 21-inch display, depending on the conditions of the room. Read More

Samsung's Bot Chef

Stratuscent introduced the "Electronic Nose"

LG Harvester

Lyf Board

August ‘s latest WI-FI Smart Lock

Meural Digital Canvas,

Think About Smart Home Products for Summer

From new appliances to custom cabinets, Long Island homeowners often purchase new items for the home and do long-needed renovations once summer rolls around and life slows down. If you’re itching to make some home improvements this summer, smart home products are probably the smartest home upgrades you could make. With one stroll through our kitchen and bath showroom, Long Island homeowners and Greater New York City residents can easily imagine their new kitchen or home with some of the latest smart products on offer. There are many new products on the horizon, as well. Keep reading to learn more about some of the latest ways to make your home “smart.”

21st Century Water Filtration Systems

Water filters have been available for home usage for quite some time, but in recent years they’ve really evolved. And some of the new products hitting the market are even able to generate clean, fresh, drinkable water using nothing but the humidity in the air. 

Fridges and Trash Cans That Write Your Shopping List

New fridge-cam technology is making it possible to receive alerts on your phone as soon as you run out of your favorite refrigerated items. New trash can scanners can also read bar codes on packaging before you throw it away, so you will instantly have a list of everything you need to replace. There is even a voice-activated feature to add items to the list that don’t have bar codes.

Home Robots That Do More Than Sweep Floors

Some of the new home robots coming out can not only clean carpets or hardwood floors, but also humidify and purify the air while enhancing your home’s security with motion sensors. When speaking with one of the experts at our kitchen and bath showroom, Manhasset, Great Neck, Long Island and NYC home and apartment owners may also learn that it’s possible to sync a smart home assistant with various smart appliances to control everything in one place.

Next-Level Home Security Systems

Home security is an issue of primary concern for many of the customers that walk into our kitchen and bath showroom. Great Neck, Manhasset, Long Island and NYC homeowners and apartment owners can feel safer than ever in their homes, though, with some of the next-level security systems that are available now or hitting stores soon. Some of the best home security products also link all the smart products in a customer’s home, creating a truly seamless experience while providing peace of mind.  

Smart Vents for Indoor Air Pollution

While you may not worry much about indoor air pollution, it can be just as unhealthy – or sometimes worse than – the pollution that you may encounter outside. New “smart” ventilation systems can do things that would have once been thought unimaginable for the home, such as measuring air flow and checking air quality with cutting-edge sensors.

There’s Always a Smart Reason to Upgrade Your Cabinets

With new custom cabinets, Great Neck, Manhasset, Long Island and NYC homes and apartments can have a new lease on life. And fortunately for area residents, Elite Kitchen & Bath is the premier source for handcrafted custom cabinets. Manhasset, Great Neck, Long Island and NYC home and apartment owners can choose from a wide range of artisanal cabinetry that perfectly complements all these smart products improving life at home.

Summer is an ideal time to make those changes you’ve been meaning to make in your home. And it appears that smart home products, combined with handcrafted home cabinetry products, is the perfect mix of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.

Cabinetry Still King When it comes to Kitchen Redesign

Ask any general contractor Manhasset to Long Island and beyond, and they’ll tell you cabinetry is still king when it comes to kitchen redesign projects. When you enter our kitchen and bath showroom in Manhasset, NY, the wide selection of cabinetry from fine makers such as Rutt and Touchstone attests to this cabinet-focused approach to kitchen design. But what is so special about the cabinets? Why are cabinets the most-sold product in almost any kitchen showroom? Long Island, Manhasset and Great Neck homeowners with newly remodeled kitchens might be able to tell you why, but don’t wait to find them. We can tell you right now why cabinets are still king when it comes to kitchen redesign. 

Elite is a “One Stop Shop” for design and all home renovations. Call 516-365-0595 to talk to one of our in house professionals to get your kitchen renovation started today!

Cabinets Are Where the Heart Is

The cabinets are where you’ll find the heart of the kitchen. While the appliances offer all the functionality, the cabinets are the center of the spatial and aesthetic design. The doors or “faces” of the cabinets take up more space in the viewer’s eye than any other part of the kitchen, the boxed interior provides storage that takes the kitchen from cluttered to clean, and the hardware including knobs and pulls adds a truly unique stylistic touch that pulls everything together.

New Cabinets Can Go a Long Way

While a massive kitchen overhaul may sound like a nightmare, installing new cabinets doesn’t sound so bad, right? And with nothing more than new cabinets, you can truly transform your kitchen. Just one peak at our design center should make the possibilities clear. Even if you have a tight budget or time constraints, you can dramatically change the look, feel and function of your kitchen by changing nothing more than the cabinetry.

The Right Cabinetry Enhances Real Estate Value

You may have heard that improvements to the kitchen and bathroom can do more to increase the real estate value of a home than any other renovations made in a home. If you haven’t heard, just ask a general contractor. Great Neck, Long Island and Manhasset homeowners can improve the resale value of their home by simply adding new cabinets to their kitchen, while a project with a similar budget and timeframe in the living room or bedrooms may only have a miniscule effect.

More Cabinet Choices than Ever Before

While cabinetry used to be fairly standardized, with only a small range of available options for doors and handles, the options are seemingly endless in this day and age. Our range of Rutt products, for example, includes three product lines: Rutt Classic, Regency by Rutt, and Ruskin designed by Scott A. Stultz exclusively for Rutt. Within these three product lines alones you’ll find more colors, materials, shapes, fixtures and other detail choices than you can imagine. Whether you want to create a French country kitchen, Asian-inspired eating place or contemporary culinary space with muted colors and seamless lines, you can achieve that look with the right cabinetry. The products are out there for you to play around with, have fun with, and create the ideal kitchen for yourself and your loved ones’ wants and needs.

As you can see, cabinetry is certainly still king when it comes to kitchen redesign. If you’re still not convinced, just stop by our kitchen and bath showroom! Long Island, Great Neck and Manhasset homeowners from far and wide have already discovered the versatility and heightened effect of the right cabinetry in their kitchens and dining spaces.