What kind of lighting is best for a kitchen renovation in New Brunswick?

Kitchen Lighting Guide for New Brunswick Renovations

Kitchen lighting in a renovation isn't just about picking fixtures — it's about layering different types of light to create a functional workspace that's also comfortable for daily living. Here's what works best and what it costs in NB.

The Three Layers of Kitchen Lighting

1. Ambient (general) lighting
This is your overall room illumination. The most popular options for NB kitchen renovations:

• Recessed LED pot lights: The dominant choice in modern kitchens. Install 4-inch or 6-inch IC-rated fixtures in a grid pattern. A typical 10×12 kitchen needs 6–8 pot lights for even coverage. Cost: $150–$300 per light installed (retrofit into existing ceiling) or $75–$150 per light in new construction with open ceiling access.

• Flush or semi-flush ceiling fixtures: Good for kitchens with low ceilings (common in NB bungalows and split-levels built in the 1960s–1980s). One or two quality LED fixtures can light the whole room. Cost: $100–$400 per fixture plus $100–$200 installation.

2. Task lighting Focused light where you work — counters, stove, sink.

• Under-cabinet LED strips or puck lights: Essential for countertop task lighting. Eliminate shadows cast by upper cabinets. Hardwired LED strips ($15–$30 per linear foot installed) look cleaner than plug-in options. A typical kitchen with 12 linear feet of upper cabinets: $350–$800 installed.

• Pendant lights over island/peninsula: Both functional and decorative. Usually 2–3 pendants spaced 24–30 inches apart, hung 30–36 inches above the counter surface. Cost: $100–$500 per pendant plus $150–$250 each for installation (new junction box and wiring if not existing).

3. Accent lighting Decorative touches that add warmth and visual interest.

• In-cabinet LED lighting: Inside glass-front cabinets to highlight dishes or glassware. Low-voltage LED tape, often plug-in. Cost: $50–$200 DIY, $200–$500 hardwired professionally.

• Toe-kick lighting: LED strips under base cabinets at floor level. Creates a floating effect and provides subtle nighttime navigation. Cost: $200–$500 installed.

• Above-cabinet lighting: LED strips on top of upper cabinets that wash light up the wall/ceiling. Cost: $150–$400 installed.

Electrical Requirements

A properly wired kitchen renovation in New Brunswick includes:

• Dedicated lighting circuits — separate from your 20-amp small appliance counter circuits. Typically 1–2 fifteen-amp circuits handle all kitchen lighting.
• Dimmer switches — essential for pot lights and pendants. LED-compatible dimmers cost $30–$60 each. Consider separate dimmers for pot lights, pendants, and under-cabinet lights so you can control each layer independently.
• Switch locations — plan for switches at every entry point to the kitchen. Three-way switches for rooms with multiple entrances.

Colour Temperature Matters

LED colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K):

• 2700K (warm white): Cozy, yellowish light similar to incandescent. Good for eating areas.
• 3000K (soft white): Slightly brighter, still warm. The most popular choice for NB kitchens — warm enough for comfort, bright enough for cooking.
• 3500K (neutral): Clean, balanced light. Good if your kitchen doubles as a workspace.
• 4000K+ (cool/daylight): Clinical feel. Too harsh for most residential kitchens but fine for task lighting under cabinets.

Pick one colour temperature for all fixtures — mixing 2700K pot lights with 4000K under-cabinet lights creates a jarring mismatch.

Total Kitchen Lighting Costs in NB

| Package | What's Included | Cost Range |
|---------|----------------|------------|
| Basic | 6 pot lights + 1 pendant + switches | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Mid-range | 8 pot lights + 2–3 pendants + under-cabinet + dimmers | $3,000–$6,000 |
| High-end | 8+ pot lights + pendants + under-cabinet + toe-kick + in-cabinet + accent + smart dimmers | $6,000–$12,000+ |

Permits and Coordination

New circuits for kitchen lighting require a TSANB electrical permit. If you're doing a full kitchen renovation, the electrical work should be coordinated with your general contractor's schedule:

Demolition

Electrical rough-in (new circuits, junction boxes positioned for planned fixture locations)

TSANB rough-in inspection

Drywall, paint, cabinets, counters, backsplash

Electrical trim (install fixtures, switches, under-cabinet lights)

TSANB final inspection

Give your electrician your final kitchen layout with cabinet dimensions, island location, and fixture selections BEFORE rough-in. Moving a junction box after drywall is expensive and disruptive.

NB Tip

New Brunswick's short winter days (sunrise after 8 AM, sunset before 5 PM from November through February) mean your kitchen lighting works hard for 14+ hours a day in winter. Invest in quality LED fixtures with high CRI (90+) for true colour rendering — you'll appreciate it every time you cook under artificial light, which in NB is most of the year.

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