When you’re ready to upgrade your kitchen in Athens, TN, there are a lot of details to think about: kitchen cabinet paint colors, flooring, counters, and backsplash tile. One thing that people often don’t consider (but should!) is the lighting. Both natural and artificial lighting will have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. Lighting will also have an impact on your design choices, particularly your cabinet paint color. Here’s what to know before you choose a cabinet paint color.

Why Lighting Impacts Kitchen Cabinet Colors So Much

The way you perceive the color of your kitchen cabinets largely depends on the room’s lighting—both natural and artificial. If you’ve ever picked a paint color online or in a store and found it looks completely different at home, you’ve experienced this phenomenon. In a well-lit room, colors appear more vibrant, while in dim lighting, they become muted or dull, losing their intensity. By balancing natural and artificial light, you can better control color intensity and create the ideal ambiance for any moment.

What to Know About Natural Light

It’s important to think about the lighting in your home at different times of day. After all, as the position of the sun changes throughout the day, it impacts the way your cabinet color looks. Likewise, the time of year and even the position of your home can further impact the appearance of the paint color on your kitchen cabinets.

If you have a kitchen that lacks natural light, your paint colors will appear less bright. To get the true cabinet paint color of the sample you selected, you’ll need to add in the right artificial lighting. Alternatively, you can choose a brighter hue to paint your kitchen cabinets. 

If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your kitchen, there are some ways to make the most of the light you do have. This includes:

  • Choosing a light, bright paint color for your cabinets
  • Skipping window treatments or opting for light, airy window treatments rather than heavy ones
  • Hanging mirrors to reflect light
  • Pruning shrubs or trees that are blocking sunlight from getting inside

If, on the other hand, you have a lot of natural light in your kitchen, achieving the true color is much easier.

What to Know About Artificial Light

Not all artificial light is created equal. Lightbulbs come in various wattages and color temperatures. Here’s what to know about the difference between different light bulbs so you na pick the best one for your home:

  • The more incandescent lighting you have in your kitchen, the more intense warm colors will be, while cool colors will be dulled. 
  • Halogen lighting, on the other hand, tends to act more similarly to natural lighting, so whatever color is on your kitchen cabinets will look truer to life. 
  • LED lighting comes in many different color temperatures. Depending on the bulb you select, this type of lighting can make kitchen cabinet colors appear cooler or warmer.
  • There are even smart lightbulbs to consider which offer multiple settings. These bulbs give you more control over the level of lighting and ambiance in your kitchen. When you’re cooking and trying to read a recipe, you can opt for a brighter light setting. When you’re entertaining or relaxing over a meal with your family, you can choose a softer, cozier glow.

How to Choose Kitchen Cabinet Colors with Lighting in Mind 

Remember that the bright fluorescent lights in stores differ significantly from home lighting. Avoid committing to a color in-store. Instead, take home several samples and observe how they appear in your kitchen. Make sure to check them at various times of day and under different lighting conditions—turn off the lights, open the blinds, light a candle, etc. This approach will help you understand how your cabinets will look in any situation.

Don’t know where to start when choosing a color for your cabinets in Chattanooga, TN? It’s easy when you turn to the experts at N-Hance of Southeast Tennessee. We understand how lighting works with paint colors and can make recommendations that are a perfect fit for your kitchen. Plus, our cabinet color change process will leave your cabinets with a perfectly even color and rock hard color finish. 

No matter the lighting in your kitchen or your color temperature preferences, N-Hance is the team you can trust to bring it all together beautifully. We offer a wide range of colors and can even match a sample you provide. Our process will rejuvenate your cabinets, adding new life and brightness to your kitchen space.

Ready to find out more about painting your kitchen cabinets while keeping lighting in mind? Call N-Hance of Southeast Tennessee at (423) 840-1974 to set up a FREE consultation.