For those of you who are considering them or wish to install them later, here are the steps to take to give you the under cabinet lightening for under $500 which will allow you to save some money or use that money to get one of the structural items installed like the recess lights. RH will install recess lights at $125 each. You may decide to install two recess lights at $250 or four recess lights for $500. Another option is to purchase the lightening packages from Ikea or from other companies that offer under cabinet light kits online.
If you have not finalized your selections with RH, ask them to install a 110V outlet in the areas that you wish for the lightening. For example, we installed extra outlets in our master bedroom closets, inside the Wet Bar and Kitchen cabinets. The cost for one outlet is $75. If you have finalized your selections you can still proceed with this option (method will change slightly). The total cost for us to achieve the under cabinet lightening in the kitchen, our wet bar and both master bedroom closets is approximately $460 instead of $1000 to light up four different areas in our home. We opted to use the huge savings to install additional recess lights in other rooms of the house.
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| Use these lights to achieve the look below for your kitchen or wet bar. The cost for this IKEA kit $49.99 Be sure to purchase the special extension cords kit for $9.99. |
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| Under Cabinet Lightening in Kitchen We installed a 110V outlet in the cabinets to hide the cords |
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| Under Cabinet Lightening in Wet Bar (Lights are not installed in this picture) We installed a 110V outlet in the cabinets to hide the cords. |
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| We are installing custom built closet systems in both of our master bedroom closets and I want my shelving to be illuminated. To achieve this look, we are using the spotlight kit below to create the look in the picture above: |
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| The IKEA spotlight kit comes in a three pack for $24.99 or a four pack for $39.99 |
That's awesome! I'm going back & forth on the under cabinet lighting, it's good to know we'll have a cheaper alternative if we decide to do it ourselves :)
ReplyDeleteIf you decide to do them later as we are, just be sure to add the 110V outlet(s). Otherwise, when you do it later you will have to wrap and tape the cords underneath the cabinets to hide them or hire a electrician to wire a outlet which may cost more.
DeleteThanks for this tip. The under cabinet lighting was one of the things I went back and forth about. I'll take the Ikea option but I sadly didn't add any extra outlets in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Please click on the join this site bbuttoning our blog page so I can follow your journey. Have you broken ground?
DeleteI thought of the same thing. But my project manager said they couldn't install the outlet hidden in the cabinets, it would have to be under the cabinet and then the cord would be exposed, and I would have to drill holes between cabinets to run the wiring. So, I scrapped my plan and paid them the $500. If I could have had the outlet hidden in the cabinet I would have done it too.
ReplyDeleteWell that sucks! It's such a huge savings the other way!
DeleteGreat minds think alike! We have been scoping out the Ikea lights for under cabinet lighting as well. If not Ikea we will do either Lowes or Home Depot.
ReplyDeleteYes, Yes, we sure do think alike!! Did you add the 110V outlet? This is where it makes the difference otherwise you will have cords hanging which looks horrible or you will have to wrap and tape the cords to the bottom of the cabinet which will work too or cut open a hole inside the cabinet and pull the cords through it to hide them.
DeleteUnder Cabinet lighting was an item that I really wanted for our kitchen but for budget reasons I decided not to do it. I did not have an extra outlet installed in the kitchen cabinet. So how do you reccommend I procede with installing the lights?
ReplyDeleteI plan to install an under cabinet kit as well. I plan to use the outlet that is in the cabinet for the microwave and run the cord through the cabinets. For the section of cabinets that is on a different wall of the microwave, i am going to cheap and add a batter operated light there. Maybe eventually i will add another outlet inside the cabinet. BTW your kitchen is awesome. Those level of upgrades were not available in our community, but we would really love to have them.
ReplyDeleteI have seen those that are battery operated at Costco...would like to have but didn't think it was something I would really want to use but so often so this might be a good way for me to go. Cubbies has a good idea that I might be able to do...thanks!
ReplyDelete