Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen is a major source of inspiration to us here at Homes & Gardens. From its modern, minimalist sensibilities to its Mediterranean-inspired details, its truly an oasis of a space. Its functional elements are not to be missed, however, as we just came across a fantastic feature in Gwyneth's cabinets: soft lighting.
The Goop founder recently shared a clip of herself cooking to her Instagram page, and while the food itself looks good, we were drawn to her gently illuminated cabinets, which get a warm glow from hidden strip lights.
When it comes to kitchen cabinet lighting ideas, there are a few different options you can try out, but after seeing Gwyneth's seamless cabinet appearance, we are partial to strip lights.
Shop the kitchen lighting edit
These warm yet bright LED strips are suitable for practically any room in the home that needs some illumination (starting with inside your glass cabinets, of course).
Get a unique kitchen look with this antiquated bronze picture light, which includes a 2700K LED light source that will last for 30,000 hours.
This lamp is perfect for an all white kitchen. Its gently tapered ceramic base is finished with a matte exterior that perfectly matches the conical linen shade, creating an accent piece that will completely change the atmosphere in your kitchen.
According to experts, LED strip lighting under cabinets gives a kitchen a contemporary feel by illuminating a space without drawing attention to the light source.
'For a sleek, modern lighting solution, consider installing LED strip lighting under cabinets, inside shelving units, or along baseboards,' says designer Nina Lichtenstein. 'This hidden source of light creates a beautiful, ambient glow without overpowering the room. LED strip lights can also be placed behind TVs, headboards, or around windows to provide soft backlighting that enhances the room’s architecture.'
Since LED strip lights do such a fantastic job of highlighting kitchen features, like Gwyneth's glass-front cabinets, other design experts say that they can actually work particularly well in historic or preserved homes.
'The opportunity to light [historic homes] authentically to the time period presents itself perfectly,' says interior designer and advisor to Vinterior, Zoe Newson. 'Play around with different lighting features to create depth, like under-cabinet task lighting or a vintage overhead chandelier that will perfectly complement the space.'
Alternatively, if you do wish to make the light source itself a point of visual interest, consider introducing a small lamp next to cabinets, or even a picture light on a wall. These unexpected sources of light can provide just the right amount of dimension and texture to modern and traditional kitchens alike.
If you're looking to not only make kitchen cabinets more accessible, but also look more aesthetically pleasing and airy, then lighting is the ultimate solution.
