Under Cabinet Lighting Install: From Start to Finish Exclusive Home Design

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Under Cabinet Lighting Install: From Start to Finish

Posted July 19th, 2011 by Bethany Rolph No Comments »

This was my first time with a do it yourself lighting project, so Ill share my experiences from the very beginning and include photos. I absolutely love the finished results! This project was surprisingly easy to tackle. I completed the install in less than two hours, and the total cost was right around $100.

I highly recommend making this update to your kitchen!

Step 1: Assessing my needs

Because I knew I wanted to install the under cabinet fixtures on my own, I decided to look for a model that could be plugged in (rather than a hardwire-only model). I am no electrician, and I felt more comfortable with a plug-in fixture.

The first thing I did was to figure out where I could plug them in. Depending on how your kitchen is oriented, there are a couple of good places to check for hidden outlets to use for under cabinet lighting:

In any cabinet space above the microwave
Behind the refrigerator

Luckily, the kitchen I was installing in had outlets in both places! I decided to use the one behind the refrigerator simply to avoid drilling holes through the cabinets.

Next, I measured the spaces underneath the cabinets to determine what sizes I needed to buy. See this post on How Many Under Cabinet Lights Do I Need? for details on how to measure your cabinet cavity.

In the end, I purchased two xenon line voltage thin under cabinet task lights one in a 22-inch length and one in a 14-inch (my cabinets were two different sizes). I purchased a linking cable to connect the two fixtures and a 6-foot power cord to ensure Id have enough wire to reach the outlet behind the refrigerator.

If you want additional information about the various types of under cabinet lighting and/or would like help determining which light fixture is right for you, check out this post on How to Choose Under Cabinet Lighting it should make things clear.

Step 2: Gathering my tools

Most under cabinet lighting installations require:

Electric Drill
Measuring Tape
A Mechanical Pencil

I installed two light fixtures underneath cabinets that were separated by a microwave:

This pictures a little dark, but you can see the two cabinets I installed underneath.

So, I needed additional tools to secure the linking cable on the wall directly underneath the microwave. I picked up coaxial staples from the local hardware store and used a hammer to secure them. It was an easy solution!

Step 3: Marking where the fixtures will go

The under cabinet lighting fixtures I chose (xenon line voltage thin under cabinet task lights) included two mounting screws, so I wanted to mark the drilling locations.

To do this, I removed the lens cover from the light fixture and held the fixture underneath the cabinet in my desired location. Then, I poked my pencil through the small holes in the fixture that are designated for the mounting screws. I marked exactly where the screws should go.

Step 4: Drilling small holes underneath the cabinet for the mounting screws

Since Id already marked the location of the holes, this step was fairly easy.

Step 5: Starting the screws in their holes

This made it easier to drill in the lighting fixture once it was in place.

Step 6: Finish installing the fixture

Holding the light fixture up, I used the electric drill to push the mounting screws through the fixture and into their holes.

Thats it! After the first fixture was installed, I attached the linking cable, ran it underneath the microwave, installed the second fixture, and plugged it all in using my 6-foot power cord.

Here are some additional photos:

If you have any questions, comment below!

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