Design Guides
Lighting Integrated Into Millwork
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
Integrated lighting is what elevates millwork from cladding to architecture, and it is the one element that genuinely cannot be retrofitted. Channels have to be machined before finishing, cable routed before installation, and a driver located somewhere reachable for future replacement. Decide about lighting at the drawing stage or accept that you are not having it.
Where lighting earns its cost
- Under wall cabinets
- Not optional in a working kitchen. Upper cabinets shadow the counter directly beneath them, which is exactly where you chop.
- Inside display cabinets
- Turns glass-front uppers from storage into a feature. Warm white, dimmable.
- Under each closet hanging rod
- The single most transformative closet upgrade. Most closets have no window, so this is where you judge colour.
- Shelf-integrated strips
- Machined into the underside of each shelf. Best on open shelving where the light source stays hidden.
- Cove lighting above tall millwork
- Washes the ceiling and makes a full-height unit feel lighter.
- Behind a media wall
- Bias lighting reduces the contrast between a bright screen and a dark wall, which measurably reduces eye strain.
Want this applied to your space?
We design and build custom work for Calgary homes. A free consultation is the first step.
Getting the specification right
| Property | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Colour temperature | 2700–3000K | Warm white. 4000K+ reads clinical in a home. |
| Colour rendering (CRI) | 90+ | Below 90, clothing and food colours read wrong. |
| Dimming | Yes, on a compatible driver | Full brightness is rarely wanted at night. |
| Driver location | Accessible without dismantling | Drivers fail before LEDs do. |
| Diffusion | Frosted channel | Bare strips create visible dots and glare. |
| Damp locations | Rated fittings | Bathrooms, laundry, near sinks. |
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Can lighting be added to existing built-ins?
- Surface-mounted fittings can. Integrated lighting — where the strip sits in a machined channel and the cable runs inside the millwork — generally cannot, because the channel must be routed before the component is finished. Retrofits usually mean visible fittings and surface cable, which is a very different result.
- What colour temperature should cabinet lighting be?
- 2700–3000K with a colour rendering index of 90 or above. Cooler temperatures look clinical in a home, and low-CRI light makes food, wood and clothing colours read inaccurately — which defeats the purpose in a kitchen or closet.
- Does integrated lighting need an electrician?
- Any new circuit, new switch or alteration to existing wiring does, and must be done by a licensed electrician. Low-voltage LED running from an existing supply is simpler, but the supply itself still has to come from somewhere compliant. We coordinate this as part of the project.
Want this applied to your space?
Send a few details and we will come and measure. Free, no obligation, and a fixed written price.