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They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. So it makes sense that you want your kitchen to be a warm, inviting space for you and your family. The ideal kitchen needs just the right kind of light. It needs bright light so you can see what you’re doing as you cook up a storm. But it also needs light that is gentle on the eyes and soothing to anyone spending time in your kitchen. It can be difficult finding just the right balance. This is especially true if your kitchen was designed with little concern for how it's lit. If your kitchen has fluorescent light fixtures, there is a lot of room for improvement. The perfect kitchen replacement fluorescent light cover can transform this essential living space. You can have exactly the right type of lighting that your kitchen deserves.

Kitchen Light Covers

If your home was built in the 1980s or earlier, there is a good chance that there is some fluorescent light lurking in your kitchen. For older homes, fluorescent light is an unfortunate design choice made decades ago. Back then, there was little scientific knowledge about the properties of light and its effect on human health. However, since then we have learned a lot about what light–and different types of light–does to our health, our mood, and our overall well-being.

Scientists have known for a while about the human circadian rhythm, the “built-in” 24-hour cycle of human physiological activity. There are many aspects of human physiology that run on this cycle, which has been determined to be about 24.18 hours on average. Although the cycle is slightly more than 24 hours when isolated from all outside time cues, the circadian rhythm is typically adjusted to external cues, such as light, in a natural setting.

With the proliferation of light emitting screens, including televisions, computer, and hand-held devices, interest has grown in the effects of artificial light stimulation. One particular area of study is the blue light emitted by many of these screens. Because this light is similar to the light of the midday sun, it seems that light from our screens is misinterpreted by the body. When screens are used during natural sleeping hours, the blue light can trigger a response that lowers melatonin levels and disrupts sleep and other circadian functions.

Typical fluorescent light covers were built to shield people from the glare of naked bulbs while still letting through the maximum amount of light. Although glare reduction is important, these fluorescent light covers do little to combat harmful blue light. In most cases, the best solution is kitchen fluorescent light cover replacement.

Ceiling Light Panels in The Kitchen

There are a few types of ceiling light panels in the kitchen. The different types of kitchen ceiling light panels depend both on the kind of fixture and the age of the panels. Often, cheap plastic fluorescent light covers don’t last long. They are prone to drying, yellowing, and cracking. For homes built decades ago, it is not unusual for the ceiling light panels in the kitchen to have been replaced multiple times. In that case, the plastic fluorescent light covers may be based on whatever type of cover was available at the time of the kitchen fluorescent light cover replacement.

Types of Fluorescent Light Fixtures

Typically, most fluorescent lighting fixtures in kitchens fall into a few categories. One broad category is troffer fixtures. Troffer fixtures were originally built to fit into modular drop ceiling panels. The size and shape of the fixtures were determined by the standard panel size. Although these fixtures were developed for commercial use, they do make an appearance in some home. Troffer fixtures are usually recessed into the ceiling. They may have a flat plastic fluorescent light cover, such as prismatic lenses, or they may be grid-style. Grid-style troffers have a metal (or metallic plastic) grid covering the fluorescent bulbs. The grid helps to distribute the light and prevents a direct view of the bulbs from almost any angle.

Another common fluorescent lighting fixture, especially in homes, is flush mounted fixtures. These fixtures are recessed into the ceiling with the lens cover flush to the ceiling. These are great candidates for kitchen replacement fluorescent light covers. The flush panel looks great with a decorative light cover. Flush-mounted fixtures are sometimes framed with wood or wood-look materials for a more natural look.

Linear fixtures follow the shape of the bulbs more tightly. They conform to the long, thin shape of the tubes. Shop light style fixtures are less common in residential settings. These fixtures hang from the ceiling, usually on chains. However, more upscale variations on hanging fixtures can be found in some kitchens.

Almost any type of fluorescent light fixture can be upgraded with a kitchen light cover. Many Octo Lights decorative light covers are sized for standard troffer fixtures. But we can cut your kitchen fluorescent light cover replacement panels to fit your needs. Just let us know what size you need, and we’ll make sure your kitchen fluorescent light cover replacement panels fit.

Modern Fluorescent Light for Kitchens

If your kitchen was built with fluorescent light fixtures, it was probably built that way quite a while ago. With recent design trends, fluorescent lighting has gone out of style. However, just because fluorescent light fixtures are an older style, there is no reason you can’t have modern fluorescent light for kitchens. The key is to use modern styles with this old-fashioned (but not quaint or vintage) lighting style.

One of the best ways to bring a kitchen fluorescent lighting fixture into the present is with a good-looking kitchen fluorescent light cover replacement. Octo Lights makes special decorative light covers that can breathe new life into an old fixture. The goal of kitchen replacement fluorescent light covers should be to improve both the look and the function of the light. Improving the look is easy with Octo Lights decorative light covers. Our light covers come with a wide variety of stunning, full-color and high-resolution images. When one of our decorative light covers is installed on an existing fluorescent light fixture and backlit by the fluorescent bulbs, the resulting image can transform a room.

One of our most popular designs our series of cloud and sky light covers. These light covers give the impression of a skylight on a sunny day. The best part of these covers is that the bright sunny day outside the skylight is there 24/7 365 days a year. Even if the sky is gray or the sun has set, you get the wide-open feel of the finest summer day.

Of course, just creating daylight is not enough. The most amazing benefit of Octo Lights fluorescent light covers is how they actually filter out the harmful blue light that comes from fluorescent lights. That lets your circadian rhythm follow a more natural cycle.

Steps to Kitchen Fluorescent Light Cover Replacement

Once you’ve decided on a kitchen light cover replacement, you have already completed the hardest step. And if you’ve found your way to the Octo Lights web site you are already on your way to great lighting for your kitchen. Take a look at our full selection of decorative light covers. If you prefer, you can upload your own high-resolution image, and we will custom print it for you. Once you have selected an image, you’ll have to pick your size. We have standard sizes, but we’re more than happy to cut a cover to whatever size you need in your kitchen.

After you check out, we’ll get your order printed and shipped in 1 or 2 business days. Everything is shipped via FedEx Ground, so you get an automated email as soon as it ships. The email will have your tracking number and expected delivery date. Once you have received your order, the real fun begins. Check out our instructions and video for how to install the decorative light covers or contact us if you have any questions. In less than 5 minutes you’ll be ready to enjoy your new kitchen light cover. It’s easy, so take a look around and start shopping today!