Installing under-cabinet LED strip lighting

What you’ll need

• Tape measure
• Isopropyl alcohol and a cloth
• Scissors
• The strip's driver

Step by step

1. 1

   Measure each cabinet run

   Measure individually and add up. Buy a little more length than you need — strips can be shortened, not extended cleanly.

2. 2

   Clean the mounting surface

   Wipe with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. Adhesive failure is almost always grease, not bad tape.

3. 3

   Cut only at the marked points

   LED strips have printed cut lines with copper pads. Cutting anywhere else kills the segment.

4. 4

   Mount toward the front edge

   Position the strip near the front lip of the cabinet so light falls on the worktop rather than the backsplash.

5. 5

   Power it with a switch or smart plug

   Route the driver to an outlet and add a switch, remote or smart plug so the strip is easy to turn off.

Energy-saving tips

• A few watts of task light lets you leave high-wattage ceiling lights off for most kitchen jobs.
• Choose a strip with a high colour-rendering rating — cheap strips make food look grey.
• Add aluminium channel if the strip is visible; it hides dots and helps the LEDs run cooler.