How To Install Toe Kick Lighting

All light lovers must know how to install toe kick lighting as it is a reliable technique to create artificial lighting while highlighting tiles and other elements of your house. 

Furthermore, this lighting method gives any kitchen space a stylish look without requiring any other significant alterations. This lighting method is gaining popularity for its use of lighting up the kitchen layout mostly. 

However, it can be used in other places too like stairs, beds, or bathrooms.  This is a lighting design technique that not only looks wonderful but also acts as a safety feature and aids in kitchen maintenance. 

So, without any further delay, let’s get to know some easy steps to install toe kick lighting.

Things You’ll Need

Your toe kick material can be 5’8 inches as it is perfectly thick enough to use for under cabinets. You can buy a toe kick trim of standard height 5 inches and a length of 95 inches which you can bend-cut to your specific size. 

You can also order custom-sized pieces online by stating the specific height and length.

Before you get started on how to install toe kick lighting, don’t forget to measure the cabinet size with your toe kick lights to avoid the last-minute hassle.

Materials:

• Metal flex cable
• Plastic-sheathed cable
• Cable clamps
• Flex connectors
• Old-work junction box
• Toe Kick Lighting

Tools:

• Hacksaw
• Jig Saw
• Cordless drill
• Voltage tester
• Wire Cutter
• Fish tape

Install Toe Kick Lighting In 10 Easy Steps

Step 1: Shut Off the Power

Switch off the circuit breaker for the specific room after you have decided where your primary electrical panel will exist.

Step 2: Calculate the Wattage

After the circuit breaker is turned off, you can calculate how much watts your under-cabinet lights will add to the circuit. After you have turned off the circuit breaker, now you may walk around the house and count the watts for anything that isn’t switched on throughout the house and add all of them up. 

With 5 mm LEDs, you’ll need between 4 to 10 watts per foot, and with high-power LEDs, you’ll need about 20 watts per foot. 

You should measure the watts first so that you don’t exceed your amp, for instance, if you have a 20-amp circuit, then your total watts should not exceed 1920 watts.

Step 3: Check the Electrical Box

After you are done with the basic calculation, let’s get to the main part. Here, you need to make sure that the electrical box is big so that all the wires you’ll be connecting fits your box properly. 

Before you begin working with wires, make sure that the wires are deceased and no electric connection is flowing through them and to do that use a voltage tester.

Step 4: Open the Wall

It is very important to make sure that you have adequate area to run your cables as you’ll be working inside the bottom cabinets of your kitchen, or bathroom. Now create a hole in the rear wall of your cabinet with a jigsaw to gain access to the electrical box easily.

 A 12-inch square should be more than sufficient however it depends on the size of your cabinet and the electrical box. You can measure and place them accordingly.

Step 5: Install a Junction Box

Connect flex connectors to your junction box by positioning the screws in a way that they face out from each other. 

Remember for each flex cable, you need to use a single flex connection for each run. After this, look slightly below the level of your kitchen drawers and screw the box into the wall.

Step 6: Drill Holes

Now calculate how many light bars you’ll require and drill half an inch holes under the cabinets where each light fixture will be connected. 

Drill 1-1/5-inch holes in the sides of the cabinets in order to run your metal flex cable between the flex connectors and the light fixtures, as well as between the flex connectors and the switch.

Step 7: Run the Wires

Use fish tape in order to pull the plastic-sheathed cables from the junction box through the metal flex to the several endpoints: the electrical box, the switch, and the light fixtures. 

Step 8: Connect the Wires

Connect the wires according to the manufacturer’s instructions once you’ve inserted the plastic-sheath cables all the way through the wall to your lights. Screw the cables flush to the underpart of the cabinets with cable clamps.

Step 9: Prepare a Switch

On your kitchen or bathroom wall, wherever you want to place your toe kick lighting, measure and indicate the position for your light switch. 

Make a hole for your switch box with a drill. The switch cables should be threaded up and through the switch box. 

After screwing the box into the wall, connect the cables as needed. If you are planning on using a dimmer too then don’t forget to connect the dimmer switch now, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Cover the cables with a switch plate after you have folded the wires inside the box.

Step 10: Finish the Job

The last step is to cover up the junction box and the access hole. Please Note: A metal cover plate should be used to cover the junction box, and a piece of plywood should be used to cover the access hole.

Tip 

• Measurement is key in this installation process, make sure to order the toe kick material after measuring the size of your cabinet.

Warnings

• It requires a lot of drilling so, be careful while doing it and try using gloves and goggles while installing.
• You need to connect your wires to the main electrical panel therefore, make sure to turn off the circuit breaker before you carry out this process. 
• Lastly, this is an easy installation process however, it requires careful observation and safety measures throughout.

Frequently Asked Question

Should I Install Toe Kick Lighting?

Toe kick lights are unnecessary if the area is adequately lighted. If your lights are dimmed, toe kick lights will not only add more light to your room but will also enhance the attractiveness of your place.

Where to Add Toe-Kick Lighting Around Your Home?

Toe kick lighting around the border of the area, underneath the lower cabinets, and beneath the kitchen island is the best method to enhance the beauty of your kitchen. However, many individuals have it placed in their bathrooms as well. 

How Many Lumens per Foot for Kitchen Toe Kick Lighting?

Currently, brightness is measured in lumens. Therefore, you should go for fixtures that provide at least 250 lumens per foot for your under cabinet lighting. As a result, if your fixture is 24 inches in length, then it will discharge at least 500 lumens.

Read also: Can You Cut LED Light Strips?

Conclusion

Hopefully now, you know the 10 simple steps of how to install toe kick lighting. A simple and elegant technique to distinguish and accentuate the space is the magic work of toe kick lights. Be it under the kitchen cabinet, stair, bed, or bathroom, it proves to be useful as well as stylish. 

It can offer a feeling of comfort and warmth to a room while also serving as a form of an attractive nightlight for rooms with additional safety precautions.

Trevor Peterson

My strong expertise is illuminating spaces. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for transforming environments through lighting, my dream is to leave indelible mark on the world of light design. Below are few facts of my biography, highlighting career and hobbies. Click here to contact me.