(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best under-counter light fixtures

Omg those colors are terrible. I'm so sorry!

You're renting right? Have you ever painted anything before? First things first, ask the landlord if he'll supply the paint if you supply the labor. It can't hurt! But you'd need to do a decent job sooo...

I'd go with a cool white in the kitchen. They make special super smooth durable paint for cupboards, but it's pricy! It finishes more like an enamel. Try to find out what kind of paint was used previously. You may need a primer and if you aren't sure, definitely get primer. Just do everything white, and research how to paint cupboards. 90% of a good paint job is prep work! Things like sanding, removing hardware, priming, taking cupboards doors down, etc. I wouldn't waste time on the insides unless you're really anal about stuff. I always bought the rubbery liners for mine.

If the landlord allows, I'd add hardware to the cupboards as well. These are a decent clean look:

Cosmas 305-030SN Satin Nickel Cabinet Hardware Euro Style Bar Handle Pull - 3" Hole Centers, 5-3/8" Overall Length - 25 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D0KWBJ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j3RDzbD9DSWFH

But measure to see what makes sense. Drill and sand the holes before painting and look to see if there were pre-existing pulls. If so, try to re-use those old holes (sometimes they are patched and painted over). Path of least resistance and so forth...

The kitchen looks small with no natural light so I think the under cabinet LED strips are a great idea. Something like this might work - I would go with warm lighting just so the white isn't so stark.

Albrillo LED Under Cabinet Lighting Dimmable Warm White, 12W 900 Lumens, 3 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ARQY31S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_X7RDzb9EGZ4KM

For the living area just get rid of that ugly neon vomit color as fast as possible. Dear god. Do not leave any of that.

I would aim for something in a very light warm gray (I know it's not the most revolutionary but it works) for the walls or if you want to go modern, a nice crisp white. You can always add warmth and color with textiles (furniture, rugs, curtains) so don't be afraid of doing a fresh box in white if you want the light. Use a matte or eggshell finish in the living room. Anything with gloss will highlight EVERY imperfection in the walls.

If your living room windows are subject to passerby's views, I'd consider getting a double rod for curtains. A softly textured sheer curtain will allow lots of light in the daytime while still obscuring you from unwanted attention. Something like this:
Best Dreamcity Faux Linen Sheer White Curtains / Draperies for Bedroom (Pack of 2 Panels, W52" by L84", White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F03O5SO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rbSDzb6SMDNRP

You can then choose a thicker curtain for the outer rod for evening privacy. (Sheers tend to be much more sheer at night when lights are on inside.)

Since it's a basement apartment, if the ceilings are low, you can trick the eye into seeing the ceilings as higher if you hang the rod closer to the ceiling but it looks like you have standard height ceilings so I think a standard 84" long curtain length would work out fine.

As far as furniture goes, it's so subjective, but the setup in the pic looks good! I would stay with neutrals, personally, and add color through throw blankets or toss pillows and artwork and accent pieces (be they plants or statuary or what have you). I'm still a big fan of grey. It's a one bed so I'd consider a sleeper sofa. They've come a long way and you don't have to get something that looks like it lived at your grandmas. Something along these lines would work well, I think. (The added storage is a nice bonus too.)

Poundex F6931 Bobkona Jassi Linen-Like Sectional with Pull-Out Bed and Compartment, Blue Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CAJSC1W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_chSDzbBPEP4EG

I'd add some large area rugs. Definitely some artwork. Society6.com is a good place to find interesting art on a budget.

Add some simple mirrors on the walls as well - ideally one large one on the wall opposite the windows to reflect light back through the apartment. It would make a world of difference for you. I'm kinda pushing you in the clean and modern direction so I'd recommend something like this:

Raphael Rozen - Elegant - Modern - Classic - Vintage - Rustic - Hanging Framed Wall Mounted Mirror, Distressed Wood Finish, Gray - White Color https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G2FVBOA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kmSDzbASV1EQ2

It could add some warmth and texture to what might otherwise be a bland wall. Adding some floating shelves below or to the sides with some favorite books or mementos might be nice as well.

Definitely add some floor lamps and perhaps a side table lamp or two as well. Lighting is so much more important than people give it credit for. Always buy soft white. I actually really like Edison bulbs inside of lamps because they are a soft and soothing lighting, even when covered by lamp shades. They make a nice point of interest too. I always buy lamps with 3-way switches also. You'll never realize how awesome it is until you have it and then you'll use it constantly. (Won't work with the Edison bulbs though - you'll have to buy the dimmable lightbulbs). If you want the Edison bulb look to be a part of the decor, these lamps are pretty fun and work well for date night lighting, chilling on the couch eating snacks and watching Netflix lighting etc.


Injuicy Lighting Loft Retro Industrial E27 Edison Bulb Wooden Base Table Lights Vintage Antique Wood Desk Lamp for Bedside Bedroom Living Dining Room Home Corridor with Switch(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FYRD37U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HrSDzb4CXRZ75

If you're buying area rugs - get them larger. You want to define a space with it - not have a bath mat between your couch and your coffee table.

Get a coffee table with storage. Having a place for all your stuff is key to keeping things looking nice and uncluttered. I love having lots of blankets around because I tend to hunker down in winter but if you're really minimalist you could get away with not having storage.

If you don't have a coat closet and you don't have a large entry for a standard coat hook wall hanging try one of these for the things you use every day:

JustNile Versatile Metal 180 Degree Triple Pronged Swivel Swing Arm Wall Mounted Hook, Set of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y5C5CSW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OvSDzbBWNGVNK

And that's where I'm gonna stop because I do have to work tomorrow.

One caveat - I did push for a more modern look BUT all of this advice would work if you like a more traditional style too. Key points being lots of neutrals and don't get too crazy with accent colors. Match your finishes on metals as much as possible and just try to keep things within the same finish family.

One of the huge problems this place has right now is a warm matte grayish violet as the kitchen accent and a an oddly cool yellow green semi gloss on the walls. Just choose warm or cool (I like warm, personally, especially for places with light walls) and stick to it. If you try to keep things cohesive you'll generally end up happy with the result!

Good luck! Post your afters for us!

Howdy, I'm a total noob but I'm happy to share what little I know (and maybe get corrected).

I started with a neopixel ring, a 16x32 panel, three of these WS2812 strips , a Raspberry Pi 2 B, arduino mega 2560 and corresponding power supplies for everything.

There were reported problems with the ws2812 library and Pi 2 and I couldn't get it working with the adafruit 16x32 panel so I've been using the ardiuno for everything. I'm using the Pi as a console/C-64 emulator right now. Making lemonade and all that.

The neopixel arduino library didn't work well with my LED strips, they would behave fine for a minute then some individual LEDs wouldn't light up properly anymore so I started using FastLED which has been working great. Always be careful with your power and make sure everything is grounded properly. The neopixel uberguide is very helpful.

I don't know anything about circuitry or programing so it's been slow going for me but a lot of fun. I just look at other people's code, try to figure out what does what and then Frankenstein what I want with other programs. Thank you open source community!!! Plus after a night partying with friends, it's fun to play with the lights! I made some short drunken videos to whatever free music was available on YouTube at the time.

16x32 panel

Four individual neopixels and a ring on an arduino and a breadboard.

Two strips on two arduinos.

Three strips on three arduinos.

Three strips on one arduino. I'm finally making progress! Haha!

There are lots of subreddits you can get in to for this kind of stuff. r/electronics , r/raspberry_pi , r/homeautomation . I recently have started to rig some stuff up. I have an Amazon Echo, a WiFi MagicLight for a bedside light, a WeMo switch for a bedside fan, allowing me for voice operation of both. A lot of home automation switches/lights/sensors run on local signaling systems through ZigBee or Z-Wave standards which require a central hub to manage. Think of it as kind of like a router for your home automated items. I haven't purchased one yet as I am taking everything a step at a time since I don't have the money to just automate my whole house at the drop of a dime, but from my research the Samsung SmartThings hub seems to be one of the more capable hubs on the market currently. From what i've read, it requires a little more tinkering to set some things up (appealing more to the tech-savy), but supports a lot more and is capable of much more than the other hubs on the market. If you are looking for a more easy to setup hub for your home, consider the Wink hub. Finally, if you have a bit more expendable cash at your disposal, the HomeSeer HomeTroller ZS2 hub appears to be a pretty good one along with their software for a home automation interface. Not sure if you were still interested in this stuff, regardless it is pretty neat to be able to voice control your home. As you can see it can be quite an expensive hobby/accomplishment/task whatever you want to call it, I recommend a refurbished Amazon Echo as a starting point and going from there. Cheers!

I'm usually fairly impressed by the creativity that people on this sub put into their collections, so I thought I'd share mine in the hopes that it might inspire some other people!

My wife and I decided to merge our collections and put them somewhere in the living room as a display piece. We decided on the bookshelf next to the entertainment center, but it was a bit dark. To fix this, I grabbed a set of LED tracklights from Amazon, a handy dremel (probably optional) and sunk them into the underside of the top to create some lighting on the cheap. The set I used cost about $25 and can be found here.

These are plugged into a switch-controlled outlet, which makes it easy to turn the amiibo display on and off - but it was starting to get a bit crowded as we picked up our favorites from Wave 3. A random stop into Home Goods later and we walked out with this plastic spice rack that we were pretty sure would hold your average amiibo. As it turned out, it fit them all perfectly – from Roi DaDiDou to the WFT – and the metallic-y coating on the bottom gives the LEDs a cool ambient light effect when they shine down.

The rack we picked up was the InterDesign Twillo Stadium... although I kinda wish we saw the flat Twillo Stadium Spice Rack since it’d be more scalable as our collection grows ;-)

Anyway, that's about it. If you have any other questions about how we pulled it together, just post 'em here.

For practical advice:

• Check out r/malelivingspace. You seem like you might like this place.
  
• 3M Command strips for everything.
  
• These LED light bars are for under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen. They are motion sensing, so they make great task lighting when you need it and otherwise turn off. Can be used in other spots too.
  
• Thread: How to make your place smell good
  
• Thread: Stuff to put on walls
  
• Get a plant
  
• Get a small trashcan with a lid on it for the bathroom
  
  I'm going to make some assumptions. You can take or leave. This dark wood coffee table, and these chairs in the kitchen. Both are based on iconic designs, but you can find knock offs in several styles and prices.
  
  I think you should ultimately replace your TV stand. This Ikea bench stand is an easy swap.
  
  This photo uses 4x8 cube storage in black to look much nicer than the price would make you think. With black fabric storage cubes, it makes a nice book case or home bar. OP added some clever lighting to give a nice backsplash.

I just redid my undercablinet lights.

• Had a GE dimmer installed, to have all the lights connect via z-wave
  
  
• So my setup reads: House power> GE dimmer > First light >(no longer hard wired, but daisy chained)> 2nd light > 3rd light > 4th light
  
  
• Used GetInLight 3 Color Levels Dimmable LED Under Cabinet Lighting. Seems to be one of the best rated on amazon. And they can be daisy chained with little cords after the first one is hooked to the house power.
  
  
• The start of the daisy chain can be plugged in via a normal wall outlet or hard wired. They sell a separate under cabinet junction box if you dont want to hard wired in the first light, but a junction box. This is normally due to where the romex cable is coming from... DO NOT have exposed romex cable - it is not up to code. Super flexible system.
  
  
• It has 3 temperatures. Warm White (2700K), Soft White (3000K), Bright White (4000K).
  
  
• It is the only light that matched our 4000k bright white ceiling leds.
  
  
• Make sure it is the same color (temperature) as lights throughout your room, if it doesn't match, it looks odd.

> SMD5050

Maybe I'm a lighting snob since this is what I do, but the light you're suggesting is like $13 for 16 feet and it has a little controller that will likely go out after a year and you gotta do it all over.

The one we always use is from WAC Lighting that's considerably more expensive but has very consistent color temperature and lasts a very long time. You would be better off using an ELV dimmer it however.

Edit, since you commented, deleted your comment, and downvoted me, this was my response:

Maybe you're an EE and you know more about what they use to manufacture these but I have never heard anybody refer to lighting their room by the technical name for the individual LEDs so I did a quick search and all that came up was super cheap generic Chinese lighting.

Here is the specs for the WAC so if you say they use SMD5050 I'll have to take your word for it, although Their individual LEDs use .42 watts and what I found on the SMD5050s is .2 watts. Regardless, I don't need to know how the sausage is made. All I know is that these have a 5 year warranty, they have a high CRI, they dim beautifully, and I haven't had to go back to replace a single one going back 7 years when we first started using WAC. I can't say that about any other brand so even if it was the exact same chip, they know how to stick them to their strips the best and their drivers are dimmable.

Anyway, that's my advice as someone who has installed this stuff going back to giant magnetic transformers and ambient lights so solder your own chips, go to Home Depot and buy LED rope light, order cheap chinese crap off amazon, whatever. It's your call. You came looking for ideas and I gave mine so take it or leave it.

I appreciate it! I'd be happy to. So the three main components used are These lights, these lights and this fogger the puck lights are great because they're really bright (and can be adjusted with a remote) they change color and can be easily hidden. So, on my kitchen table, I turned off all the lights surrounding, turned on the puck lights, the two lights I showed you and another light just for fill. I shot it at 1/25 shutter speed at an f4 and a 400 ISO. So basically only the subjects were lit and everything else was dark. The green lights did a great job turning the fog green. Everything you see here was shot as is.

For under the counter I used these 2700k led strips and some generic RGB for above the cabinets ones from China on eBay. The under-counter lights aren't quite incandescent warm, but they still look pretty great, and the entire strip only draws ~0.55 amps at 12v. I was hoping to get some of the GE Christmas lights on clearance and individually addressable LEDs up top. There are addressable strips available but they are rather expensive, one day I will have chase sequences on my cabinets.

Clean the cabinets and line them. Seal any holes you find along the corners and edges, and you should be fine. You can also install motion sensing LED lights in the cabinets. I love these and if you don't want to stick them up, they still work if you simply place them in the cabinet. Your nice, clean cabinets won'd seem so creepy and will be more welcoming.

I love this idea!!

I'd be interested in matchmaking and/or creating the questionnaire. I studied personality psychology in college and my job involves creating surveys/analyzing data, so I think I could do a decent job of balancing traits to make complementary pairs.

For beams, how about touch lights like these? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q9PVRBG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_KF1yDbQ2AQ7TH They're usually sold in cheap multi-packs, and I've even seen them at the dollar store. You could use command strips to tack them onto a wall and have whoever's acting as host light them up accordingly.

For other mini-game suggestions, I think you could adapt some of the party games on this list: https://www.buzzfeed.com/mallorymcinnis/20-insanely-simple-party-games-to-entertain-your-whole-famil (e.g. Likes and Dislikes, Partners in Pen, Newlywed Game, etc.).

Would these be good grow lights? If I buy them, I would put two strips on a 2' bookshelf.

Litever LED Under Counter Lighting Fixtures Plug in, 6 PCS 12" Light Bars per Kit, Daylight White 5000K, 31W 2000 Lumen Super Bright, Easy Installation, for Kitchen Counter Cabinet-[6 Bars Kit-5000K] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L6W7HHE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_COlaCbX19V6X5

I did legrand but it was expensive since I installed the whole system.

But I used this in another place and it was really good. But I got one with a motion sensor and it works well

TORCHSTAR LED Safe Lighting Kit, (4) 12’’ Linkable light bars
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PQAH88/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VDSTBbMHNVSE9

I installed these:

Albrillo LED Under Counter... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGTYNN9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Pretty nice for the money; come with a little RF remote. I plugged them in over the microwave and routed the wire down behind the microwave to the RF receiver and the beginning of the light strings. Not had a problem one; installed back in May. I leave them on all the time; make a good nightlight for the kiddos. They don’t consume enough power to worry about.

PM me if you’d like to see a pic. The Amazon review pics are on par with anything I could show you though.

These Detolf cabinets are awesome! I'm about to get a 2nd one.

In addition to some extra shelves, I highly recommend this lighting kit: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Tool-Free-Installation-LEDUC9-3WK/dp/B01M22BVFZ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrfvsBRD7ARIsAKuDvMMNo4rTNlVYfs9QkYrEKqAZkHZ64flcCLRZnnFh9L8zUp4a0WHfEGcaAlHFEALw_wcB&hvadid=213933850940&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9052537&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=b&hvrand=15517843921137299117&hvtargid=aud-648278611385%3Akwd-546299409752&hydadcr=16966_9851331&keywords=under+cabinet+warm+led+lighting&qid=1570731749&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFJOUROR044VVkyMjMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxNzM5OTlTRUZBWEVZMFBRVVkmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDk4OTM3NDMzVzFOSEdQSlRZMzQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Got this setup and absolutely love it. They’re dimmable and have a diffuser to spread the light from the LEDs out. Plugged them into a smart plug and have them set on a timer.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L6W7F3U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lLA8BbJ5G8GR2

Best LEDs for discs (in my opinion) are the 7-color at https://gottagogottathrow.com/products/extreme-glow-flat-light-led-disc-light?variant=14000873635892.

I use rechargeable under-counter lights to light up the baskets. Model is https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Rechargeable-Lighting-Wardrobe-Cupboard/dp/B06Y28GG7W/. Latest model has double the number of LEDs as the original though, so the battery doesn't last long enough anymore.

I bought some under-cabinet LED strips (specifically https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VSH3FGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_Ks2VCTc4kNGVn) and just plugged them in to a smart plug. They even come with adhesive backing if you don't want to put holes in your cabinets. Super simple.

Arc reactor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A4A094C

Repulsors

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YMNSCYM

The arc reactor I found by accident after having already bought something else. This one, amazingly, fit perfectly into the cavity and had no bezel (my first one was thinner, and was the same diameter but had a bezel).

The hand repulsors are wired (you can see the wire on my right wrist) to a battery pack that I purchased separately. There’s a power switch for them under my right arm.

Hey OP, instead of keeping the info in chat I'll post here so others might be able to use it.
I'm assuming you have no experience splicing wires, soldering, or using heat shrink tubing, so I found some quick connect things you should be able to use.

So, the parts I have here are the LED Strip (marked as 'sections' since you will be cutting it), the L Connectors, the 'Wire Harnesses', the Adapters, and the Wire itself.

I drew up a small diagram here with explanation.

​

If you, or someone you know would be able to do the stuff mentioned above, this could have a lot less parts by doing aware with the adapters and wire harnesses and just soldering the wire between LED strips.
(Maybe there is a local Makerspace near you that could assist)

​

Also, instead of the LED strip method, I've seen people with LED bars the run the length of the shelf, and have wires to connect up to another bar. Something like this. (search" LED under cabinet lighting")
If the above diagram seems too difficult, or you're not able to get anyone to assist, then this would be a super easy option for you.

​

I have these in all our pantries and under cabinets. The pantries last about a month or longer. Under cabinets, depending on use - 2 weeks. Get the 'white' light ones. They're brighter.

Takes about 4 hours to recharge.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y28GG7W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edit: not HA. Just old school motion detection. Simple, but effective. Stays on about 30 seconds after you walk away.

Trying to get a little feedback on a potential grow light set up. I'm thinking of something like Ikea's Omar shelf (the tall one, to keep them out of the cat's reach), plus some of the tube lights (these?) that keep getting linked here. Assuming the length is correct, would 2 per shelf be enough light as a sole light source? (I have a mix of cacti, Echeveria, Haworthia, and various other soft succulents), or would 3 per shelf be better? For those of you who have similar setups, how tricky is getting the lights set up?

These are pretty good. Theyre LED and they have the motion sensor that works nicely. They're not battery though but they plug in so you dont have to deal with a tough install. https://pureopticsled.com/products/under-cabinet-lighting.html
Here's the amazon link so you can use your gc - https://www.amazon.com/Cabinet-Lighting-Tool-Free-Installation-LEDUC9-3WK/dp/B01M22BVFZ/ref=sr_1_7?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1521576646&sr=1-7&keywords=pureoptics+led

Battery powered puck (cabinet) lights. Turn em upside down on the top metal and let the light shine down the chains. Get some UV tape, put it on the disc, and a UV light and you're good to go. $25 for the lights, 15 bucks for the tape, and 10 bucks the UV light.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q9PVRBG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Seriously, do you have a tutorial on how to make this stuff? I'd love to put one together for my kids.

Am I on the right track with these lights: http://www.amazon.com/10-inch-Cabinet-adapter-Linkable-Connectors/dp/B004DBU1O2/

I keep my mixer in a dark corner, so it's kinda hard to see the contents in the bowl, so I stuck on this motion sensing light. It's kinda big, but it does the job well. Had to put a little ring of electrical tape facing the outside because if it picks up too much ambient light, it never turns on. Rubber bands are to keep the light from coming off the magnet.

Bonus video of slow-mo pizza dough!

Those of you who didn't like the LED flexible strip on this project....what about light bars, running along the perimeter of the server? Something like this, designed for under cabinet use:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGTYNN9/fb8169

I want to get a variegated plant, but I'm a little confused on how I should care for one. I keep reading that they're more likely to sunburn and like indirect light. All my plants are on shelves so I can't really place it further away from the light. Should I just use a weaker light? Or put something to cover the light? These are the lights I'm using btw: link I have three tubes for each shelf.

Upper shelves: MARQ BrightStrip 5-300S | UL-Certified 5 Meter Flexible Light Strip with 300 Multi-Color LEDs, Power Supply, Timer Function, and Remote Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQGWG66?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Bottom two shelves: LED Under Cabinet Lighting Kit: 4pcs Extendable Under Counter LED Light Bars (5000K Daylight) w/ Rocker Switch, UL-listed Power Adapter for Gun Box, Safe, Locker, Closet, Shelf, Show Case Lighting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PQAH88?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I used these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YMNSCYM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As long as you have room on top of the cabinets it's easy to put lighting in. Before I put the cabinets up, I put up regular outlets (so I have the option for any kind of lighting) and attached them to switches (because under cabinet lighting on a 3-way switch is great). When I put up the cabinets I cut channels for the light wiring and strings to pull them through. Then, when I was almost done with the kitchen I ran the wires up behind the cabinets and plugged them in.

Yep! I used these.

Albrillo LED Under Cabinet Lighting Dimmable Warm White if it qualifies as a lantern,

if not then a nitecore tip

I got this set. (Though this looks like an updated version- mine are not dimmable.) Going on two years, and I haven’t had any issues with them. It is important to note that there is only one motion sensor, and it needs to be the first light from the plug (unless they’ve changed that.)

i've used adhesive-backed LED strips. what i did was hot glue them in place, so 1] they'd be a little more sturdy, because the adhesive is not very strong, and 2] so the adhesive would be completely covered up if the strip was pulled down, removing the risk of the strip getting stuck to the snake.

with that said, i ended up taking down those lights and plan to install these soon. i feel better having things securely bolted in place.

The ones I ended up using are not waterproof but have lasted 7 months now without issues. They are https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01ARQY31S/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Motion sensing under cabinet lights. 80$, 6 motion sensing on/off, dimmable, non battery. [New] EShine 6 Panels 12 inch LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VSH3FGM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

http://www.amazon.com/10-inch-Cabinet-adapter-Linkable-Connectors/dp/B004DBU1O2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376363545&sr=8-4&keywords=Led+lighting

http://www.amazon.com/Generic-340723-00-F340723-00-340723-00P-F340723-00P/dp/B00BFO0758/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1376363488&sr=8-25&keywords=Reed+switch

I was planning on using these.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01L6W7F3U?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I personally use these lights: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GWH42PN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HZz7CbVVW4VNJ

I have six on each shelf, which contain my most light hungry plants.

under cabinet lights

I got these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L6W7F3U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can buy lighting kits that can be installed after the fact and plugged into an outlet. It won't have a switch on the wall, of course, but I know lots of people, including myself, that just leave the under cabinets turned on full time. Especially if they're LED, since they don't use much power.

Try these

Plug it in to the outlet, run the cord up the wall to under the cabinet and mount the transformer box there, then run the LED strip to whereever you want. It's been a while but I believe that you can control the lights with the remote...or by unplugging them.

They make switches that would replace that standard outlet, but it would leave you with a single outlet and a switch. The single outlet would then be controlled by that switch(if you wired it that way).

Depending on your location and local building codes that could actually be a code violation to install in a kitchen.