Once tucked away and used solely by the cook of the household, the kitchen has been embraced as a multifunctional room that acts as far more than a functional space, but a place for socialising and spending time with friends and family.

It’s always the way that everyone gathers in the kitchen at parties and as the role of the kitchen has changed the design of it has too. More emphasis is placed on the look of our kitchens than ever before and they are now a show-stopping focal point of our homes and we look to ‘wow’ our guests with the design.

If you’re the hostess with the mostess and your kitchen is the regular spot for a catch-up with friends over a glass of wine, you need to make sure that it not only looks good, but creates the right atmosphere.

Mood lighting is an essential ingredient for any dinner party and can completely transform the way your kitchen looks and feels. When it comes to evenings of entertaining you should look to create a cool, calm and relaxed atmosphere without a bright spotlight insight. Whilst you will still need task lighting for cooking and food preparation, by the time your guests arrive they should feel as though they could be in a trendy West End bar.

Bring your kitchen to life with Sensio’s Luce LED Plinth Light Kit, which can be used along the base of both floorstanding units and a kitchen island

Mood lighting should be subtle, yet effective and can be fitted in various locations around the kitchen. Plinth lighting is an ideal way of adding life to your kitchen and will also illuminate the flooring. Don’t just stick to using it along base units; also apply it to your kitchen island to create a central focal point.

Don’t keep your kitchen island or breakfast bar in the dark at dinner parties, install Sensio’s HD LED Flexible Strip Light

If the worktop overhangs your handle-less base units or kitchen island, incorporate strip lighting underneath that illuminates the cabinet doors and highlights the texture and finish.

If you have a handle-less kitchen Sensio’s Continuum Worktop Profile offers subtle mood lighting and will highlight the texture and finish of the cabinets

When it comes to wall-hung units, incorporate shelf lighting in cabinets that are fitted with a glass panelled door where the contents is on display. Installing strip lighting or over-cabinet lighting along the top of wall-hung units will divert the eye upwards and can actually make the room appear to have added height.

Sensio’s Illuminated LED Glass Box Shelves will add a ‘wow’ factor to any kitchen

If your kitchen is at the forefront of contemporary design, make a real statement and opt for colour changing light fittings that can be adjusted according to the mood of the evening and who you are entertaining.

Michael Linsky is the Managing Director of Sensio UK Ltd – for more about Sensio please visit www.sensio.co.uk or call 0845 0340780