• Under-cabinet light rails improve the functioning of any kitchen.Kitchen image by armanxo from Fotolia.com
  
  Many homeowners want the look and function that under-cabinet lighting provides. There are many different types of light rails that can be installed easily under kitchen cabinets. When homeowners know what types of under-cabinet lighting is available, they are able to weigh their options and find the right type for their situation.
  
  

Strip Lighting

• Strip lights are a popular option for under-cabinet lighting. Typically, strip lighting is made of xenon or halogen festoon lamps and is less than an inch wide. Strip lighting is one of the most popular options for under-cabinet lighting because it is low-profile and can even be painted to match walls or cabinets.
  
  

Rope Lighting

• Rope lighting is one of the easiest ways to get lighting under your cabinets. Rope lighting is essentially a plastic rope filled with small incandescent lights. The rope lighting is mounted to the bottom of the kitchen cabinets with plastic clips and can be plugged in to the nearest outlet.
  
  

Linear Lighting

• Under-cabinet linear light fixtures can be purchased in a variety of types, including LED, fluorescent and incandescent. Linear lighting is typically more bulky than strip lighting and rope lighting. Linear lighting is installed in large light rails. However, the fixture itself will look different with each different type light. For example, incandescent linear lighting looks like a row of puck lights in one rail, while LED linear lighting is made up of clusters of small lamps on one rail.
  
  

Puck Lighting

• While not exactly a light rail, puck lighting is commonly used under kitchen cabinets. These small fixtures, about the size of hockey pucks, can be lined up to create the illusion of a light rail. In contrast, they can also be used individually to highlight specific areas of the counter beneath.