My kitchen counter had one ceiling light and a big dead shadow right where I chopped vegetables. I assumed fixing it meant hiring an electrician and tearing open the walls. It didn’t.

Battery-powered LED strips did the whole job in an afternoon for about thirty dollars.

What to buy

Get rechargeable or battery-powered LED strips made for under-cabinet use. Look for ones with a motion sensor or a tap switch, since you won’t be wiring them to a wall switch. They come with adhesive backing, so there’s no drilling and no visible wires at all.

How I installed mine

1. Clean the underside of the cabinet with rubbing alcohol so the adhesive actually sticks.
2. Peel and press the strip along the front edge, closest to where you stand, not against the wall.
3. Stick the battery pack up out of sight or route the thin cord along the cabinet seam.
4. Charge the batteries, and you’re done.

Little things that matter

• Warm white looks best in kitchens. Cool white makes food look a little sterile.
• Choose a strip you can cut or link, so it fits odd cabinet widths.
• Recharge every couple of weeks, or get one with a bigger battery if that’ll annoy you.

Now I can actually see the cutting board, and there’s not a single wire in sight.