When I was apartment hunting last year, I narrowed my search down to two apartments that were a block away from each other. The first one was small, but it had a beautiful modern kitchen with a tile backsplash and adjustable lighting underneath the gray cabinets.
I went with the second apartment building because it was more spacious, had better amenities, and was still cheaper — but that kitchen, specifically the lighting, was something I couldn't get out of my head.
As I was furnishing my new apartment, I thought it would be cool to recreate the look of lights under the cabinets while sticking to a tight budget. I knew that installing lights that I could control with a wall switch would be too involved for a rental apartment. Popular smart light kits like Philips cost hundreds of dollars, so I took a gamble on these $24 Cadrim LED puck lights on Amazon and it worked out perfectly.
Amir Ismael/Insider
Installing the lights was incredibly easy. Each light requires three AA batteries and comes with double-sided adhesive pads to stick underneath your cabinets. No wiring, no pairing to your smartphone and WiFi, and no drilling are required to install.
The lights look amazing at night when the kitchen is all cleaned, but they also come in handy when I need extra illumination while using the counter space. You can turn individual lights on by clicking them or you adjust all of the lights at once with the included remote.
Amir Ismael/Insider
I personally like the white lights best, but you can choose between a variety of colors as well.
Amir Ismael/Insider
My kitchen might not be as fancy as that chef-inspired kitchen I fell in love with, but for $24, I couldn't be happier with the Cadrim LED puck lights.
Amir Ismael is an editor on Business Insider’s Reviews team specializing in men's style and grooming products. He joined the team (then called Insider Picks) in 2017, initially covering a wide range of subjects, including deals of the day, clothing, phone cases, headphones, and more, before leaning into his true passion — men’s style.ExperienceAmir began his journalism career at Complex Media in 2015, working as an intern and freelance writer for Complex Sneakers and Sole Collector. He joined Business Insider in July 2017. During his time on the Reviews team at BI, he’s covered all aspects of menswear and footwear, including the latest startups you should know about, brands focusing on sustainability, where to buy affordable work clothes for men, outerwear, watches, and more. He’s also continued to lead on style deal coverage for multiple key seasonal events each year, such as Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Why you can trust AmirAmir’s expertise in style is rooted in his personal love for collecting fashion, from vintage finds on eBay to new, innovative designs that spark his interest. Some of his favorite brands include Ralph Lauren, Timberland, The North Face, Nike, and Air Jordan. His enthusiasm focuses less on the materialistic side of consuming fashion, as he prefers delving into the stories behind them, be it their cultural significance, sports history, or impact on the outdoor/adventure space.Amir’s a passionate sneaker collector (and can tell you how to clean and restore them so you’re always looking your best), and he has you covered head-to-toe for everything you need to know in men’s style and grooming. He’s extensively tested glasses, wallets, watches, razors, skincare, and both casual and formal wear. For Amir, hunting for deals goes far beyond his coverage during shopping events like Black Friday. He prides himself on always being able to find great deals and attributes most of his personal collection to his deal-hunting prowess. If he says it’s a good deal, then it is!Expertise
Men’s street fashion
Footwear, including significant release dates, design history, construction, and materials
Menswear staples, including workwear, casual clothes, underwear, T-shirts, and more
Brand founder or designer interviews
Men’s grooming and shaving products
Prescription eyewear
EducationAmir graduated from William Paterson University with a BA in print journalism and public relations. Outside of workAmir has been a lifelong resident of New Jersey. When he’s not working, he enjoys working on and driving his small collection of classic BMWs.Say hello to Amir at aismael@businessinsider.com or on Instagram @amirjismael.
