Homeowners aiming to change the lighting effects in their food prep and kitchen sinks[del] areas may increasingly turn to LEDs this year.Victoria Lee, lighting designer at Light IQ, predicted that the popularity of LEDs will rise with reckless abandon in 2011 due to the fact that in October new regulations come in to ensure that 75 per cent of new wiring and new refurbishment in residential buildings have to be energy efficient.Unfortunately public perception of them [LEDs] is low, so it takes professionals like us and others to [sell] the benefits of them really, she added.Its such a big learning curve for the public.In addition, Ms Lee suggested that LED downlights are vital for future-proofing a property.The comments come after Caroline Wilson, northern regional sales manager at home electrical distributor Pik-A-Pak, recently said that the demand for coloured kitchen products had increased very strongly in recent months.