Nate Berkus has convinced me I need this 'unconventional' feature in my kitchen – it's a totally affordable way to create a chic cooking space

This year, I've made it my mission to elevate my kitchen. I want it to feel warm and welcoming, but also to be as chic as it is functional. Which, let's be honest, isn't always the easiest thing to do in your cooking space.

But interior designer Nate Berkus' latest Instagram post couldn't have come at a better time. I've always loved his kitchen – it nails that blend of stylish and functional while feeling like a truly timeless and sophisticated space.

And his solution? Kitchen countertop lighting – a simple, affordable, and (as he describes it) unconventional way to introduce a warmer, more welcoming atmosphere to your space.

And with the right pieces, you can create a beautifully sculptural statement. Here's why Nate loves to adorn his counters with table lamps, and the best designs that will feel right at home in your kitchen.

'One of the things that I also talk about in Foundations, my new book, is how to style different areas in the home, including countertops and unexpected places to use things that you may not have thought of using them,' says Nate via Instagram.

We often think of table lamps as an accessory to add to living rooms or bedrooms, but they can be oh so effective as part of a kitchen lighting scheme, not just from a decorative perspective, but from a practical one, too. For Nate, it's counter lamps that make the difference.

'There's always a lot of plugs, and I really like having a secondary source of light, something that's charming, something that stays on when you first wake up in the morning, something that you have on when you come home at the end of a long day, or come downstairs to et waster in the middle of the night,' he explains.

It's also a feature that can take kitchens from being this purely utilitarian room, inviting a more relaxed, social atmosphere that feels cozier and more intimate. One or two lamps on your kitchen countertops will instantly invite a sense of warmth and symbolize that this is more than just a cooking space. It's somewhere to enjoy and relax, too.

'I love the fact that a kitchen doesn't need just overhead lighting, but something really cool and concentrated on the countertop as a source of light, and a little architecture, like these vintage pyramid stone lamps, is what it's about.'

The counter lamps you choose will depend entirely on your space and style. If you want a lamp on your counter beneath a wall cabinet, consider the height you have to play with. You will probably need something a bit shorter so it looks proportionate.

Or, if you're introducing a counter lamp on either side of your cooktop, something with a bit of height can create visual interest, or something sculptural, like the vintage lights Nate has in his kitchen, creates more of a design statement.

Shop kitchen countertop lamps

So, if you're wondering should you add lamps to your kitchen, the answer is absolutely! There are so many beautiful and timeless ways to refresh your kitchen with lighting, and counter lamps are an accessible and affordable option. But as Nate proves, it can also be incredibly chic – it's simply a case of finding the right designs and choosing the right placement in your kitchen.