Kitchen lighting ideas – 37 ways to set the scene for cooking, eating and entertaining

Kitchen lighting ideas are an important part of any successful design scheme, with functional and aesthetic illumination particularly important in a space that is used increasingly for entertaining as much as cooking. 

Apart from its key function, lighting can have a transformative effect on your kitchen ideas from making the space look bigger to highlighting key pieces and creating a specific ambience.

Kitchens usually need to include task, mood and feature lighting. Task lighting is the most practical and covers hardworking areas like the prep space, cooking area and the sink; mood lighting creates different atmospheres and feature lighting is eye-catching and can simply introduce a bit of character.  

A layered approach to lighting will not just set the mood to your kitchen but bring interest and depth. Here are just some of the kitchen lighting ideas that can bring a new dimension to your kitchen.

Kitchen lighting ideas

Investing in a kitchen lights design that provides both effective task lighting and creates the perfect ambience is essential. These kitchen lighting ideas and expert advice will help you start that journey.

1. Mix up your fixtures, but keep it coherent 

As all kitchens will require multiple different types of lighting, consider exploring a multitude of kitchen lighting trends in your space by mixing and matching different fixtures.

‘Have fun with different shapes and shades, but if you’re mixing it up, stick to a theme or a core tone so that everything hangs together visually,’ says Tom Howley, Design Director of his eponymous kitchen design brand.

This principle is clear in this large barn conversion kitchen by Richard Felix-Ashman, where three differing styles of pendant, chandelier and wall lighting have been used over the counters, island and dining tables. All of them feature the color black with two sporting brass accents, with the entire scheme exploring a contemporary take on vintage styles. 

2. Add punch to a neutral scheme with feature lighting

Not only can lighting fixtures make a big impact through their illumination power, but their form can often be the final piece of your kitchen design puzzle that brings everything together. 

The modern kitchen lighting ideas used in this San Francisco apartment by Cathie Hong see a pair of black and dark green pendant lights hang over an island in a kitchen that is largely colored with white and light oak. Along with the faucet, the lights create a standout contrast with their dramatically dark color, adding structure and a thoughtful design touch to the space. 

3. Use lighting to Illuminate texture to bring in depth  

Choosing kitchen lighting set close to natural surfaces will play on light and shadow, enhancing texture and patination and bringing the materials to life. 

'To really maximize beautiful surfaces, select fittings that are low glare and provide discreet illumination,' says Luke Thomas, design director, John Cullen Lighting. 

'Recessed downlights or spotlights with frosted glass lenses create a diffuse light for a soft wash, while linear LEDs give a continuous, even glow. It’s critical to use lighting with excellent color rendering properties, CRI 95 is best, so materials, particularly natural materials, are seen in their true form without color warping or flat lifelessness.'

4. Consider a solo light to highlight a focal point 

A single designer light poised above an island unit can be all it takes to unite a scheme, inject elegance, and emphasise a focal point, especially in an open plan space. 

'If you’re going for one lone fitting, it should be scaled in proportion with the island. Not so big it overpowers, nor so small it looks lost in the space,' says Mike Fetherston, design director, Hetherington Newman. 'Position either centrally if the shape of the island suits, or above a bar seating area. The bottom of the pendant should be clear of head height, so at least 90cm above the worktop.'

5. Create a quirky feature with oversized lighting

When thinking about how to plan kitchen lighting, don’t be afraid to go big at your kitchen’s heart. Daringly oversized lighting features are a great way to add character to a kitchen – just be sure to position them carefully. In this kitchen by Tiffany Leigh, oversized lampshades hang from the ceiling over the island – their positioning maximizes task lighting over the workspace, while also creating a widespread warm glow at the center of the room. Crucially, they are kept high enough not to interfere with the eyeline, and add a quirky touch thanks to their slightly surreal size. 

6. Incorporate reflective materials to bounce light around the room 

When thinking about how much light your kitchen needs, it’s important to consider a balance of natural light and artificial light. One trick you can use to enhance both – day or night – is to incorporate reflective surfaces into your design. In this kitchen by Liz Caan, brass metallic accents glow in the sunlight, glass cabinet doors reflect light in the darker lower areas of the kitchen, while a mirror next to the window and a statement mirrored ceiling light creates a glistening jewel at the center of the room. 

7. Choose light fittings with a similar shape or finish to your kitchen furniture 

Sourcing kitchen lighting that shares a design dialogue with your kitchen furniture will help your scheme feel sophisticated and considered. Look for light fittings in similar shapes, thicknesses and, of course, coordinating finishes. 

Here, the horizontal bar of the pendant lights artfully align with the brass trim on the cabinetry behind. Warm metallic finishes can be particularly hard to match with accuracy, so do request samples to compare before you buy.

Ensure your brass items are either all lacquered or all unlacquered to retain uniformity. Lacquered will protect brass from tarnishing, while unlacquered allows gradual patination. If the taps you like don’t come in a matching brass, choose black, which goes with any metal.

8. Use wall lights as an alternative to downlights 

The presence of kitchen wall lighting ideas is growing, as the ‘fitted’ rigidity of wall units increasingly give way to relaxed open shelving. 

'Stylish kitchen wall lights are a great alternative to ceiling downlights and will add an extra design feature on emptier walls. Set on separate circuits, they are great for layering with overhead and task lighting. Alone, they will provide softer, ambient illumination in the evening,' says Rohan Blacker, founder, Pooky.

 Go for adjustable wall lights suitable for use with high wattage bulbs if they are to be used as task lighting. Connect to dimmer controls for extra flexibility. 

9.  Select lights that are in line with the kitchen island 

When planning your kitchen lighting, few modern kitchen island or peninsula units feel complete without some form of stylish lighting above. Getting it right requires advance planning, especially on islands beyond two metres long. Determining what will happen on the island first will help plan where you need illumination. On longer surfaces it’s often better to target lighting above key points, like the prep area and breakfast bar, rather than line pendants up in equally spaced rows. 

'We like to aim for practicality but with some flair,' says Roundhouse designer Ben Hawkswell. 'This six-light pendant boasts great directional lighting for targeting work areas and its streamlined design maximises sightlines.'

10. Group smaller, understated lights for a more dramatic impact 

The unexpected positioning of these pretty vintage pendants elevates their appeal. It also bears practical benefits, bringing the light source closer to the task in hand. The faded elegance and jewel-like colors of these antique glass pendants are unique, but the shades have been visually united using matching retro fittings. Individually, they may be small and dainty, but worked together they feel far bolder. 

'You can easily tire of statement lighting that dominates the kitchen,' says Helen Parker, creative director, deVOL Kitchens. 'Discreet and understated designs still catch our attention, but we don’t get bored of them so easily.' 

11. Introduce LED strips for clever ‘hidden’ lighting 

A few LED strips can go a long way in the kitchen, bringing shelving to life and dialling the mood to relax. The most sophisticated solutions are completely hidden when the lights are off, which requires early discussions with your designer. 

'It is essential to ensure that the LED strips are properly set into recesses within the shelves or cabinetry,' explains Mark Holloway, managing director, Kitchens By Holloways. 'Angling them at 45 degrees, back towards the wall, will achieve the best lighting effect and prevent garish reflections or visible fittings.' Look for LEDs emitting warm light, around 2700k, for an inviting atmosphere. 

12. Choose a vintage light for a unique one-off statement piece 

If you’re going for one statement light, make sure it’s a keeper by seeking out timeless design. This monochrome kitchen, created by Australian interior designer Fiona Lynch, is punctuated by Jean Prouvé's purist masterpiece for Vitra. Designed in the 1950s, its pared-back industrial lines still feel modern more than half a century later. We love how the tubular steel swing arm can be effortlessly moved between sink and breakfast bar. 

Similarly enduring lighting brands include Flos, Lampe Gras and Louis Poulsen. Find original examples at 1st Dibs. Modern productions of this industrial look can be found at Industville, Pooky and Holloway of Ludlow’s Old School Electric.

13. Blend modern and traditional styles 

Kitchen lighting isn’t just a practical necessity – when chosen with creativity, it can add an impactful twist to a room’s design scheme. For example, don’t be afraid to use them to blend the present with the past. 

In this kitchen by interior designer Windsor Smith, modern kitchen lighting is used to bring a contemporary edge to a kitchen with a firm foot in tradition. The coned fittings put a modern twist on the classic chandelier arrangement, much like how the slick, brushed brass cabinet handles update the paneled doors. 

14. Layer lighting in tall kitchens 

When planning contemporary kitchen lighting, you may well need to think about covering the room vertically, as well as horizontally. Fitted downlighters will bring widespread light across the kitchen, but lower lighting may well be needed to bring focus into particular parts of the room. 

This is especially important if you’re working on a kitchen with high ceilings, where the diminished impact of downlighters mean you may want to add extra lighting closer to eye level. In this kitchen with a double height ceiling, low-hanging pendant lights are used over the island to bring more light into the food preparation area. 

15. Consider the rule of three

There are three main types of lighting in a modern kitchen: task, mood and feature, and the most successful kitchen schemes include all three. 

Task lights are the brightest and target the working areas such as preparation surfaces, cooker and sink, while mood lighting, which is soft and diffused, is used to create ambience. 

Feature lighting can refer to the fitting itself, which makes a statement whether it is on or off, as in the kitchen above, or to something interesting like a color-changing system, in-cupboard illumination or plinth-level lighting, which adds an extra dimension but is not essential. 

‘Always opt for more light sources rather than brighter ones, and set decorative and mood lighting on dimmers, so they can be adjusted with ease,’ advises Giovanni Corrado of Baroncelli.

Another rule of three applied to kitchen lighting ideas? Three pendants over a kitchen island, rather than two or four. This is because odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye. 

16. Plan for an eye-catching kitchen lighting idea

One way to give your kitchen lighting ideas real impact is to pick a stand-out centerpiece that can sit over the island or dining table. It needn't provide anything but good ambient lighting, but making it dimmable is a bonus for adjusting the room's atmosphere when you need to.

Black track lights are also becoming increasingly popular, because they can provide plenty of light and add a little 1970s style. 

Jamie Blake, creative director of Blakes London, says, 'Use them in place of a pendant, or opt instead for a single pendant over the island, rather than a set. One large and spectacular pendant, perhaps suspended over the island to one side or over a breakfast bar, can look like a piece of art.'

17. Highlight a dining area with pendant lights 

When considering how to choose kitchen lighting, it’s important to match the appropriate style to its location in the room. Adding extra light to a dining area is a great way to boost atmosphere and make sure your culinary creations look their best when served, and pendant lights hung from the ceiling do this while also creating an unmissable design feature. 

In this kitchen by designer Ginny Macdonald, pendants are used over both the island and the breakfast area. Their low hanging nature means they are always best used over a table or counter, where people aren’t going to walk underneath them. 

18. Give unique nooks dedicated lighting

Because life is never entirely straightforward, not every kitchen has four walls – especially in older buildings, you may find yourself with the odd nook or cranny that needs to be worked with. Recessed areas and alcoves can be great spaces to turn into dedicated areas for certain functions, but they can also end up being a little darker if tucked away from the room’s main lights. 

In this kitchen owned by Waterworks Co-Founder Barbara Sallick, an alcove has been turned into a bar area, deliberately lit with its own brass wall sconces to ensure home bartenders can work their magic with ease.

19. Double up in larger spaces 

Big kitchens or an open plan kitchen needs big lighting plans – so don’t be afraid to double up on light fittings both horizontally and vertically. In this sprawling kitchen by Claudia Afshar, the light needed to be distributed across a counter, a breakfast bar and not one, but two islands. Afshar therefore chose to use both a multitude of downlighters fitted into the ceiling, as well as pendant lights over both islands to ensure every bit of the room is well lit. 

20. Choose pretty accent lamps that are practical too

‘Often, lighting can be the last thing considered in kitchen design,’ says Andrew Hall, managing director of Woodstock Furniture. 'However, for a kitchen to look its best and function well, the space must be lit properly.’

Experts agree that the best time to install a new lighting scheme is way back when you are still planning your kitchen, as you are signing off your kitchen layout ideas and drawings. Leave it until later and it becomes an after-thought with limited possibilities.

However adventurous you would like to be with your scheme, it’s crucial to establish your budget early. As a general rule, John Cullen recommends spending as much on your kitchen’s lighting as you do on the flooring.

21. Light under kitchen cabinetry to create a floating feel

As the layout develops, start thinking about the lighting, not only for wiring purposes, but also so that you can problem solve as the plans unfold, says Blake. 

'For example, I would usually use LEDs under the wall cupboards to light the countertop. Without them, another lighting solution is required, so instead I might include kitchen wall lighting on swing arms that can be angled to suit.'

The kitchen lighting ideas above are incredibly practical, but they also highlight the exotic stone backsplashes and countertops, the floor and the shelving display, creating a floating feel that is perfect for enhancing space if you are looking for small kitchen lighting ideas.

22. Light inside cabinetry – and pantries

Consider practical lighting inside pantries, breakfast dressers and wall cupboards, ideally on switches that automatically turn on the light when the door is opened and off when shut, advises Blake.

Lighting inside glazed cabinets can be used to make a feature of glassware, while a simple table lamp on a console or dresser helps link kitchen with dining or living areas in an open plan room. 

'I rarely use plinth- or cornice-level lighting, because it isn’t usually necessary and can make a room look like a spaceship. There are exceptions, such as when a tall run of cabinetry stops short of the ceiling. Here, a soft glow of light could be used to illuminate a dark patch to create a balanced look.'

23. Add industrial accents

Industrial styles have become increasingly popular over recent years, with metallic accents and concrete surfaces cropping up more and more. These metal trapeze lights give this classic Tom Howley kitchen an urban edge.

24. Go for gold

Gold lights have incredible reflective properties and are ideal for bouncing light around the room. They are also a brilliant addition to darker kitchen color schemes, as they help to lift and lighten a room – as seen in this stunning Tom Howley kitchen.

25. Mix and match vintage finds

This classic English kitchen by deVOL uses mismatching vintage-style pendants to create a totally unique lighting solution. Sometimes venturing back to previous eras works well – even in more contemporary kitchens.

26. Charm with a chandelier

Chandelier lights are brilliant for adding a sense of occasion to an entertaining space. 

What's more, not only do chandelier crystal droplets look visually pleasing, but they also shimmer and reflect light, casting it around the room – ideal if you're thinking of going bigger and bolder with your space, like in this gorgeous Tom Howley kitchen extension. 

27. Love linear lights

Linear lights can be a great modern kitchen idea, as they are in-keeping with the streamline nature and clean lines typically found in them.

Whether it's a strip light or a parallel rows of spotlights, there are so many ways this linear look can be achieved - as seen in this gorgeous Sebastian Cox Kitchen by deVOL. It's also a great solution for kitchen island lighting.

28. Make your island shine bright

One idea to add a little more drama to a kitchen is to showcase your island. A way to do this is to have pendant drop-down lights solely over your kitchen island and ceiling spotlights throughout the rest of the room. This means all the attention will be on this central hub - where you're most likely to be cooking and entertaining anyway.

This classic English kitchen by deVOL does exactly that.

29. Go back to basics with single bulbs

Exposed bulb lights have been everywhere the past few years and give an industrial look to a space. We love these bulb pendant lights in this deVOL real shaker kitchen.

30. Be an energy saver

Incorporate LEDs at multiple levels to flood your kitchen in light, without costing the earth. LEDs are by far the most energy-efficient option, lasting at least 20,000 hours or ten years.

Look for those with warm color rendition to avoid a clinical feel. A 12W cluster LED spotlight compares in warmth and brightness to a 50W halogen spotlight.

31. Creat a dynamic trio

Boost the impact of statement pendants by arranging them in a row along the length of an island or table. As we said above, odd numbers work best; opt for three or five depending on the area.

32. Go to great lengths

In a room with a high ceiling, lower-level pendants work especially well above an island or dining table, where they won’t cause an obstruction.

33. Put on a light show

'Never feel too compelled to have a light in the centre of a ceiling. Install several lights and ensure they are given specific tasks. If the dining table is likely to be in the corner of the kitchen, hang a pendant over there. It’s more functional and looks more considered,' says Busola Evans, Homes & Gardens' kitchen and bathroom supplement editor.

34. Add an arty installation

Kitchen lighting should not just be thought of as purely practical. It can also be used to add a dynamic look to your kitchen. Contemporary fittings like these striking pendants in mismatched styles, provide a design feature that captures the imagination.

35. Get the wall factor

'The perfect height of lights depends on two factors: the height of the people living in the house and the height of the ceilings. Wall lights work well in a small kitchen, especially ones with little natural light,' says Kenny Collins, chairman of The Lighting Store.

36. Show off star quality

The saying 'go big or go home' might be the mantra of youth, but it certainly rings true for the kitchen. 

'There’s a real trend for architectural lighting in kitchens right now, like big pendants with several arms, and they make a real statement. Ensure that they hang at least 2m above the island or table,' explains Sarah Spiteri, editorial director of Homes & Gardens.

37. Create the ultimate showstopper

A good, well-thought-out lighting scheme can make all the difference in a kitchen. 'Match the style of your light fittings to your kitchen – interesting light fittings will stop your kitchen looking overly clinical. 

'Prismatic glass and bone china work wonderfully in country style kitchens, metallic pendants give an industrial flavor, and brightly-painted pendants bring an often-needed pop of color,' enthuses Peter Bowles, managing director of Original BTC and Davey Lighting.

What type of lighting is best for kitchens?

Most residential lighting is now LED, as it is energy-efficient and long-lasting. It is also compact, so you can buy tiny lamps on a flexible strip to run along shelf edges and under counters and plinths, which can significantly lighten the look of a hefty island.

LED downlights have replaced the halogen bulbs of old. Look for directional options that let you shine light where you need it. Broadly, there are four types of lighting to consider: task lighting to illuminate countertops, sink and hob; general lighting to give overall brightness; ambient lighting to add a soft glow to sociable spaces, and decorative lighting to create focal points and display areas.

What's trending in kitchen lighting?

Controllability is key. ‘Lighting is the most important element to bear in mind when zoning in a kitchen,’ explains Tom Howley, design director of Tom Howley. 

‘Spotlights in the ceiling should always be dimmable, so you can adjust the mood in the kitchen when you have guests. Task lighting is essential over the most used worktop areas. This is key when prepping food in the evening, allowing you to keep the atmosphere relaxed elsewhere with the dimmable lights.’