62 Kitchen Lighting Ideas That’ll Transform Your Space
Lighting sets the mood and tone for your space before guests even enter the room. Let’s face it, you spend most of your time in the kitchen cooking meals or gathered with family and friends sharing a sweet treat. Kitchen lighting is crucial in a home—it’s vital to illuminate the one room in the house that is inhabited the most. A poorly lit space can set the wrong tone for guests. You certainly don’t want to spend time in a room that’s too dimly lit or blindingly bright.
Lighting is a great decorative accent, but in the kitchen, it’s especially important to get the lighting balance right for your safety and comfort. We found great ways to showcase statement lighting while also being practical and functional for your dream kitchen. From golden glows to bright whites, we’ve compiled the best ways to illuminate your kitchen to make it look like a beaming masterpiece. Trust us—with these lighting tips, it’ll be hard to leave your radiant space.
Pleated Shades
Credit:
Robert Peterson; Styling: Francis Bailey
Designer Tami Ramsay of Cloth & Kind softened this Athens kitchen’s multitude of hard (and hardworking) surfaces by hanging a pair of pleated fabric-covered pendants above the island. It’s an easy way to introduce pattern and color to the utilitarian space in a way that’s also protected from the daily mess.
Colorful Fixture
To introduce another pop of color in the largely white kitchen of this St. Simons Island, Georgia, house, designer Andrew Howard hung two charming lanterns by Coleen & Company,
A True Chandelier
Photographer: James Ransom; Styling: Christina Wressell
Designer Stephanie Sabbe leaned into the grand scale of this Nashville kitchen’s island, floating a six-arm chandelier above it, and then layered in countertop lamps for extra ambiance.
Linear Chandelier
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; STYLING: MATTHEW GLEASON
A sleek black fixture with two pendants felt just right in this Alpharetta, Georgia, kitchen, where emphasis was placed on natural materials and textures, like the Venetian plaster for the walls and Calacatta Macchia for the countertops and backsplash.
Double Header
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Fabric-covered shades on this two-light chandelier introduce subtle pattern to the warm, all-white kitchen of this Fairhope, Alabama, home on the water.
Glass Globe Pendants
Jeff Herr
For this Albany, Georgia, family house, designer Mallory Mathison Glenn installed a pair of glass globe pendants above the island. They add interest without disturbing the primary view, which include the statement-making hood, which is flanked by equally appealing brass-and-glass shelves that hold the homeowners’ collection of blue-and-white vessels.
Flush Mounts
LAUREY W. GLENN
Rather than pendants over the island that might block a view or change the symmetry of the room, consider simple flush mounts that are practical and interesting.
Statement Chandelier
JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: Veronica Olson
Use fancy lighting in unexpected places. A simple white chandelier is the perfect way to balance a colorful kitchen.
Complimentary Materials
Credit:
DANE TASHIMA; Styling: PAGE MULLINS
Consider the other materials used in the space and tie in textures and colors with your lighting. Here, two Visual Comfort & Co. pendants with a brass interior play off the range hood’s brass strapping.
Rustic Metal Pendants
Larsen & Talbert
Match natural wood tones with brass or copper lighting for a cohesive look.
Natural-Hued Glass Fixtures
Alison Gootee
Consider textured or worn glass pendants to tie into the spaces’ existing character.
Natural Lighting
Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason
Windows are a healthy and energy-efficient way to add light to your kitchen. Traditionally, there is a window located above the sink.
Moody Fixtures
James Ransom
Lean into the color palette of your kitchen when selecting lighting. Black pendants and sconces compliment the dark trim of this room.
Soft White Oversized Bulbs
For a modern look and soft glow, use matte white pendants. The sleek round shape helps to not overwhelm small spaces.
Recessed Lighting
Brian Woodcock
Don’t let your lighting get in the way of precious views or detract from beautiful woodworking. Instead opt for can lights that’ll blend into the ceiling.
Colorful Caged Lighting
The oversized pendant is a cerused white oak island that’s topped with gray-blue Arabescatus marble.Â
Slim Fixtures for Small Spaces
Work a slender lighting source into a small kitchen to illuminate any space. This bent fixture draws eyes up and completes the room’s brass touches.
Matte-White Pendant Lighting
Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene
Matte-white pendant lighting and appliances finish this space with a custom look.
Shaded Lighting
Add a unique flare to your kitchen with hanging, patterned lamp shade fixtures.
Vintage Chandelier
A one-of-a-kind light fixture is the perfect solution for dressing up your kitchen.
Three’s a Crowd Pendant Lighting
Three’s certainly not a crowd with fixtures that match the number of seats at the counter. If you’re not keen on a chunky overhead light, go for matte gold fixtures to provide a radiant look.
Small Pendant Lighting
For a simple statement, go for high numbers. This open kitchen draws your eyes up with 18 small pendants as the main light source.
Contrasting Lighting
Brighten a darker space with oversized lighting that brings a lighter tone to the room.
Lampshade-Style Pendant
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING BY: HOLLY SMITH
Elevate any hardworking space with elegant lampshades. Swap out existing shades on any fixture or seek out the just-right-pendant.
Vintage Hanging Pendant Lighting
Create contrast with deep tones by applying vintage hanging pendant lights to your kitchen space.
Textured Fixture Lighting
In a classic white kitchen, adding texture and shape is a beautiful thing.
Nook Lighting
Nooks are great for natural sunlight, but when the sun goes down a country-chic pendant can keep the candle burning at any hour.
Grid Pendant Lighting
A grid of pendants, rather than the ubiquitous pair, hangs over the island. The overhang into this kitchen’s pathways helps to widen and brighten the space.
Small Modern Pendant Lighting
Small, streamlined pendants against shiplap walls bring a breath modern farmhouse style to any kitchen space.
Glass Fixture Lighting
Vintage glam meets modern finishes with large brass-accented glass pendants.
Long Lighting
The long rustic lines draw eyes up and lengthen the room, making the light and bright kitchen feel even more open.
Pendants With A Pop Of Color
Brian Woodcock; Styling: Page Mullins
This kitchen is all white everything, save for a few finishing touches. This gives the kitchen a very clean look, with added spots of brightness thanks to the pendants, the cushions and the color of the island.
Casual Warm Lighting
Brighten the kitchen space with overhanging warm lighting.
Layered Mellow Lighting
Joseph De Leo
Having multiple overhead lights in the same area but layered is a visually unique and interesting way to make your kitchen brighter—especially when the cabinets and other features are on the darker side.
Single Overhead Lighting
A single, overhead light softens the space and showcases a stunning, oversized farm sink.
Laid-Back Pendant Lighting
Add a relaxed, yet polished air to any kitchen island by pairing built-in overhead lights with bohemian statement pendants.
Flexible Spotlight Lighting
A flexible spotlight can illuminate the sink or counter, but it’s also handy to move when needed.
Light Blue Pendant Lighting
A light blue clouded pendant is the perfect accessory for any white kitchen.
Lamp Lighting
Antique lamp fixtures can make kitchen eating feel refined yet relaxed.
Neutral Nodes Lighting
Intricate in design and abundant in lights, these pendant lights contain 4 miniature lamps within them.
Caged Lighting
Who says lighting can’t double as storage? Hanging pots and pans from the copper light fixture above the island saves storage space and adds to the contrast seen throughout the kitchen.
Gold Pendant Lighting
Industrially glam and wonderfully geometric, these large gold fixtures brighten up a space before you even flip the switch.
Display Lighting
Illuminate your kitchen with a show-stopping light fixture. This Italian Murano bubble glass chandelier hangs overhead a custom white lacquered table.
Oversized and Rustic Lighting
Emphasize high ceilings and beams with an oversized, glass pendant light.
Complementing Colors Lighting
Don’t shy away from complementing color in the kitchen. Here, a grapefruit pink pendant gets playful against tropical green.
Mix and Match Lighting
We almost don’t know where to look first. Mix and match fixtures, like this high coral pendant sandwiched between modern, longer globes.
Petite Pendant Lighting
An elongated, petite pendant easily showcases the height of the ceilings and cabinets.
Industrial White Lighting
These white industrial pendant lights add a vintage edge to this playful kitchen.
Glass Globe Lighting
Glass globe lights captivate attention without taking away from other details in your kitchen, like beautiful backsplashes, wallpaper, or seating.
Coastal Blue Pop Lighting
Finish any color scheme with light to match, like these coastal blue statement lights.
Hanging Lighting
Etched glass brings an air of sophistication above a sink, no matter how dirty the dishes are below.
Colorful Statement Pendant Lighting
Who says pendants can’t have a pop of color? A dark teal fixture can add character above any kitchen sink.
Wide Fluorescent Lighting
Black matte pendant lights can blend with any kitchen color combination.
Under Open Shelving Lighting
Open shelving just might be here to stay. Illuminate your neatly placed dishes and glassware for guests to easily grab what they need.
Balancing Glow
Balance an oversized island pendant with small sconces by the sink.
Galley Kitchen Lighting
Keep things clean with a simple glass fixture. But, if you want an additional glow, add a lamp to the counter and use colorful string lights by the window.
Under Cabinet Lighting
Add extra light to prep spaces while highlighting your favorite countertop decor with under cabinet lights.
Oversized Lanterns
Light up a large island with pendants that match the scale of the space.
Accent Lighting
Use accent lighting to highlight collections and artwork in your kitchen.
Task Lighting
Directional downlighting illuminates your work surface to make your time in the kitchen safer and easier on your eyes.
Brass Pendant Lighting
Everything in this kitchen has texture and warmth. Brass hardware and pendants offset textured neutrals, like the Palecek stools.
General Lighting
General lighting provides overall illumination to a space. Use decorative ceiling fixtures supplemented by recessed lights for style and even light.
