Kitchen Ideas Lighting

Kitchens are ground zero for delectable meals, family gatherings, and creative design opportunities, which means they should certainly shine. Enter: kitchen lighting ideas, an essential prerequisite for cheffing it up. From ornamental pendants to unobtrusive track lighting, the options for kitchen light fixtures are endless. Today's top designers have predictably led the way in illuminating different design possibilities, proving that sconces, blinged-out chandeliers, and dimmers all have a seat at the kitchen table.

Just like living rooms and bedrooms, the tried and true rules of layered lighting apply to the kitchen. By intentionally layering light, you can harness that power and create a well-lit, well-balanced kitchen interior. To start, employ task lighting like sconces and chic lamps above cooking hot spots for more clarity. Next up, evenly-dispersed ambient lighting can help further create balance. And, of course, don’t discount a statement piece. Be it a tole chandelier or a Murano glass fixture, statement lighting can work in a kitchen, too.

If you’re currently in the midst of cooking up a lighting scheme for your own kitchen, here are 35 kitchens that exemplify a considered and purposeful approach to lighting. Get inspired by how these designers lit up these kitchens, whether you have a small layout or a space with low ceilings.

Lighting Design Ideas For Traditional, Country And Cottage Kitchens

In this farmhouse-inspired kitchen designed by Young Huh, mint green cabinetry provides a striking backdrop for a trifecta of simple glass pendants.

The navy blue and gold-accented island steals the show in this sun-filled kitchen designed by Creative Tonic, while a quintuplet of sconces provide directed countertop light.

In this kitchen cued up by Douglas C. Wright, a shaded pendant illuminates the wood kitchen island, while a gold picture light sheds light on a book-filled hutch.

Stunning Kitchen Lighting Designs To Transform Into A Designer Space

Reminiscent of a French bakery, this ultra-chic kitchen designed by Summer Thornton makes the ultimate case for a classic black and white color combo.

Although the skylight and arched floor-to-ceiling windows bring in plenty of light, industrial pendants and a massive orb chandelier seal the deal in this kitchen designed by James Thomas.

Symmetry is the name of the game for this kitchen designed by Nate Berkus. Three opaline globe pendants perfectly balance the island's six bar stools.

Top Tips For Your Kitchen Lighting

For a kitchen with a homey, cabin vibe designer David Scott used a pair of crimson, quatrefoil pendants to bring the outdoors in.

So as not to compete with the vibrant color palette (and dramatic ceiling!) featured in this cozy kitchen, White Webb Interior Design selected a pair of simple milk glass pendants to provide illumination.

Alicia Mies is an editorial intern at Chairish, an online marketplace for vintage home decor. Before covering interior design for Chairish, she completed journalism internships at local newspapers and earned her B.A. in Urban Studies from Brown University. She is based in the Bay Area where she eats plenty of pho and Korean barbecue.

Modern Kitchen Lighting Ideas You Should Really Consider

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Brilliant Kitchen Lighting Ideas

Ashley Knierim has over a decade of experience in writing, editing, and content strategy. She held positions at Time Magazine, AOL, and JPMorgan Chase. She is also a home décor and DIY enthusiast who spends her free time decorating (and redecorating) her home.

We've long believed that the right light fixture can be like jewelry for your home—a glamorous finishing touch that makes every other detail come together in perfect harmony. But even we can admit that kitchens often get the short end of the stick. While formal dining rooms get dramatic chandeliers and even powder rooms enjoy more than their fair share of fun sconces, kitchens rarely get the first-class treatment when it comes to lighting.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Whether. you want an eye-catching centerpiece or you just need a little extra task lighting that's aesthetically pleasing, focusing on the lighting in your kitchen can do a lot. From modern sculptural designs to vintage-inspired chandeliers to understated accents, we rounded up our favorite scene-stealing light fixtures just might make the kitchen your favorite room of the house.

Creative Lighting Ideas For A Brighter Space

Click through for our favorite kitchen lighting ideas, and soon you'll be seeing your prep space in a whole new light. (Sorry, we had to do it.)

This clean and cohesive kitchen is what we'd call new traditional, but we love the subtle nods to more rustic elements—seen here in the unique light fixture, bar stools, and accessories. These small touches add another layer of character to this charming space. The metallic accents on the light fixture help tie the whole look together.

While we'd obviously never pass up a great brass, copper, or oiled bronze light fixture, a rattan or woven jute option can be a great way to bring the outdoors in—especially if you're leaning toward a Scandi decorating scheme with lots of cane and light wood tones.

Best Kitchen Lighting Design Ideas 2023

Opposites attract—which may account for why we're so smitten with these vintage-style lantern lights in this muted, contemporary space. Their oversized scale and light-catching brass accents make them the centerpiece of the kitchen, and reference the historic elements elsewhere in this home.

There's just not enough time for us to unpack everything we love about this quirky, midcentury space—but the light fixture definitely takes the cake. Its atomic age-esque shape fits right in with these Eames-style chairs, while the natural fiber brings a touch of the organic into this cheery eating area.

A transformative kitchen lighting design doesn't have to be overly bold. Here, two simple gray pendants maintain the subtle, minimalist look of the rest of the kitchen while still acting as a focal point.

Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas To Brighten Your Counter Workspace

Sometimes the best lighting ideas are the most out-of-the-box choices. Instead of going for traditional recessed lighting or a pendant over the kitchen island, consider hanging a handful of mini pendants throughout the center of your prep space for a fun, playful lighting idea.

Who says you need to cover up your lights with shades? Here, exposed bulbs give off a rustic, industrial look and feel and add a lot of interest. You can opt for warm, loft lighting or Edison bulbs to keep the lights from feeling too harsh or bright.

Less is definitely not more when it comes to eye-catching chandeliers. This multi-bulb fixture is perfect for creating a contemporary focal point in your open concept kitchen/dining room and helps to delineate the space.

Beautiful Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas For Every Style & Budget

If you don't have a dedicated dining room, a statement fixture is a great way to carve out a more formal look and feel in the room.

Here, a pendant light with an oversized glass shade offers a fun touch to the otherwise traditional kitchen. The wavy, clear glass shade is subtle enough to provide just enough of personality without clashing with the rest of the space.

Whether or not you are actually close to the beach, you can still incorporate a nautical decor look in your kitchen through the use of lighting. Look for pendant lights made of driftwood or shell details to add a beachy vibe to your prep space.

Beautiful Lighting Ideas For Your Kitchen Island

If the rest of your kitchen is streamlined and simple, consider opting for more detailed or elaborate lighting to take the focus in your space. A multi-faceted, Moroccan-inspired pendant can not only reflect more light, but the artisanal look provides an elevated feel that's creative and personal.

Though the most popular kitchen lighting choices are focused around the island, don't forget the rest of your space. A few modern sconces can help frame a window and add task lighting above the sink where you need it.

If you want the lighting (and not the fixture) to steal the show, pick a shade that is understated and almost blends in with the rest of the kitchen. A clear glass cover allows the bulb to be the focus so you can pick a warm light such as an Edison bulb to fill the space with a glow.

Kitchen Lighting Ideas That'll Transform Your Space

If you play with Edison lighting in your kitchen, make sure you have multiple source of light so you fill the space with adequate lumens for the square footage.

Not sure where to start with your kitchen lighting? Look for lighting that pairs well with your cabinetry. Matching the color with your cabinets is an easy