Alvin Wayne
Good kitchen lighting is layered for functionality as well as ambiance.
Check out these kitchen lighting ideas in a range of styles for inspiration.
Want more design inspiration?
Alvin Wayne
Choose black lights for a modern look or to balancecolorful kitchen finishes.
Kitchen Island Pendants
Michelle Berwick Design
Anchor yourkitchen island with pendant lighting.
Complement it with a statement light like this gilded vintage pendant light in aneat-in kitchenfrom J Hill Interiors.
Michelle Boudreau Design
If the wall isn’t wired, opt for aportable cordless LED lamp.
Japandi-Style Pendants
Studio KT
Complement a modern orJapandi kitchenwith pendant lighting in an organic shape.
Stagger the light fixtures to add intrigue and create a focal point over the island.
Michelle Berwick Design
Kitchen Floor Lamp
Maite Granda
Use a floor lamp to define zones in a spacious open-plan kitchen.
Turn it on to warm up dark mornings or late evenings.
LED Lighting
Fantastic Frank
Light asmall kitchenwith sleek LED lighting for a contemporary feel.
Design byJ Hill Interiors/ Photo byJenny Siegwart
What jot down of lighting is best for a kitchen?
Task lighting should illuminate countertops for food prep.
General lighting includes fixtures such as ceiling mounts, pendants, or sconces.
Alvin Wayne
Accent lighting may include cabinets with integrated backlighting to create a focal point.
Retro Pendant Lights
Give a modern kitchen a hint of retro style with 1950s-inspired pendant lighting.
The sculptural shape will anchor a kitchen island for a homey feel.
Studio KT
Shelf Lamps
Most Lovely Things
Task lighting is vital in a kitchen, but so is ambiance.
Create a cozy feel by outfitting open shelvingwith a couple of small lamps, like this DIYcoffee bar.
This will make the space feel grounded and flood the table with soft light during evening meals.
Maite Granda
Decorative Modern Pendants
Margaret Wright
Treat your lighting like jewelry to give your kitchen a decorative look.
A striking pair of pendants over a large kitchen island look like a pair of oversized earrings.
Combine with neutral finishes and light woods for a Mediterranean-inspired look.
Studio Peake
Layer an adjustable height pulley pendant light with a vintage look and taper candles for a timeless feel.
Contemporary black pendant lights with gilded undersides define the peninsula in this NYC kitchen from JLA Designs.
White Globe Sconce
Casa Watkins Living
Hang a globe sconce to complement any style kitchen.
Design byDasModandHandsome Salt/ Photo byJenny Siegwart
Built-In Light Column
Lighten up a wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with backlit storage.
Small Island Pendant Light
Anchor asmall kitchen islandwith a single pendant light.
Choose an organic modern design for a sculptural look that isn’t too heavy.
Fantastic Frank
Thisbeige kitchenfrom Mendelson Group is outfitted with polished brass pendants that warm up the space.
Midcentury Modern Pendant
Infuse yourkitchen with midcentury modern styleby decorating it with a Danish modern pendant light.
Choose a natural material or a gold-tone metal to add warmth to an all-white space.
Design byTidal Interiors/ Photo byJenny Siegwart
Black fixtures complement the gray-and-white space for a contemporary feel.
Picture Light
Kate Marker Interiors
Highlightkitchen wall decoror art with a picture light.
This is the kind of detail that works well in both traditional and contemporary kitchens.
Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture & Interiors/ Photo byWendy Concannon
In this space, sparkling new fixtures and fittings add contrast with rustic original exposed wood ceilings.
In thisconverted sunroomkitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, a white fixture blends into the room while creating an impression.
Dome Light With Gilding
Choose a pendant light with a gilded interior to create a soft glow.
Design byTidal Interiors/ Photo byJenny Siegwart
Marie Flanigan Interiors hung a long and linear pendant that echoes the windows in this transitional eat-in kitchen.
Kitchen Skylights
The best light is natural light.
The volume of the lighting fixtures helps to make the room feel cozier.
Most Lovely Things
Vintage-Style Pendants
Liz Marie Blog
Hang vintage-style pendant lights to add character to an all-whitefarmhouse kitchen.
Source originals at flea markets or budget-friendly reproductions online.
Copper Wire Pendants
Match your kitchen island pendants to your bar stools for a coordinated look.
Design byLeanne Ford Interiors/ Photo byAlexandra Ribar
Michelle Berwick Design chose to accent this black-and-white kitchen with copper tones that add palpable warmth to the space.
Black Metal Lighting
Highlightvaulted kitchen ceilingswith classic metal pendant lights.
Black metal lights complement the windows in this converted carriage house kitchens for a modern but timeless look.
Ashley Montgomery Design
Michelle Berwick Design used black wire pendants to help structure the double islands in this large modern kitchen.
Colorful Bulb Light Cords
Add a hint of color in a minimalist space with lighting.
Painted Lantern
Infuse yourkitchen with modern farmhouse stylewith hanging lanterns.
Design byLeanne Ford Interiors/ Photo byReid Rolls
The black fixtures play well against concrete finishes for a graphic look.
Elements like fluted glass and black metal combined will add charm to a modern or farmhouse space.
Should Kitchen Lights Be Warm or Cool?
Margaret Wright
For the right balance, kitchen lights should be a mix of warm and cool lighting.
Use cool bulbs for task lighting, such as over kitchen countertops, to ensure adequate lighting for cooking.
What Is the Best Lighting for a Small Dark Kitchen?
Desiree Burns Interiors
The best lighting for a small dark kitchen is layered lighting.
deVOL Kitchens
JLA Designs
Casa Watkins Living
Fantastic Frank
Design byForge & Bow Dwellings/ Arris Photography
Design byMendelson Group/ Photo by Eric Piasecki
Fantastic Frank
Maydan Architects/ Photo by Peter Kubilis
Desiree Burns Interiors
Fantastic Frank
Fantastic Frank
Kate Marker Interiors
Design byCalimia Home/ Photo by Jeanne Canto
Design byForge & Bow Dwellings/Christa Tippmann Photography
Alvin Wayne
Desiree Burns Interiors
Caroline Andreoni Interior Design Studio/ Photo by Sophie Lloyd
Jessica Nelson Design/Carina Skrobecki Photography
Design byLeanne Ford Interiors/ Photo byErin Kelly
Design byLeanne Ford Interiors/ Photo byAlexandra Ribar
Margaret Wright
Marie Flanigan Interiors
Jessica Nelson Design/Carina Skrobecki Photography
Design byMarie Flanigan Interiors/ Photo by Julie Soefer
Design byEmilie Fournet Interiors/ Photo by Caitlin Mogridge
Liz Marie Blog
Michelle Berwick Design
deVOL Kitchens
Design byLeanne Ford Interiors/ Photo byReid Rolls
Rashida BanksforEmily Henderson Design/ Photo by Keyanna Bowen
Michelle Berwick Design
Fantastic Frank
Marie Flanigan Interiors
Design byLeanne Ford Interiors/ Photo byReid Rolls
Design byJoshua Smith Inc./ Photo by Allyson Lubow
