How to Design a Kitchen Lighting Layout

When designing a new lighting layout, consider the installation process and necessary equipment for each fixture. Designing a kitchen with multiple light sources requires you to think about how the light fixtures work together to produce the desired utility and aesthetic. These considerations are made in five steps for each type of lighting used in the design.

• Identify requirements and method of lighting
• Select lighting equipment
• Calculate lighting parameters
• Choose the control system and light fixtures
• Inspect installation upon completion

Lighting requirements vary depending on the style of kitchen. A good lighting design focuses on the kitchen’s shape, central elements and fixtures. For example, pendant lights often hang above kitchen islands to illuminate the counter and draw the eye.

Lighting equipment refers to light bulbs, LEDs and the luminaires that house them once installed. When selecting a light source, make sure the bulb is not too bright or too dim for the client’s preferences. Size and color characteristics are also important and will factor into light fixture selection. Ensure the light source you select is compatible with the home's existing electrical system, which includes breaker circuits and light controls.

The right lighting for your kitchen layout will be based on the size and shape of the kitchen and how much light each fixture provides.

For example, a typical kitchen requires 3,000-4,000 lumens. Kitchen work areas require 7,000-8,000 lumens. Commercial lighting typically converts lumens to foot candles, which measure light intensity from a distance of one foot. Kitchens with unique floor plans, such as P-shaped kitchens, may require more foot candles to cover each corner of the kitchen.

Kitchen light fixture options are numerous but can be divided into three main categories:

• Ambient lighting
• Task Lighting
• Accent lighting

Ambient or general lighting is the kitchen’s main light source and provides consistent illumination for the whole kitchen. Proper ambient lighting should sufficiently light the kitchen without the help of other fixtures.

However, windows provide natural ambient light. Consider how much natural light the kitchen receives from windows or glass doors when deciding on ambient lighting. For example, a smaller kitchen with a sliding glass door may only require one more ambient light source.

Ambient lights can take many forms and play many roles in the aesthetic of the kitchen. An industrial style might benefit from recessed ceiling lights to further emphasize a large chandelier. Neoclassical designs usually forego modern options in favor of fixtures with more color and shape choices. Nearly every type of light fixture is available as ambient light for kitchens.

• Surface lights
• Chandeliers or singular pendant lights
• Track lighting
• Ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures
• LED downlights
• Floor and table lamps
• Recessed lighting
• Floor and table lamps for supplemental lighting

Ambient lighting should be the first type of lighting to consider when designing a kitchen because it covers the most area and will help set a baseline for the color temperature of the kitchen. For example, your choice of ambient light could give a particularly warm color. In contrast, white lights for task and accent fixtures will appear bolder.

The natural area to install your ambient fixtures in is the ceiling. The area above dining tables and large kitchen islands are perfect for chandeliers and pendants given how often people gather under them.

Recessed lights are a good option for ambient lighting, but they require ample space above the ceiling for installation. Ceiling joists are also a limiting factor, but recessed fixtures and wiring can sometimes be installed in the spaces between the joists.

Task lighting is positioned over workspaces to illuminate specific tasks in a kitchen that already has ambient light fixtures. Countertop and cabinet task lighting ensures users can work with precision such as when chopping vegetables. Consider light bulbs with a color temperature of 3500k-4000k as they offer a higher contrast white light to make working under them easier.

The most common application of task lighting is the kitchen island. Islands are typically the focal point of the kitchen and hanging task lighting above them can complement the rest of the lighting design. Small chandeliers or pendant lights are good option for lighting kitchen islands, and they are usually grouped into two or three lamps on a dimmer for better functionality.

Countertops with cabinetry above benefit from task lighting options such as strip lights and puck lights. These types of lighting are compact and are more easily installed under cabinets than larger fixtures. These options also work for task light near the sink or stove, which may have shelves above them for light installation.

Accent lighting illuminates points of interest in the kitchen, including architectural elements, artwork or centerpieces. Accent light fixtures are typically decorative pieces that complement the aesthetic of the kitchen, but sometimes cross over into ambient or task light. For example, placing the accent light over a dining table or island can provide the same utility as task light but with more style.

Accent lighting can illuminate cabinets, islands or other kitchen elements with some contrast to the ambient lighting. Consider inner lighting for cabinets with glass doors and toe-kick lights for base cabinets and islands. These accents can help distinguish the kitchen and provides lighted pathways around tight corners. However, numerous types of light fixtures can function as accent lighting with the right application.

• Under-cabinet lighting
• Wall sconces
• Track lights
• Cabinet lighting

Pendant lights also make good accents for sections of kitchen lighting layouts by adding a new element to the décor around a small area. For example, a side table in a U-shaped or L-shaped kitchen could double as a reading nook with a decorative pendant light overhead.

A set of three or four pendants can accent one wall of a kitchen that has space for low hanging lights. L-shaped or P-shaped kitchens tend to have wide countertops and may need extra task light. Some sets of pendant lights may add more to the style of the design than others depending on the choice of fixture. One example is a set of flower-shaped pendants of different colors to contrast an otherwise monochrome, nature-inspired kitchen design.

As kitchen designs trend toward open layouts and fewer spaces enclosed by wall cabinetry, wall lighting has become more popular. Common wall fixtures include overhead sconces, uniform track lights and singular decorative pieces with
unique shapes. Wall lights are often adjustable and can point to specific areas of the kitchen when needed. The diverse options and uses of wall lighting allows for greater customization and elegant solutions for building enough light coverage for the kitchen.

Wall lights on their own circuit can layer well with overhead task lights to provide more ambient lighting to the kitchen. A dimmer allows for more flexibility, which can turn an adjustable wall light into a task light for darker areas of the room.

One example of the versatility of wall lighting is the swing arm sconce. These elongated sconces resemble a microphone arm and can swivel up to 180 degrees depending on the placement of the hinge. In kitchens lacking enough cabinetry or shelving to install strip lights, a swing arm can illuminate countertops that are enclosed or face away from natural light sources.

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