Kitchen Lighting Ideas

Lighting brings beauty and three types of function to a kitchen. You can have task, accent and ambient or general lighting. The right balance of lighting in your kitchen helps with everyday tasks and creates an eye-catching workspace. Each style of lighting has its own purpose.

• Task lighting provides increased light for food prep or cleaning areas such a stoves and sinks. The brighter light makes tasks like cutting and temperature checks safer and easier to perform. Types of task lighting fixtures include pendants, recessed and puck lights.
• Ambient or general lighting is the primary source of light in a kitchen.
  General lighting is usually softer and flows evenly through the space. It makes the best of whatever natural light in the room. Types of ambient lighting fixtures include ceiling, track and LED recessed lights.
• Accent lights call attention to design elements, decor, art or collectibles. Accent lighting is usually very bright and can sometimes be used as a task light. It creates mood and can give a kitchen character. Types of accent lighting include under-cabinet lighting, strip lights and sconces.

Maximize task lighting and bring dramatic focus with oversized pendants. The wider base also adds a layer of ambient lighting, or can create a cozy dining mood when used alone. Bring in an elegant touch to the casual look with a black matte or bronze finish. Make sure to account for the bigger size when hanging pendants, and keep them at or above eye level.

Tip: Pendants should be placed at least 30 to 32 inches apart and 30 to 36 inches above the surface.

Most kitchens can always use more light. Under-cabinet lighting adds functionality to a kitchen by making tasks like chopping food safer. It is also great way to brighten up the usually dark spaces above the counter. Used with dimmer switches, they also let you regulate the brightness of the lights to create a mood. Choose long-lasting LED bulbs in a natural light or even fun colors that match the style of your kitchen.

Increase the impact of both natural and ambient lighting with mirrored or reflective finishes. Pendant lights in shiny finishes add light to the room even when turned off. Placed near a window, glistening wall sconces makes the most of any daylight that enters the room. Reflective surfaces also work especially well in kitchens with few or no windows.

Cabinets can cast a shadow over even the brightest workspaces. Task lighting improves the function of countertops, islands and other food prep areas. Small spotlights, track lights or pendants work well, especially over sinks and stoves. Battery-operated task lights provide ample illumination without wiring concerns or dangling wires. Think about layering in backlights on your backsplash to add a decorative touch.

Tip: Remember to spread out task lights equally for a symmetrical look.

Break up a monochromatic or neutral kitchen with an unexpected shape or style of lighting. Make it all come together with the same finish, look or color. The result is a bolder, more personal style statement that respects the aesthetic of the space. Try geometrics in unusual finishes for a modern look. Or opt for a mix of different shapes of shades in the same color for a more transitional look.

Wall sconces are the perfect accent lights for brightening up dark or empty walls. They are ideal for small kitchens or ones without plenty of natural light. They work especially well next to a window to provide ambient lighting when the sun goes down. Make your wall sconces shine day and night by choosing creative shapes and artful styles.

Tall ceilings make a kitchen look bright and open. Managing the amount of light needed throughout the day can be a challenge. Strike a balance between ambient and task lighting with an abundance of ceiling lights layered with pendants and lamps. Ceiling lights spread out illumination evenly across the space. On a dimmer switch, they can help do everything from create a cozy dinner space to a food prep focal point. Use LED bulbs to increase the time between changing out ceiling lights.

In open layouts, the dining and kitchen area are inseparable. However, that doesn’t mean they have to have identical lighting. Boost the feel of both with a fusion of statement pieces. Combine clear drop pendants with angular chandeliers. Make the impactful twist seamless with similar styles and finishes. Choose bulbs that create different moods between the two areas and separate the spaces.

A splash of color can instantly brighten up a kitchen without turning on a light. Painted or colorful blown glass pendant lights over an island add interest and charm to an otherwise neutral space. Go bright with a contrasting color or choose a dark earthy one that complements your kitchen color scheme.

Tip: Hang pendants in an odd, rather than even, number for the best look.