The Best Lighting Fixtures For Your Kitchenset – By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you consent to the storage of personalization files on your device to improve site navigation, analyze site usage and assist in our marketing efforts.
Ashley Knierim has over a decade of experience in content writing, editing and strategy. She held positions at Time Magazine, AOL and JPMorgan Chase. She is also a home decor and DIY enthusiast who spends her free time decorating (and redecorating) her home.
The Best Lighting Fixtures For Your Kitchenset
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 scenes, kitchens rarely get the first-class treatment when it comes to lighting.
Kitchen Lighting Ideas For A Fresher Look
But it doesn’t have to be like that. If. Whether you want an eye-catching centerpiece or just need a little extra task lighting that’s aesthetically pleasing, focusing on lighting in your kitchen can go a long way. From modern sculptural designs to vintage-inspired chandeliers to understated accents, we’ve rounded up our favorite scene-stealing light fixtures that just might make the kitchen your favorite room in the house.
Click through for our favorite kitchen lighting ideas and you’ll soon see your prep space in a whole new light. (Sorry, we had to.)
This clean, 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 little touches add another layer of character to this charming space. Metallic accents on the light fixture help tie the whole look together.
While we’d obviously never pass up a great brass, copper or oil-rubbed brass lamp, a rattan or woven jute option can be a great way to bring the outdoors in – especially if you’re leaned towards a Scandi decorating scheme with lots of cane and light wood tones.
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This sculptural pendant lands somewhere between Japanese-inspired and subtle Nordic—in other words, it’s high-design and expressive while remaining understated.
Opposites attract—which may be why we’re so enamored with these vintage-style lantern lights in this muted, contemporary space. Their grand scale and attractive brass accents make them the focal point of the kitchen and reference historic elements elsewhere in this home.
There just isn’t enough time for us to unpack everything we love in this quaint, mid-century space, but the light fixture definitely takes the cake. Its age-like atomic shape matches these Eames-style chairs, while the natural fiber brings an organic touch to this cheerful dining 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.
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Sometimes the best lighting ideas are the first choices. Instead of going for traditional recessed lighting or a pendant above the kitchen island, consider hanging a handful of mini pendants in the center of your prep space for a fun and entertaining lighting idea.
Who says you have to cover your lights with shades? Here, exposed lamps give a rustic, industrial look and feel and add plenty of interest. You can choose warm, loft lighting or Edison bulbs to prevent the lights from feeling too harsh or bright.
Less is definitely not more when it comes to eye-catching chandeliers. This multi-lamp fixture is perfect for creating a contemporary focal point in your open concept kitchen/dining room and helps define the space.
If you don’t have a dedicated dining room, a statement fixture is a great way to create a more formal look and feel to the room.
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Here, a pendant light with a large glass shade provides a fun touch to the otherwise traditional kitchen. The wavy, clear glass shade is subtle enough to provide plenty of personality without clashing with the rest of the space.
Regardless of whether you are actually near the beach, you can still incorporate a look of nautical decor into 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.
If the rest of your kitchen is plain and simple, consider choosing more detailed or elaborate lighting to bring focus to your space. A multi-faceted, Moroccan-inspired pendant can not only reflect more light, but the handcrafted look offers an elevated, creative and personal feel.
Although the most popular kitchen lighting choices are centered around the island, don’t forget the rest of your space. Some modern saws can help frame a window and add task lighting above the sink where you need it.
Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Pendant Lights
If you want the lighting (rather than the appliance) to steal the show, choose a shade that’s 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 choose a warm light such as an Edison bulb to fill the space with a glow.
If you’re playing with Edison lighting in your kitchen, make sure you have multiple light sources to fill the space with adequate light for the square footage.
Not sure where to start with your kitchen lighting? Look for lighting that goes well with your cabinetry. Color matching your cabinets is an easy way to keep a streamlined look throughout the space.
Here, simple IKEA pendants are given a fun upgrade to create a custom lighting look that works wonderfully with the rest of the space. Consider DIY or retrofit lighting to develop the perfect kitchen lighting plan for your space.
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If you’re a fan of open shelving in the kitchen, be sure to plan your lighting to support the look. Hang some sawdust in the open space above the shelves to help fill out the walls and add some warmth.
The modern farmhouse often includes a lot of brass, metal and other rustic materials. This look is perfect for adding statement lighting that doesn’t feel too formal or too dressy. Choose more rustic, vintage materials and shapes to give your kitchen that farmhouse edge.
Got a big space to fill? Not only do you need to consider the lumens to support your room, but you also need to be sure that your equipment itself can fit in the space. Choose oversized appliances when you’re working with a large open-concept kitchen floor plan.
While you may not want to hang actual candles from your ceiling, you can steal the look with a fixture reminiscent of a hanging chandelier. This installation is great for adding some drama to an understated space.
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Scale is everything – and here’s the proof. This large pendant light brings a whimsical touch to this eat-in kitchen area and subtly mimics the undulating shape of the tulip table below at the same time. This dreamy, midcentury-tinged space proves that even a simple shape can have a big impact if you play with proportion in an unexpected way.
Kitchen-y. If you want to give your kitchen a more inviting warmth, consider a linen shade or brass accents that offer a more elegant and soft feel.
Give your kitchen a pizzeria touch with a gold, scaly pendant light. The touch of Moroccan style helps transform this otherwise minimal kitchen and easily becomes the centerpiece of the entire space.
If your sink is on the kitchen island, consider placing your pendant directly above it to frame the space. This not only provides task lighting, but also helps focus the added scale of your kitchen on the appliances.
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Instead of pendants above your kitchen island, consider a large chandelier. A vintage-inspired brass piece is a great way to add a focal point to your space and help create a more formal feel if you tend to dine at your island a lot.
The best way to choose the right lighting for your kitchen is to first determine the style of decoration you want to incorporate. If your space is traditional, for example, you can mix things up with a more modern fixture or keep the traditional feel with a brass pendant with candle-like lights.
On the other hand, don’t feel limited by your kitchen decor. It’s easy to mix different design styles, especially when it comes to lighting. Here, a more vintage-inspired fixture plays wonderfully with the boho-look woven bar stools.
Give us a Sputnik-style light fixture any day—it always seems to liven up a space. And the kitchen island is no exception. While we most often see these sculptural chandeliers in movable form above the dining table or in the living room, there’s no reason not to let them take center stage at the breakfast bar as well. (Especially when your kitchen is as sleek as this one.)
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Upgrade your traditional glass pendant shades with a version that will add a little more visual interest and reflect even more light. Look for fun shapes, interesting aspects,