Our kitchens have to work hard, for many of us they are the heart of the home and so we spend a lot of our time there. Lighting is one of the most important parts of the design of a room, even more-so in a kitchen which needs to function in many different ways. Here’s some inspiration for adding lighting to your kitchen.

Multiple pendants

If you’ve got an island in your kitchen, it’s the perfect place to add some pendant lights to create that focal point. The size and scale can be tricky to get right, but generally the larger the island, the larger the pendant should be.

Width-wise, together they should cover about 80% of the width of the island. To get the height right, I tend to get the tallest person in the house, stand opposite them across the island, and hang the pendants as low as I can whilst still being able to see the other person.

A single pendant

A variation on a theme… if you’d prefer the look of just one pendant, the same “rules” as above apply in terms of the size and height. This style of pendant suits more minimalist tastes, especially simple linear lights which look sleek and sophisticated.

Under cabinet lighting

This sort of lighting in a kitchen looks great and adds some ambient light, but it also serves a purpose to highlight task spaces so you can see what you’re doing.

Recessed strip LEDs can be tucked up into the cabinets and emit a soft, linear glow, or LED spotlights will direct light downwards, spaced out across the width of the cabinets. Strip LED tends to look a bit more modern, with spotlights suiting a more traditional style.

Ceiling tracks with angled spotlights

I’ve found that this style is a bit marmite, but I personally love this alternative to a recessed ceiling spotlight. Track lights can either be white to blend in with the ceiling (if you’re ceiling’s white, that is…) or they can make a statement and provide interest on the ceiling and draw the eye upwards, in black.

One of the things I love the most about these aside from the aesthetic, is the fact you can angle the spotlights towards wherever you need light.

Wall sconces

If you don’t have cabinets, another way to provide some task lighting on your counter tops is by using angled wall sconces. Not only do they provide useful light but they add visual interest too. If you’re mounting these above a wet area, make sure you use the appropriate IP rated light - this will always be shown on the specifications of the light that you’re buying.

Over shelf lighting

Does it mean that you have to keep the shelves clean? Yes. Does it look great? Also yes. I love this look and again it helps to draw the eye upwards and adds visual interest to a kitchen.

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