22 Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas: Brighten up Your Cooking Space with These Stylish Fixtures

There are so many important things to consider when you’re designing a kitchen. It’s an area of the home that needs to be easy to clean, but you also want it to be comfortable and welcoming. It’s a place for entertaining, but it’s also a place for hard work. There’s a lot to think about, but one thing that often gets overlooked when you’re designing a kitchen is the lighting.

We’ve gathered 22 of the best kitchen lighting ideas to help you get your space in shape and looking great. Whether you’re looking for a kitchen ceiling light or some under-cabinet lighting, we’ve got the best kitchen lighting ideas to help you get your space in shape.

1. Go bold with black

Black is always a good idea when it comes to adding a pop of contrast to a room. In this case, the black sconces help anchor the space and add some visual interest to the light and bright kitchen.

Pro tip: Try using sconces in place of traditional pendants over the kitchen sink or in a breakfast nook to add some character to the space.

2. Warm up with copper

The copper accents throughout this kitchen, from the pendant lights to the cabinet hardware, add a warmth that white lights can’t. The white and copper color scheme in this space is consistent and well-balanced, and the lighting is no exception.

The unique shape of these pendants draws the eye up and adds to the visual interest in the space.

3. Get playful with pendants

Pendant lights are a great way to add a touch of elegance to your kitchen. Hang a single pendant over the sink, or group a few together over the island to create a focal point.

Playful, colorful pendants add a fun, casual touch to this kitchen designed by Studio DB. The brass accents in the light fixtures are complemented by the cabinet hardware and faucet.

4. Opt for modern chandeliers

If you have an eat-in kitchen, you might want to consider adding a chandelier to the dining area. This will help define the space, and add a touch of elegance.

In this modern kitchen, a pair of matching chandeliers hang over the island and dining table, creating a cohesive look.

5. Stick to a single hue

This kitchen by Studio McGee is a masterclass in how to use lighting to create a cohesive look in a room. The pendant, sconce, and recessed lighting all feature a similar gold finish, which makes the space feel polished and put together.

The key to using different lighting fixtures in the same room is to stick to one finish. In this case, gold was used throughout the kitchen, but you could also use a silver, black, or white finish for a similar effect.

6. Make a statement with your kitchen lighting

Lighting is a great way to let your personal style shine in the kitchen. Whether you love the look of a modern pendant or a vintage-inspired chandelier, a statement fixture can take your kitchen from standard to stunning.

In this kitchen designed by Emily Henderson, the brass and glass globe pendant makes a big impact without feeling too overpowering. The unique shape and finish of the fixture add interest and elegance to the space.

7. Brighten up your kitchen with white

Not only do these white pendants add a touch of elegance to this kitchen, but they also keep the space feeling bright and open. The light color of the pendants and the white cabinetry helps to reflect light around the room, making the space feel larger than it is.

If you have a kitchen with a lot of dark colors, consider adding some white light fixtures to balance the look and keep the space feeling open.

8. Add a touch of gold

Gold is a popular kitchen finish right now, and what better way to bring it into your space than with a gold light fixture? The gold pendant light in this kitchen adds a small pop of color and a touch of elegance to the space.

You can also find gold light fixtures in a variety of styles to match your kitchen’s design. This modern kitchen features a gold track light that coordinates with the cabinet hardware for a cohesive look.

9. Choose a kitchen lighting style that suits your space

A kitchen can be a multi-functional space, so it’s important to consider how you want to use your kitchen when planning your lighting.

If you’re designing a kitchen for a new build, you can work with your architect and lighting designer to make sure the layout and lighting work together. If you’re working with an existing kitchen, you can use the existing layout to help guide your lighting choices.

For example, if you have an open-plan kitchen-dining-living space, you’ll want to have different lighting for the kitchen compared to the dining and living areas.

10. Illuminate your kitchen island

If your kitchen has an island, you’ll want to add some task lighting to help make it a more functional workspace. Pendant lights are a popular choice because they can be installed at different heights to provide the perfect amount of light.

This kitchen designed by Emily Henderson features brass pendant lights that hang at different heights to create a more casual look.

11. Get creative with kitchen lighting ideas

If you have a kitchen island, you have the perfect opportunity to get creative with your kitchen lighting ideas. Here, four pendant lights are hung at different heights to create a beautiful lighting display.

The globe shape of the pendants is a classic choice, but the clear glass and brass finish give them a modern twist.

The lighting in the rest of the room is kept simple, with recessed lights and under-cabinet lighting.

12. Go industrial

Industrial lighting is a popular choice for a kitchen. Here, a pair of metal pendants hang above the island, creating a focal point in the room.

The industrial design is continued with the addition of a metal-framed glass wall and the choice of black and metal finishes in the room.

13. Add a touch of color

When it comes to lighting, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. This kitchen designed by Studio DB is a great example of how you can add a pop of color to your space with a unique light fixture. The red pendants add a fun touch to the otherwise neutral kitchen.

14. Mix and match your kitchen lighting

When you have a kitchen that’s this beautiful, it’s important to get the lighting just right. This space designed by Studio McGee features a combination of recessed and pendants lights, as well as two stunning chandeliers.

While this may seem like overkill, it actually works really well to create a warm and inviting space. The chandeliers add a touch of elegance to the kitchen, while the pendants help to break up the space and create designated zones.

15. Don’t forget about under-cabinet lighting

One of the most important lighting ideas for kitchens is to include under-cabinet fixtures. This type of lighting is a great way to add more light to your countertops, which is especially helpful if you don’t have a lot of natural light in your kitchen.

Under-cabinet fixtures come in a variety of styles, including puck lights, light bars, and light strips. Light strips are a great option for adding a modern touch to your kitchen, as seen here in this space designed by Studio McGee.

16. Have fun with your kitchen lighting

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so why not make it the most fun room to decorate? We love the way the homeowners of this colorful kitchen in a Hudson Valley, New York home used a trio of pendant lights in a mix of colors, patterns, and shapes to add personality to the space.

Funky fixtures are also a great way to introduce a bold pop of color in an otherwise neutral kitchen.

17. Keep it simple

Sometimes, less really is more. Case in point: this kitchen designed by Studio DB, where a simple, round pendant light hangs over the island. The fixture is a perfect finishing touch, adding an elegant touch to the space without overwhelming the eye.

18. Add a touch of glam to your kitchen lighting

If you’re looking to add a little bit of luxe to your kitchen, a chandelier is just the way to do it. Chandeliers come in all shapes and sizes, so you’ll be able to find one that fits your kitchen’s style perfectly. This one from Urban Electric Co. is a fun, modern take on a classic chandelier.

Pro tip: If you’re hanging a chandelier over your kitchen island, make sure there’s at least 30 to 36 inches of space between the bottom of the chandelier and the countertop.

19. Get inspired by nature

Nature-inspired decor has been a huge trend, so why not incorporate it into your lighting? This pendant light has a gorgeous, organic shape that almost looks like a beehive. And the matte black finish keeps the look grounded and modern.

The organic shape of the light is also a great contrast to the straight lines of the kitchen, adding a sense of softness to the space.

20. Create a modern farmhouse look

Lighting designer and co-founder of The Urban Electric Co., Michael Amato, designed this stunning kitchen lighting idea. “The goal was to create a modern farmhouse look, so we mixed our traditional, hand-crafted fixtures with a more industrial, aged look,” he says. “This kitchen has a lot of natural light, so we wanted to create a warm, inviting glow for the evenings, as well as a fixture that would stand out and draw your eye to the center of the room.”

A large, aged brass fixture hangs above the island, while two smaller sconces are placed on either side of the windows. “We chose aged brass to warm up the space and to complement the white oak cabinetry. The aged finish also makes the fixtures feel like they have been there for a long time,” Amato says.

21. Make a bold statement with your kitchen lighting

Who says a kitchen light has to be boring? Make a statement with a bold fixture that shows off your style and pulls the room together. This chandelier in a kitchen by Laura U Interior Design is a great example of how a light fixture can make the space.

The brass accents in the light are carried throughout the room, from the cabinet hardware to the faucet, creating a cohesive look.

22. Don’t be afraid to mix styles

A modern kitchen can benefit from a classic chandelier. This trend of mixing styles has been popular in interior design for a while, and it’s making its way into lighting fixtures.

The chandelier’s gold finish ties in with the rest of the kitchen’s hardware, and the white shades make the fixture feel modern and clean.

Conclusion

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it deserves to be a space that you enjoy spending time in. Don’t let bad lighting ruin all of the hard work you’ve put into your kitchen redesign. Whether you choose a bold pendant or a striking chandelier, make a statement with your kitchen lighting, and you’ll instantly elevate the look and feel of your space.