35 Kitchen Lighting Ideas to Upgrade and Brighten Your Space

Lighting is often an afterthought in kitchen renovations, but it’s a crucial aspect of your home’s style. After all, kitchen lighting ideas are crucial to the design and function of the space. You can always pursue a traditional lighting plan, like a chandelier over the dining nook, pendants over the island, and recessed lights over the remainder of the space. Or you can get creative and opt for unexpected choices.

To come up with a practical and stylish plan for your kitchen lighting, read on for ideas and inspiration. Still not sure what type of kitchen lighting would look best in your home? Consult with an interior lighting design pro in your area.

1. Skylights

When considering kitchen lighting ideas, don’t forget natural light. A dramatic way to flood your kitchen with sunlight is to install a skylight. This strategy is especially smart for smaller kitchens, as it can make the space seem more expansive.

2. Hydroponic Lights

Interior living walls and indoor vertical gardens are becoming more popular. If you install a hydroponic garden in your kitchen, you can grow herbs or small vegetables without soil, all year round.

In addition to producing your own food, you’ll be adding color and illumination to your space. To simulate sunlight in your indoor garden, you’ll need to install grow lights (also called hydroponic lights). Although many of these lights look industrial, it’s now possible to find stylish options.

3. Atypical Fixtures

When it comes to kitchen lighting, some common choices are recessed lights and under-cabinet lights. To make more of a statement and have some fun, try an unexpected fixture. Articulated lights or spotlight sconces are two fresh kitchen lighting ideas to highlight artwork on the walls or collectibles on shelves.

4. Fixtures in Unexpected Locations

Normally, pendants are hung over islands and chandeliers over breakfast nooks or dining spaces. Instead, try a chandelier over your island and a series of small ceiling pendants over your sink. If you currently have recessed lights over your sink, it’s easy to replace them with a pendant using a recessed light converter kit.

5. Colorful Accents

Make your light fixtures accent pieces. Try a mint green, royal blue, or dramatic gold pendant over your island or an orange chandelier over your dining nook. Just be sure that the hue fits into your overall kitchen color scheme.

6. Natural Materials

Light fixtures often feature metal and glass. For a more organic, soft look, consider purchasing fixtures with natural materials, like jute or shells. These boho chandeliers and pendants are especially ideal for kitchens in coastal or woodsy settings.

7. High-Tech Features

Lighting has become more sophisticated technologically. For your kitchen, consider an advanced system with mobile device-connected, motion sensor, or voice-activated lighting.

8. Interior Cabinet Lighting

If you plan to display collectibles, like blue ware or crystal, in your upper cabinets, light their interiors. This smart kitchen lighting idea will add drama and illumination.

9. Mixed-Up Fixtures

For a dynamic, slightly adventurous look, install two different pairs of pendants in your kitchen. Try one set above your sink and another over your kitchen island. When going this route, choose fixtures in different materials, such as one set in glass and another in metal or jute.

10. Under-Cabinet Lighting

New trend alert: 60% of kitchen designers surveyed by The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) predict that under cabinet lighting will be extremely popular over the next three years. 

This subtle approach provides helpful task lighting and can showcase backsplashes that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. As an added plus, under cabinet lights are easy to install.

11. Recessed Lighting

Recessed lights or downlights are fixtures installed in ceilings, which concentrate light in a downward direction. Since they’re almost invisible (unless you look up at the ceiling), they’re a stealth light source. Because of the extremely low profile, this type of lighting works in any space, but especially in contemporary and modern rooms.

12. Pendant Lighting

These lone light fixtures (also called drop lights) hang from the ceiling by a cord, chain, or metal rod. Either hung singly or in multiples, these fixtures typically include one or two light bulbs. Since pendant lights come in so many styles, they can work in any room and often appear in kitchens (over islands) and bathrooms.

13. Chandeliers

These branched ornamental light fixtures typically hang from the ceiling by a cord, chain, or metal rod. Hung singly, they include multiple light bulbs and come in a variety of styles. Chandeliers are often placed in foyers, over dining tables, and in primary bedrooms and can serve as the focal point of a room, making this a stylish kitchen lighting idea for your home.

14. Track Lighting

With track lighting, small fixtures are attached to a continuous track or rail device containing electrical conductors. Similar to recessed lighting, track lighting is installed on the ceiling, but is a bit more visible. Although there are multiple style options, track lighting tends to work best in contemporary or modern spaces.

15. Floor and Table Lamps

These standalone light sources work well in traditional, country, or cottage-style homes. Many look like pieces of sculpture and can make a real design statement. They’re also extremely functional, especially in cozy spaces where you often don’t want bright light, like bedrooms, dens, or offices. Since they shine light in a smaller area, they illuminate rooms in a more soft, subtle way.

16. Surface Lights

The last kitchen lighting idea on our list is surface lights, which are mounted to the ceiling or wall. If they barely protrude, they’re described as flush-mount (or semi-flush mount if they protrude slightly more).

Surface lights mounted to the wall are sometimes called sconces and usually direct light upwards and outwards. Both types of fixtures are available in styles to suit any room. That said, ceiling-mounted fixtures look best in contemporary spaces and sconces shine in formal, traditional rooms.

17. Art Deco Lighting

Whether you’re going for a glam look or mid century modern flair, art deco-inspired kitchen lighting ideas are sure to make a statement. Characterized by its geometric shapes, luxurious materials, and sleek lines, an art deco lighting fixture can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to modern and traditional interiors. Consider getting a sunburst chandelier or fixtures with bold geometric shapes to achieve the look.

18. Antique Lighting

Antique lighting fixtures add a touch of vintage charm to the kitchen, evoking a sense of nostalgia and elegance. Unique and ornate antique pieces can become statements that complement a variety of interior styles. Look for antiques at your local thrift store or antique mall, or hunt for antique-inspired lighting options with modern functionality.

19. Stained Glass

Stained glass lighting fixtures infuse the kitchen with a burst of color and intricate patterns, creating a captivating focal point and casting beautiful, colorful light around the space. The intricate patterns and vibrant hues of stained glass fixtures create a beautiful and mesmerizing play of light, infusing the space with a warm and inviting ambiance. Whether in the form of pendant lights, chandeliers, or even stained glass windows, this unique lighting style elevates the kitchen's decor and provides a timeless and artistic touch.

20. Over-the-Sink Lighting

Over-the-sink lighting can highlight your kitchen sink style and provide much-needed task lighting for washing dishes, cleaning produce, and more. Pendant lights or wall-mounted lights above a kitchen sink ensure you have sufficient task lighting while adding extra stylish flair. 

21. Clear Glass Fixtures

Clear glass fixtures offer an unobtrusive and contemporary look, allowing the beauty of the bulbs to shine through while providing ample light for kitchen tasks. With a look that’s both modern and minimalist, clear glass fixtures are the perfect fuss-free option for kitchen lighting.

22. Task Lighting

Bright spotlights make it much easier to accomplish food prep, read recipes, and more. By using under-cabinet lights, pendant lights, or track lighting, task lighting ensures that food preparation, cooking, and other kitchen tasks are performed safely and efficiently. The targeted and bright illumination offered by task lighting enhances visibility, reduces eye strain, and enhances the overall functionality of the kitchen workspace.

23. Open Shelving Lights

LED lights under open shelves add a warm glow to the kitchen, enhancing the ambiance while showcasing your decorative items or dishware displayed on the shelves. Achieved through the use of LED strip lights or small spotlights, open shelving lights bring an extra dramatic effect while creating an additional light source for the space.

24. Dimmer Switches

If you’re finding your kitchen lighting to be hard on the eyes when you’re not accomplishing tasks, consider adding a dimmer switch. Dimmer switches can transform your existing lights to a dim, warm glow when you don’t need bright task lighting. You have the option to invest in the cost of replacing your light switch with a dimmer switch, or you can purchase a cord with a dimmer switch for your plug-in lights.

25. Colored Bulbs

Colored bulbs add a playful and creative element to a kitchen, allowing you to experiment with different hues to achieve your desired aesthetic. Consider orange bulbs for a warm glow that mimics candlelight, or blue lights for a chill vibe after hours.

26. Wall Sconces

Wall sconce kitchen lighting provides a versatile and stylish space without taking up valuable floor or counter space. These fixtures are mounted on the walls, offering soft and ambient lighting that enhances the kitchen's overall atmosphere and complements other light sources. With various designs and finishes available, wall sconces can add a touch of sophistication and ambiance to any kitchen design, making them a popular choice for both modern and traditional spaces.

27. Industrial Lighting

Industrial kitchen lighting ideas embrace a raw and edgy aesthetic that’s inspired by factories and urban spaces. Exposed bulbs, metal fixtures, and utilitarian designs are common features, contributing to an industrial look that complements modern and rustic kitchens alike.

28. Rope Lighting

If you want a clean and ultra-modern aesthetic, consider adding rope lighting to your kitchen.  By using flexible LED rope lights under cabinets or along the ceiling, you can achieve a subtle and indirect lighting effect that adds warmth and coziness to the space. The soft glow provided by rope lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere, making it perfect for intimate gatherings or late-night snacks in the kitchen.

29. Warm Copper and Brass

Warm copper and brass fixtures bathe a kitchen in an ambient glow, exuding a rich and inviting atmosphere. Lustrous tones of copper and brass on light fixtures create a cozy and welcoming feel that’s perfect for contemporary and vintage-inspired kitchens.

30. Retro Lighting

Retro fixtures bring a sense of nostalgia and whimsical charm to a kitchen. Vintage-inspired pendant lights, sconces, or chandeliers give a kitchen distinctive character that pays homage to classic aesthetics.

31. Tray Ceiling Lighting

Illuminating your kitchen’s tray ceiling enhances its architectural features, making it appear more spacious and inviting. Installing recessed or LED strip lights along the edges or within the recessed parts of the tray ceiling brings a subtle and ambient glow.

32. Smart Lighting

To save on your energy bills and take one thing off your agenda, consider adding home automation features to your kitchen lighting. You can set your kitchen lights to turn on and off at specific time slots, or you can shut them off from your phone regardless of your location in or out of the home.

33. Tile Backsplash Lighting

If you’re on the hunt for stylish kitchen backsplash ideas, or if you’d simply like to place a spotlight on the one you have, consider installing LED strip lights along the backsplash. These add a touch of elegant and dramatic effect, plus they can double as task lighting for cooking and food prep.

34. Overhead Pot Rack Lights

If you take pride in the rack of shiny set pots hanging from your ceiling, why not incorporate lighting into it? Lights on an overhead pot rack combine functionality and style by illuminating your cookware while providing extra overhead lighting.

35. Battery-Powered Lighting

Whether you're pressed for outlet space or looking to eliminate unsightly cords, battery-powered lights can make convenient supplementary lighting for your kitchen. Battery-powered LED strips or puck lights add cord-free lighting while freeing up outlet space (or simply making the most of what you’ve got).