Modern Kitchen Lighting Ideas and Tips on Choosing the Best Fixtures

Updated On: Apr 15, 2024

The right kitchen lighting ideas are like a finishing touch of your meal; something that ties everything together. It is an excellent idea if you are thinking of renovating your kitchen without any major updo. The key is to have a cohesive feel and spread the light evenly for your cooking, cleaning and entertaining.

Like every other room, the kitchen needs to be warm and inviting with layered lighting- overhead, task, and decorative lighting. We have brought a series of practical and inspiring kitchen light ideas that can add intrigue and showcase your aesthetic personality. But before that understand the types of lighting and how to choose the best kitchen lighting for the heart of your home. From vintage lanterns to chic pendant lights and glamour galore, the choices are endless. Choose the stunning fixtures in a group for maximum impact and style.

How to Choose the Best Kitchen Lighting Design?

Best Kitchen Lighting Design

While choosing the kitchen lighting design, consider three factors- practical needs, aesthetics and design limitations. There is no one such lighting fixture that can meet all needs and preferences. Instead, opt for multiple layering in kitchen lighting to achieve the desired look. Let’s delve deeper to understand and curate the best lighting scheme and inspiration for your next renovation project.

Assessing Kitchen Lighting Needs

Assessing Kitchen Lighting Needs

To choose kitchen lighting that is both functional and stylish, think of your personal taste and the ways you use the kitchen space. For instance, does your kitchen combine a dining space for friends and family? Do you like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, preparing the meal? If yes, then there are various types of lighting ideas and dimmers to create an inviting ambience. Remember, poorly lit kitchens drabs your cooking space and create an uninspired environment in the home. While bright, focused light sets the mood and style of the heart of your home.

Aesthetic Preferences FTW!

Aesthetic Preferences - Kitchen Ceiling Lights

Once you've determined the functional needs of your kitchenette, think about its visual appeal with lighting types that match your individual style and enhance the overall atmosphere. A combination of different kitchen lighting fixtures can transform your culinary space into a haven of style and practicality. Whether you have a liking for modern minimalist glass pendant lights or industrial track lighting, choose the design that matches your aesthetic.

Lighting Tips Based on Kitchen Design

After functionality and flair, here are the design-driven tips to consider while incorporating light fixtures.

  1. Ceiling Height

Whether you opt for options like chandeliers, pendant lighting or LED recessed lights, ensure the height of the ceiling is uniform, which makes your kitchen feel open and not clustered. The kitchen ceiling lights add a touch of elegance and provide an ambient atmosphere.

  1. Kitchen Size

This is one of the most essential factors to consider- For small kitchen design ideas, maximise space with under-cabinet lighting to brighten countertops. Also, introduce track lighting or recessed lights that can help to evenly distribute light without overwhelming the interiors.

  1. Natural Light
Accent Hanging Lights for Kitchen

Some kitchens have ample windows or skylights, so arrange your kitchen layout to enhance the natural light sources and create a welcoming atmosphere. In addition, the size of the windows and their placement affect the need for adjustable lighting fixtures to get the desired brightness and functionality.

  1. Kitchen Theme

Dark kitchen theme decor ideas require additional light fixtures for tasteful interiors, such as LED kitchen lights and under-cupboard kitchen lights. However, a white kitchen with bright cabinets, countertops and streamlined appliances will likely need less overall unit lighting.

Types of Kitchen Lighting

There are several types of lighting. Let’s explore some of them and determine which ones best suit your needs.

Accent Lighting

Ambient - Lights in Kitchen Ceiling

Spruce up your kitchen design with beautiful accent lighting that creates a soft focus on key elements and brightens the interiors. Examples of this kitchen lighting are in-cabinet lighting and cove lighting.

Ambient Lighting

The purpose of the ambient lighting is to create a conducive environment and provide illumination throughout the space when natural light is insufficient or to fill its absence. Think of ceiling light and a combination of recessed downlighting that evenly lit the space and changes the overall ambience.

Task Lighting

It is focused on providing extra illumination on dedicated areas like countertops or kitchen stoves, increasing visibility and flexibility in the space. Track lights, scones and downlights are examples of this type of lighting.

Mood Lighting

Mood Kitchen Lights

This one is all about setting the right tone with style and personal preferences. Use dimmable lights and LED light bulbs that create a relaxed and comfortable environment around the kitchen.

The kitchen is more than a cooking area, it's a socialising space and deserves the best kitchen lighting designs. From chandeliers to pendant lights, wall sconce and flush-mount ceiling fixtures, here are the top kitchen lighting trends for a cohesive and eye-catching look.

Choose a Standout Kitchen Pendant Lights

Choose a Standout Kitchen Pendant Lights

Regarding kitchen lighting, pendant lights are the popular fixtures that become a focal point or statement piece in your space. These provide enough light to create a stunning and welcoming atmosphere. Even if your kitchen style is bold do not shy away to mix and match while creating a visual interest.

Go for Boho Natural Flair

Go for Boho Natural Flair - Cabinet Lights for Kitchen

A rattan or woven jute pendant light is trending in modern kitchen lighting ideas, bringing texture and a subtle touch to the space. If you have a flair for boho or coastal theme design the light wood tones of these kitchen light fixtures tie the whole look together.

Introduce Colour

Introduce Colour - Light Kitchen Ideas

If you're looking to add colour and vibrancy to your culinary space, choose a bold kitchen lighting fixture that's playful yet elegant. These bright yellow and red lanterns add a beautiful accent colour to the kitchen and infuse personality into the space.

Undercabinet Kitchen Lighting

Undercabinet Light Kitchen Ideas

One of the most useful and practical ways of task lighting is the under-cupboard kitchen lights that provide focus on the worktop and maintain the overall aesthetic appeal of your cooking space. Add LED strip lights under your kitchen cabinets to brighten the dull corners and add convenience in cooking, food preparation, and meals.

Zone Your Kitchen with Lighting

Zone Your Kitchen Profile Light

For open-plan kitchen ideas, kitchen unit lights can be the creative solution to create different zones within the space. Choose bright task lighting over the countertops and low ambient lighting for the ambience, enhancing the dining and cooking experience.

Modern Lighting In a Traditional Space

Modern Traditional Space - Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

Kitchen pendant lighting designs can be pretty standard, so when you introduce unique light fixtures, it adds an artistic look and elevates the design of the space. This unconventional lighting fixture creates both soft accent lighting as well as task lighting, bringing a distinguished look to the culinary haven.

Make a Statement With Cabinet Lighting

Make a Statement with Led Kitchen Lights

The latest kitchen trends feature kitchen cabinet lighting ideas that bring elegance and functionality to the space. These focused lights enhance the workspace and create a cosy ambience. Adding integrated mood lighting on glass-fronted cabinets lets your finest pieces shine, adding luxury to the space.

Add Dimmable Lights

This is one of the rarest yet highly functional lighting options for any room. If you want to accentuate your living space, then invest in dimmable lighting and smart fixtures that easily adjust the light intensity and alter the ambience. From overhead spotlights to LED ceiling lights or rattan lamps, you can choose warm, neutral or cool tones to create an ambient atmosphere.

The Practical Rule of Three

Practical Rule of Three - Kitchen with Under Cabinet Lighting

Have you ever imagined why the kitchen pendant lights work best in three? The rule of the odds- the cluster of three lighting fixtures looks more visually appealing than twos or fours. In interiors, the elements arranged in odd numbers look more pleasing to the eye and seem naturalistic.

Wall Sconces- Kitchen Unit Lights

Wall Sconces - Kitchen Unit Lights

Add another layer of lighting to kitchen decor with a set of wall sconces or track lighting that spotlights the areas which need extra illumination. Flexible and versatile, wall scones and track lighting shed light and warmth to the most useful areas like over the sink, pantry or bar area, adding a harmonious and balanced look.

Mid-Century Modern Vibe

Mid-Century Modern Vibe - Kitchen Island Lighting

Classically timeless, a mid-century modern kitchen with the globe light has become a staple in interior design. The streamlined design with wooden accents and the trio of globes fill the space, subtly demanding attention. While the under-cabinet lighting is practical, providing much-needed storage. What ties the look together is the brass handles and the globe lighting that lends a glamorous touch.

Vintage Inspired Lights

Vintage Inspired Kitchen Light Fixtures

Fan of vintage decor? Choose these extra-large chandeliers that add an eclectic look with a modern island design. By mixing styles of lights you incite a sense of intrigue and cosiness in the room.

Go Glam With Kitchen Ceiling Lights

Go Glam with Kitchen Ceiling Lights

When it comes to kitchen ceiling lighting ideas, they shine and illuminate in all directions. No matter what kind of design style you have, it's all about striking a perfect balance in the kitchenette. This electric brass glass-shaped chandler puts a modern twist to the space and instantly upgrades, becoming a standout feature.

In A Nutshell

We hope these kitchen lighting fixtures create a well-lit and elegant space. Choose a variety of lighting fixtures, including accent, ambient and decorative lights that seamlessly blend and create a harmonious look in the space. Consider your design layout, the size of the space, the theme and the desired aesthetic you want to create in your cooking room.

If you are still confused about which type of lighting fixtures to choose, get in touch with our experts at Interior Company, creating bespoke and livable spaces for you.

*Images used are for illustration purposes only. Interior Company does not hold any copyright to the images unless mentioned explicitly.

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    How bright should the kitchen lighting design be?

    Choose a warm white ambient or main lighting than a bright white as this yellow-ish hue creates a soft, inviting glow in the space. Add brighter white task lighting under the kitchen cabinet to highlight the specific areas.

    What type of lighting is ideal for a modern kitchen?

    Layer lighting, a mix of the ceiling, recessed and track lights performs best functionally and aesthetically. Choose warm white lights and stark white to lend a welcoming atmosphere in the space.

    What are the types of best kitchen ceiling lights?

    The best types of kitchen ceiling lights are flush mount ceiling lights, LED recessed lights and chandeliers that add a dash of style to the space.