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29 Kitchen Lighting Ideas to Brighten Your Cooking Space

Think of it as jewelry for your kitchen.

By
kitchen lighting ideaspinterest
Victoria Pearson

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There’s no room in the house that requires an excellent lighting plan more than your kitchen. The heart of your home, where so much life happens, should be gorgeous and practical—after all, you need to see what you’re doing (knives! fire! hot pans!)—making kitchen lighting design and placement one of the most important elements in your space.

A pair of practical, store-bought pendants over the island is safe, but we're here to show you that getting creative can seriously up your farmhouse kitchen design game (and it's a legit and pretty easy way to update your kitchen). For kitchen ceiling lighting ideas, consider woven baskets cleverly turned upside down and strung up with a light kit from the hardware store. Those outdoor lanterns you spied at the flea market and can't stop daydreaming about? Bring them into your all-white kitchen for a rustic farmhouse touch that will instantly make your space feel special. If you're drawn to more traditional fixtures, try a creative application, like hanging multiples in a grid or grouping for maximum impact.

Lucky for homeowners, lighting options for the kitchen are seemingly endless—pendants, sconces, chandeliers, kitchen lighting under cabinets, even lamps tucked on a shelf or countertop—with a gazillion style options and price ranges to boot. Whatever you pick for big or small kitchen lighting ideas, remember that this task often requires hiring an electrician, so it’s important to get it right. We think you can't go wrong with these inspiring, bright ideas!

1

New Antique-Looking Kitchen Lighting

a kitchen with green cabinets and a black stove and a butcher block topped island
Stacy Zarin Goldberg

A new pair of pendants from Urban Electric look as if they've been hanging forever over a custom island with a butcher-block top, slab-style drawers, and bail pull hardware.

2

Woven Pendant Kitchen Lighting

a kitchen with a large white island and straw looking barstools and light fixtures like baskets
Marta Xochilt Perez

Large woven pendants from Arhaus and the counter stool backs bring casual texture around the substantial, white kitchen island.

3

All-Around Brass Kitchen Lighting

new england home by designer katie rosenfeld kitchen with gray cabinets and kitchen island painted in silver lining by benjamin moore
Read McKendree

For this polished, traditional kitchen, the design team chose two different pairs of light fixtures—the sconces above the sink and the lantern-like pendants above the island—in the same sophisticated brass finish for a more cohesive look.

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4

Nautical Rope Kitchen Lighting

the outdoorsy type southern california cottage kitchen with dark green cabinets and wood paneled walls
Karyn Millet

Rewired with jute-covered cord, this vintage pendant fixture hangs directly from a junction box, but the swag rope makes it look like it's nonchalantly tossed around the painted beams.

5

Clear Glass Kitchen Lighting

a mint green and off white kitchen has a table in the middle made of wood and a clear glass light fixture hanging above
Rikki Snyder

A collected kitchen calls for simple lighting. Here, a clear glass fixture provides ample light over a primitive dining table.

6

Glass Bottle Chandelier Kitchen Lighting

a while kitchen with wood ceiling beam and two massive crystal chandeliers over the island
David A. Land

A pair of chandeliers crafted with a wire frame and glass bottles steals the show in this all-white kitchen. Look closely at the one on the right: When the contractors forgot to install one of the glass bottles, the husband had the bright idea to add his own special design touch, a beer bottle!

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7

Petite and Pleated Kitchen Lighting

a scalloped edged settee that is white sits against yellow walls with a round wood table

It's all in the details, like this pair of petite brass sconces that illuminates a cozy breakfast area for a young family. The sweet fabric used to make the gathered shades complements the vibrant botanical pattern in the wallpaper.

8

Boho Kitchen Lighting

a kitchen made mostly of wood with a small island in the middle and a big window on the left
Seth Smoot

In the daytime, counter-to-ceiling windows let in warm sunlight. At night, the rustic cookspace is all aglow with a creative mix of lighting, which includes studio-type lights installed along the ceiling beams, a bohemian-style lamp on the countertop, and an oversize paper lantern over the dining table.

9

Super-Sized Kitchen Lighting

kitchen lighting ideas
Victoria Pearson

Soaring vaulted ceilings call for oversize fixtures. Here, a pair of bigger-is-better basket pendants light up the long island (once an old workbench), while a more petite version hangs above the sink.

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10

Period-Appropriate Kitchen Lighting

a cornflower blue galley kitchen in a historic house with wood floors and period appropriate light fixtures and appliances
Chase Daniel

The owners of this 19th-century farmhouse went all in with period-appropriate details, including the sconces on the left and pendant over the sink that were sourced on eBay.

11

On the Grid Kitchen Lighting

kitchen lighting ideas grid
Alec Hemer

A group of four simple, flush-mount fixtures with a slightly larger center fixture means every inch of the kitchen is properly lit. The symmetrical arrangement within the exposed beams adds even more visual interest to the ceiling. Pro tip: Install fixtures on their own switches so you can turn lights in certain areas on and off as you desire.

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12

Brass Band Kitchen Lighting

kitchen lighting ideas brass pendant sconce
Annie Schlechter

Keeping finishes consistent unifies the different lighting styles in this Kentucky kitchen, as seen here in the brass wall sconce above the open shelving and the aged brass-topped pendant above the sink. Brass brackets from Rejuvenation, drawer pulls, and countertop accessories pull the sophisticated look together.

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13

Outside-In Kitchen Lighting

kitchen lighting ideas lantern
Annie Schlechter

A substantial lantern is a grounding design element in this light and airy kitchen. Typically seen outdoors, this style is showing up more and more inside. For an even bigger impact, paint a vintage fixture a bold color in a glossy finish.

14

Milky Glass Kitchen Lighting

kitchen lighting ideas vintage milk glass
Annie Schlechter

Salvaged school house-style, milk glass pendants are positioned above the island, sink, and breakfast area in this kitchen. They enhance other neutral features like the white apron sink and are a nod to the home's overall nostalgic vibe.

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15

Novel Kitchen Lighting

kitchen lighting ideas arrow marquee light
Annie Schlechter

Not all kitchen lighting has to be purely functional. How about adding a little something that's just pure fun? This red arrow marquee light adds loads of personality to this already colorful Texas kitchen.

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16

Ship-Shape Kitchen Lighting

a white and wood kitchen with a large brass pendant
Tria Giovan

A brass pendant, fittingly salvaged from a shipyard, is a statement piece in this small kitchen and a tribute to the home's waterfront setting.

17

Recycled Material Kitchen Lighting

a rustic kitchen with a tin roof and reclaimed items that make the light fixtures above the island
Ryann Ford

In a house built with almost all recycled materials, why not keep going when it comes to the lighting? This matching set of found objects was fashioned into one-of-a kind pulley pendants for a unique focal point over the island's countertop. Pro tip: When bulbs are exposed, try the more attractive Edison bulbs, which are now widely available.

18

Happy Clamper Kitchen Lighting

a large green vintage lamp is clasped on to a workspace in a white kitchen
Victoria Pearson

An industrial clamp light brings cool shape, color, character, and texture to this kitchen workspace. And best of all, it's adjustable, so it sheds light wherever you need it. A barn light in the same hue hangs overhead.

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19

Contemporary Kitchen Light Fixtures

sleek and modern gray colored light fixtures decorate a very rustic kitchen
Annie Schlechter

Super sleek fixtures are a surprising touch in this most-rustic-of-all kitchens. The pendants and the swing arm lamps lend an unexpected contrast to the reclaimed wood and antique stove.

20

Vintage Kitchen Light Fixtures

kitchen lights made with industrial pulleys decorate a cook space
Max Kim-Bee

In a newly renovated kitchen, this vintage industrial trio of lights makes for an instant focal point. Colored glass insets create a muted pop against the mostly white space. Bonus: The pulleys still work, which makes for adjustable task lighting. Pro tip: When shopping for vintage lighting, always buy extras if they're available. Parts and pieces from additional fixtures may come in handy down the road.

Headshot of Amy Mitchell
Amy Mitchell
Managing Editor

Amy Mitchell is the managing editor at Country Living and VERANDA. She writes about a wide range of topics, including homes and lifestyle content.

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Decorating Ideas

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