Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Kitchen Designs

11 kitchen lighting ideas that will brighten up your home

Take your kitchen from drab to fab. - by Rhys McKay
  • 27 Sep 2019
11 kitchen lighting ideas that will brighten up your home

Rachael Ray once said, “good food and a warm kitchen are what makes a house a home”. Whether you’ve got a massive kitchen that fits a big family or a tiny one that’s just right for you and your partner, it should be a place that’s bright, inviting, and conducive to cooking.

One simple (but often overlooked) way to spruce up a kitchen is to invest in good kitchen lights. Here, we’ve got 11 kitchen lighting ideas you can use to brighten up your space and get cooking. 

RELATED: 4 ways to change the mood of your home with lighting

Under-cabinet lights

Even if you have a dedicated kitchen island for preparing meals, you’ll spend a lot of cooking-time with your head under the cabinets. This is where you’ll store appliances like the microwave, toaster, and coffeemaker, so you’ll want this space to be well lit. Under-cabinet lights also add soft illumination to the room!

Tip: You can DIY under-cabinet lights by purchasing LED strip lights with adhesives on the back! 

Shelf lights

If you store your dinnerware and glassware in open shelves, don’t keep them in the dark. Add puck lights or LED strip lights to the bottom of each shelf to create a mini spotlight for your shelf items. That way, these items can double as decor!

Light up your decor

Speaking of decor, here’s a bright idea to inject some personality into your kitchen. If you have ample wall space, consider putting up a poster or a painting that you love. Another option is to install a glass display cabinet or wall-mounted shelf filled with travel souvenirs and interesting knickknacks. Next, install some track lights or sconces to light up your display. That way, nobody will miss out on your art!

Use your wall space

Another great way to make the most of your wall space is to install wall lighting like sconces – these make great accent lights that not only liven up dark spots but add more texture to walls too. You can also install wall-mounted lamps next to the stove and preparation area for some task lighting.

Tip: Don’t use the same light for wall sconces and task lights. Sconces are meant for ambient lighting only, so use soft, warm bulbs that emit yellow light. Meanwhile, wall-mounted lamps should aid you in tasks like cooking, reading recipes, and taking measurements – for these, you’ll need bright white fluorescent bulbs.

Hanging lights are a kitchen staple

If you’ve got a big island, one way to make the space look more interesting is to add hanging lights or pendant lights. This doesn’t just make the space look less bare; it adds character and depth to the kitchen!

With pendant lights, there are hundreds of different styles and sizes to choose from. Here are just a few cool pendant lighting ideas.

Vintage pendant lights

What counts as vintage depends on who you’re talking to, but anything that harkens back to an older style can be considered vintage. For a boho, 1920s feel, try opulent coloured glass pendant lights adorned with tassels.

veryvintagekatrina View Profile
14 likes - View Post on Instagram
#lookingforward #toblushwalls #gettingreadytopaint #lovemylights #vintagependantlights #homesweethome

You can also repurpose some true antique pieces from yesteryears – maybe a lamp you’ve dug up from your mum’s garage – and mount them on a wooden beam on your ceiling.

Mid-century modern

The Sputnik chandelier is a key fixture from the iconic era. Inspired by the space age of the 50s and 60s, mid-century modern design is marked by clean lines, gentle curves, and touches of retro charm.

Orbs and exposed bulbs

Hanging glass orbs are a great way to show off retro Edison bulbs. These make great home bar lighting fixtures, especially if the vibe you’re going for is rustic and cozy. They also look good hanging over wooden dining tables. 

An epic chandelier 

Who says chandeliers are outdated? A chandelier is always an interesting way to light up a kitchen, and these days there are way more options than those antique glass ones. Black, brass, and even gold chandeliers with wood details excellently combine old and new.

Rustic ceiling lights

Instead of the usual recessed ceiling lights, install wooden beams on your ceiling to hold your lighting fixtures. These wooden ceiling accents look great with either small recessed lights or flush-mounted ceiling lights and give your kitchen that farmhouse look.

TIP: Adding wood details to concrete walls and ceilings is an excellent way to balance out the coldness of an industrial look.

Novelty lamps

This is another way to add a little fun and personality to your kitchen. Circular lightboxes, marquees, and neon lights put a quirky touch to an otherwise normal-looking kitchen.

Natural lighting

If you’re still scouting out a home, one key factor to consider should be a kitchen with a lot of natural light coming in from outdoors. That means a space with tons of windows, particularly above the sink. 

RELATED: 8 new trends to try on your kitchen island

  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Kitchen Designs

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to get a provincial-style kitchen in just 6 steps

How to get a provincial-style kitchen in just 6 steps

The one-of-a-kind indoor plant chandelier you need to buy now

The one-of-a-kind indoor plant chandelier you need to buy now

This popular kitchen style is already dated

This popular kitchen style is already dated

5 things everyone should own by the time they turn 30

5 things everyone should own by the time they turn 30

{headline}

{headline}

The kids lighting trend that’s out of this world

The kids lighting trend that’s out of this world

5 things every outdoor kitchen needs

5 things every outdoor kitchen needs

Top tips for decorating a small kitchen

Top tips for decorating a small kitchen

{headline}

{headline}

14 ways to enhance your outdoor living space with lighting

14 ways to enhance your outdoor living space with lighting

Six ways to update your kitchen in minutes

Six ways to update your kitchen in minutes

14 of the best-rated non-stick fry pans in Australia

14 of the best-rated non-stick fry pans in Australia

Clever pantry storage ideas

Clever pantry storage ideas

How to create a mini home office

How to create a mini home office

How to make a gorgeous mirror with a twig frame

How to make a gorgeous mirror with a twig frame

How to season a cast iron pan

How to season a cast iron pan

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription