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.
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
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