If social media has taught us anything, it’s that good lighting changes everything. In the kitchen, this is especially true, whether it’s the perfect task lamp for meal prep or a chic pendant for a stylish, informal gathering. These pieces should be beautiful and lend atmosphere and ambience to a space, but they should also be functional and help with day-to-day cooking and cleaning.
Since illumination comes in many forms, we’ve put together a few ideas to help inspire your next culinary upgrade. Here, interior designers share inspiration from their kitchen projects, from gold-leaf pendants to sleek flush mounts.
Make It Monochromatic
Nicole Franzen
In this moody kitchen by GRT Architects in upstate New York, lighting seamlessly integrates with the dark tones dominating the space. Three different lighting applications match the rich palette, proving how monochromatic design can enhance both functionality and ambiance.
Warm It Up With Wood
Ye Rin Mok
For this project, Wall for Apricots crafted a kitchen in Crestline, Calif., that brings the outdoors in. Wood lighting fixtures, including a Brendan Ravenhill pendant, complement the surrounding forest views—while also enhancing the kitchen’s paneling and custom millwork.
Create Jewelry for the Kitchen
Brie Williams
“I wanted lights to feel like jewelry in my kitchen,” says interior designer Nicole Lanteri. Opting for soft pink and copper fixtures over recessed lighting, here, she created a warm contrast to the cooler marble and chrome elements.
Spotlight the Sphere
Ye Rin Mok
This kitchen by Studio Keeta features a unique circular island highlighted by an oversized sphere pendant. The playful globe fixture emphasizes the kitchen’s unique layout, creating a focal point over the custom wood piece.
Add Bar Lighting
Jess Isaac
Here, interior designer Mimi Shin eschewed traditional pendants for moody uplights over her kitchen island. The result? A relaxed, bar-like atmosphere that’s perfect for sipping wine with guests while preparing dinner.
Incorporate Vintage Charm
Jared Kuzia
“Vintage and found lighting perfectly complement the quirky character of this loft-like home,” says Lanteri. These fixtures add pops of personality from the past to this contemporary kitchen space.
Go With Gold Leaf
James John Jetel
“When designing this kitchen, the lighting was selected to do more than illuminate—it was chosen to transform the space into a warm and inviting focal point of the home,” says Dan Rockenbach, owner and principal of Rockenbach Design Studio. “The pendant lights above the island, with their layered metallic domes and gold-leaf interiors, were specifically chosen to cast a soft, diffused glow that enhances the natural beauty of the materials.”
Choose an Era-Appropriate Solution
Kelley Kish
Working within the confines of this 1940s colonial revival house, Peter Spalding of Daniel House Club opted for a combination of era-appropriate flush mounts and square recessed cans. “The kitchen had a ceiling that was slightly below average height, so I didn’t want anything huge hanging down and obscuring lines of sight,” he says.
Try Statement Surface Mounts
Robert Canali
In this San Francisco kitchen, Studio Anand Sheth opted for a linear array of surface-mounted LEDs—rather than conventional recessed cans. Double Puck sconces by In Common With were selected to create a soft glow on the ceiling, adding dimension. Dimmable switches can adjust the mood for day or night.
Pair Subtle Fixtures
Jared Kuzia
Out of consideration for the views at this upstate New York retreat, Lanteri opted for a pair of subtle, contemporary pendants. “We wanted this space to feel large, open, and restful, so we chose two large, modern lights that cast a pretty glow but otherwise didn’t take away from the view outside,” she says.
Play Up Your Display
210 Design House
Alexander Adducci, senior designer at 210 Design House, advocates for illuminated shelves—like Snaidero’s Rialto system. These subtle yet advanced lighting systems reduce glare and beautifully highlight dishes, décor, or even a cherished wine collection.
Use Lighting as Décor
Aimee Mazzenga
In this kitchen, En Masse Architecture & Design transformed the room into an extension of a living space by incorporating lighting elements that added warmth and sophistication. French ball globe pendants by Ann-Morris tie the kitchen to the dining area, striking a perfect balance between beauty and function.
Take Inspiration From Bauhaus
William Jess Laird
Meri Goldstein, the founder of Infinite Interiors, chose LZF’s I-Line LED Linear suspension for this kitchen renovation. Designed by German industrial designer Burkhard Dammer, its wood veneer brings warmth to the space while harkening back to the Bauhaus principle of form following function.
Create Something Classic and Timeless
Jennifer Hughes
“Classic pendants help create a diffused glow over this well-loved workspace for hosting and everyday living,” says Lanteri. “Their clean look helps balance bold and creative design choices for a timeless design.”
Mix Nostalgia and Modernity
Jessica Alexander
In this kitchen, interior design studio Stelly Selway blended nostalgia with modernity by using oversized or colorful glass pendants in traditional, familiar forms. The blown glass lights feel classic, but just left of conventional—offering a dash of modernity and interest through material and form.
Create a Cocoon
Reid Rolls
Dan Mazzarini, principal and creative director of BHDM Design, used pendant lighting to frame key gathering spaces in this contemporary kitchen. “Think about scale: a greater diameter will create a cocoon feel underneath it, and you can use a crisp shade or even frosted glass to hide the bulb for a subtler glow,” he says.
Pair Gloss and Glow
Daniel House Club
To compensate for the lack of natural light in this kitchen, Spalding painted the ceiling with a high-gloss paint to reflect the light from the very large, clean, and contemporary flush mounts, which pay homage to the home’s early 20th-century roots. This trick, which the designer says should never be overlooked, adds mileage to the sparse natural light.
Make a Sculptural Statement
Design with Veronica Sanders
In this kitchen by Design with Veronica Sanders, statement pendants act as sculptural focal points, blending artistry with purpose. This layered approach to lighting creates flexibility for everything—from prepping meals to entertaining guests.
Create Ambience
Coates Design Architects + Interiors
Matthew Coates, managing partner of Coates Design Architects + Interiors, highlights the power of layered lighting. In this open-concept home, cast glass globes create visual interest as well as adjustable, functional lighting for the kitchen and dining area. “Compared to one large intense light, this solution is far superior at creating ambiance and an appropriate sense of scale,” he says.
Elevate Open Shelving
John Merkl
Eva Bradley Studio’s open shelving scheme is accentuated by Urban Electric sconces, which use adjustable arm mounts to cast a sculptural light upon various travel treasures and textured tile. The result is an elevated and curated display that enhances this kitchen’s personality.
Add Subtle Drama
Justin March
“Sometimes, lighting doesn’t need to be bold to make a statement,” says Jessica Maros, founder and principal of Maros Designs. In this all-black kitchen, two small, black concrete pendants seamlessly blend into the space, allowing the breakfast area to shine with its striking white light.
Weave in Antique Elegance
Peltier Interiors
“These antique brass pendants from Visual Comfort were the perfect choice to bring warmth and character to this kitchen,” says Amy Peltier, creative director and CEO of Peltier Interiors. “The rich brass finish adds a touch of elegance, while complementing the other textures and tones in the space. I love how their timeless design makes a bold-yet- balanced statement above the island.”
Create a Calming Connection
Four Hands
Adam Dunn, senior vice president of wholesale furniture retailer Four Hands, emphasizes how kitchen lighting can play into your home’s overall sense of comfort. “People are looking for lighting that draws them in, providing a calm retreat from the business of everyday life,” he says. “To get the most out of your kitchen lighting, invest in pieces that bring more of the rest of the home into the kitchen, allowing homeowners to feel more intimate, cozy, and connected.”
Go Geometric
Jared Kuzia
In a Capitol Hill row house, Lanteri used geometric lighting in varied colors throughout the first floor, tying together the kitchen, dining, and living spaces with a sense of sharp cohesion. “Their geometric shapes play with your line of sight depending on the angle,” she says.
Install a Long, Linear Piece
Eva Bradley Studio designed this open-plan kitchen with dual islands tailored to its avid cook and baker clients. Linear pendants from Urban Electric anchor the space, providing both functional lighting and a warm glow that suits both cooking and entertaining needs.
