It’s difficult to overstate the importance of great kitchen lighting. You can install the finest countertops, cabinets, and appliances, but without good lighting, the space will fail to live up to its potential for both aesthetics and functionality.
There are a host of options for dynamic kitchen lighting, and in this post, I’ll go over 10 bright ideas that are worth considering for your home. However, kitchen lighting should be customized to your space, so you can use these ideas as inspiration as you consider and decide how to make the most of your kitchen remodel.
Bright Idea #1: Flat Pendant Lights
In this remodel, we installed a unique kind of pendant light over the kitchen island area. The fixtures have a flat bottom and considerable width, giving them a distinct look compared to more traditional bulbs and fixtures. In addition, the wider white lights provide essential task lighting, allowing you to more easily use the kitchen island for food preparation.
Bright Idea #2: Patterned Pendant Lamp Shades
While we often focus on the color temperature of the bulb itself, the shade around the bulb can have a huge impact on the mood of your kitchen. In this remodel, we installed a unique patterned shade, which is eye-catching in itself but also contributes to a warm, elegant ambiance throughout the kitchen.
Bright Idea #3: Stylish Globe Pendant Lights
One way to enhance your kitchen lighting is to select fixtures that have personality and style. In this home in West Chester, we installed two globe pendant lights that hang down over the kitchen island. The rounded bottom paired with white glass, gives the lights a bright glow, while the gold fixtures add a stylistic highlight.
Choosing globe-shaped pendant lights can be a winning idea in many kitchens, and there is a wide range of fixtures (beyond just the gold ones featured here) that let you create the mood and style that you want for the space.
Bright Idea #4: Extensive Under-Cabinet Lighting
One of the most practical kitchen lighting approaches we recommend is installing under-cabinet lights. In this West Chester kitchen renovation, we installed several under-cabinet lights to illuminate the entire countertop and stove. Although this functions primarily as task lighting, it also has the benefit of lighting up your kitchen backsplash tile.
Bright Idea #5: Mixing Modern and Traditional Styles
When shopping for light fixtures, you have the flexibility to incorporate different stylistic elements. For example, in this project, we mixed modern and traditional styles with a series of glass-enclosed mini-chandeliers. These extend down from the ceiling like pendant lights using a gold chain that complements the gold finish of the fixtures themselves.
Bright Idea #6: Embracing the Desk Lamp’s Functional Aesthetic
You don’t normally find desk lamps in a kitchen, but this Downingtown home shows how you can think outside the box when choosing kitchen lighting. We installed three wall-mounted lights that have the look of a desk lamp, creating a unique look within the kitchen. At the same time, the arm of each lamp is adjustable, making these lights extremely functional for task lighting.
Bright Idea #7: Built-In Cabinet Lights With Unique Color Temperatures
I already mentioned how we like under-cabinet lighting, but we also have a soft spot for in-cabinet lighting. It adds a sense of depth to your kitchen cabinets, and in this modern West Chester kitchen remodel, we used lights with different color temperatures for different cabinets.
On one wall, large wooden cabinets and closets feature an open top shelf illuminated by a warm glow from a light built into the shelf. On the other side of the kitchen, a brighter light is used inside the top row of white cabinets, giving each side a color temperature that suits the material for the cabinets.
Bright Idea #8: Contrasting Contemporary Fixtures and Bulb Types
One benefit of contemporary interior design is that you have the flexibility to embrace different types of fixtures and bulbs within the same kitchen. For this remodel on Dunsinane Drive, we used clear pendant lights over the kitchen island, but the far wall features darker, lamp-style sconces. While it might not offer the close matching of a more traditional aesthetic, it just felt right in this airy and inviting kitchen.
Bright Idea #9: Leaning into Uneven Pendants
Most pendant lights are symmetrical and lined up at even heights and intervals. But for this home, we wanted to give the kitchen lighting a sense of dynamism and movement. We did that by putting the pendant light fixtures at different height levels, which builds visual appeal and almost resembles a unique style of chandelier.
Bright Idea #10: Let the Sun Do Its Thing
Sometimes letting the sun shine in is the best way to optimize kitchen lighting. But choosing to embrace natural light isn’t just about putting in big windows. In this home, the windows are complemented by many small houseplants. Light colors, including white for the planters, sink, and under-sink cabinet, help reflect the natural light and make the space feel more open.
Planning Your Kitchen Remodel
A kitchen remodel is an opportunity to dramatically upgrade your home. Choosing kitchen lighting is just one of many important decisions you’ll make when renovating your kitchen. Having the right partner to guide you through the remodeling process is crucial for achieving the best possible outcome.
Hazley Builders is a custom remodeler with more than 25 years of experience serving our neighbors in West Chester and Chester County, Pennsylvania. We’re a design-build firm, which means we handle every step and detail, from interior design to actual construction work. Our work is our passion, and we have a long track record of delivering high-end projects that exceed our clients’ expectations.
If you’re ready to turn the page on your old kitchen and start a new remodeling project, we invite you to contact us (by phone, email, or the contact page on our website) to find a time for a consultation.
