30 Kitchen Lighting Ideas That'll Transform Your Space

By Southern Living Editors
November 17, 2010
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox
Lighting sets the mood and tone for your space before guests even enter the room. Let’s face it, you spend most of your time in the kitchen cooking meals or gathered with family and friends sharing a sweet treat. Kitchen lighting is crucial in a home—it’s vital to illuminate the one room in the house that is inhabited the most. A poorly lit space can set the wrong tone for guests. You certainly don’t want to spend time in a room that’s too dimly lit or blindingly bright. Lighting is a great decorative accent, but in the kitchen, it’s especially important to get the lighting balance right for your safety and comfort. We found great ways to showcase statement lighting while also being practical and functional for your kitchen. From golden glows to bright whites, we’ve compiled the best ways to illuminate your kitchen to make it look like a beaming masterpiece. Trust us—with these lighting tips, it’ll be hard to leave your radiant space.
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Let Your Kitchen Shine With These Gorgeous Light Fixtures

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Laid-Back Pendants

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

Add a relaxed, yet polished air to any kitchen island by pairing built-in overhead lights with bohemian statement pendants.

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Light Blue Pendant

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

A light blue clouded pendant is the perfect accessory for any white kitchen.

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Small Modern Pendants

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Small, streamlined pendants against shiplap walls bring a breath modern farmhouse style to any kitchen space.

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Glass Fixtures

Credit: Photo: Annie Schlechter; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Vintage glam meets modern finishes with large brass-accented glass pendants.

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Lamp Lights

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Antique lamp fixtures can make kitchen eating feel refined yet relaxed.

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Three's a Crowd

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Adam Fortner

Three’s certainly not a crowd with fixtures that match the number of seats at the counter. If you’re not keen on a chunky overhead light, go for matte gold fixtures to provide a radiant look.

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Mix and Match

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

We almost don’t know where to look first. Mix and match fixtures, like this high coral pendant sandwiched between modern, longer globes.

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Textured Fixtures

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

In a classic white kitchen, adding texture and shape is a beautiful thing.

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Flexible Spotlight

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper

A flexible spotlight can illuminate the sink or counter, but it's also handy to move when needed.

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Complementing Colors

Credit: Jessica Klewicki Glynn

Don't shy away from complementing color in the kitchen. Here, a grapefruit pink pendant gets playful against tropical green.

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Gold Pendants

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Industrially glam and wonderfully geometric, these large gold fixtures brighten up a space before you even flip the switch.

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Neutral Nodes

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Intricate in design and abundant in lights, these pendant lights contain 4 miniature lamps within them.

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Industrial White

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

These white industrial pendant lights add a vintage edge to this playful kitchen.

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Nook Lighting

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

Nooks are great for natural sunlight, but when the sun goes down a country-chic pendant can keep the candle burning at any hour.

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Petite Pendants

Credit: Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Gena Sigala

An elongated, petite pendant easily showcases the height of the ceilings and cabinets.

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Industrial String Lights

Credit: Ralph Anderson / Styling Lisa Powell Bailey

Draw the eyes up with elegantly strung lights over industrial beams.

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Oversized and Rustic

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Frances Bailey

Emphasize high ceilings and beams with an oversized, glass pendant light.

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Glass Globe Lighting

Credit: Marili Forastieri; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

Glass globe lights captivate attention without taking away from other details in your kitchen, like beautiful backsplashes, wallpaper, or seating.

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Coastal Blue Pop

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Finish any color scheme with light to match, like these coastal blue statement lights.

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Hanging Light

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Etched glass brings an air of sophistication above a sink, no matter how dirty the dishes are below.

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Colorful Statement Pendant

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cox

Who says pendants can't have a pop of color? A dark teal fixture can add character above any kitchen sink.

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Wide Fluorescent

Credit: Jillian Guyette

Black matte pendant lights can blend with any kitchen color combination.

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Under Open Shelving

Credit: Photography Charles Walton IV / Styling Scott Martin

Open shelving just might be here to stay. Illuminate your neatly placed dishes and glassware for guests to easily grab what they need.

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Under Cabinet Lighting

Credit: Southern Living

Add extra light to prep spaces while highlighting your favorite countertop decor with under cabinet lights.

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Balancing Glow

Credit: Jeff Herr

Balance an oversized island pendant with small sconces by the sink.

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Galley Kitchen Lighting

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Frances Bailey

Keep things clean with a simple glass fixture. But, if you want an additional glow, add a lamp to the counter and use colorful string lights by the window.

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Accent Lighting

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Use accent lighting to highlight collections and artwork in your kitchen.

Want more?
Check out our Kitchen Lighting video for more kitchen lighting information and ideas.

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Task Lighting

Directional downlighting illuminates your work surface to make your time in the kitchen safer and easier on your eyes.

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Natural Lighting

Credit: Photo: Erica George Dines

Windows are a healthy and energy-efficient way to add light to your kitchen. Traditionally, there is a window located above the sink.

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General Lighting