Home Home Decor Ideas 45 Kitchen Lighting Ideas That'll Transform Your Space By Southern Living Editors Updated on February 9, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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. 01 of 45 Three's a Crowd Pendant Lighting 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. 02 of 45 Textured Fixture Lighting Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller In a classic white kitchen, adding texture and shape is a beautiful thing. 03 of 45 Light Blue Pendant Lighting Laurey W. Glenn A light blue clouded pendant is the perfect accessory for any white kitchen. 04 of 45 Small Pendant Lighting Annie Schlechter For a simple statement, go for high numbers. This open kitchen draws your eyes up with 18 small pendants as the main light source. 05 of 45 Small Modern Pendant Lighting Laurey W. Glenn Small, streamlined pendants against shiplap walls bring a breath modern farmhouse style to any kitchen space. 06 of 45 Glass Fixture Lighting Photo: Annie Schlechter; Styling: Matthew Gleason Vintage glam meets modern finishes with large brass-accented glass pendants. 07 of 45 Long Lighting Annie Schlechter; Styling: Page Mullins The long rustic lines draw eyes up and lengthen the room, making the light and bright kitchen feel even more open. 08 of 45 Shaded Lighting PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE Add a unique flare to your kitchen with hanging, patterned lamp shade fixtures. 09 of 45 Lamp Lighting Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Antique lamp fixtures can make kitchen eating feel refined yet relaxed. 10 of 45 Pendants With A Pop Of Color Brian Woodcock; Styling: Page Mullins This kitchen is all white everything, save for a few finishing touches. This gives the kitchen a very clean look, with added spots of brightness thanks to the pendants, the cushions and the color of the island. 11 of 45 Laid-Back Pendant Lighting 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. 12 of 45 Mix and Match Lighting 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. 13 of 45 Flexible Spotlight Lighting 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. 14 of 45 Complementing Colors Lighting Jessica Klewicki Glynn Don't shy away from complementing color in the kitchen. Here, a grapefruit pink pendant gets playful against tropical green. 15 of 45 Gold Pendant Lighting 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. 16 of 45 Neutral Nodes Lighting Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Intricate in design and abundant in lights, these pendant lights contain 4 miniature lamps within them. 17 of 45 Industrial White Lighting Photo: Laurey W. Glenn These white industrial pendant lights add a vintage edge to this playful kitchen. 18 of 45 Nook Lighting 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. 19 of 45 Petite Pendant Lighting Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Gena Sigala An elongated, petite pendant easily showcases the height of the ceilings and cabinets. 20 of 45 Oversized and Rustic Lighting Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Frances Bailey Emphasize high ceilings and beams with an oversized, glass pendant light. 21 of 45 Glass Globe Lighting 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. 22 of 45 Coastal Blue Pop Lighting Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Finish any color scheme with light to match, like these coastal blue statement lights. 23 of 45 Hanging Lighting Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Etched glass brings an air of sophistication above a sink, no matter how dirty the dishes are below. 24 of 45 Colorful Statement Pendant Lighting 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. 25 of 45 Wide Fluorescent Lighting Jillian Guyette Black matte pendant lights can blend with any kitchen color combination. 26 of 45 Under Open Shelving Lighting 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. 27 of 45 Under Cabinet Lighting Southern Living Add extra light to prep spaces while highlighting your favorite countertop decor with under cabinet lights. 28 of 45 Balancing Glow Jeff Herr Balance an oversized island pendant with small sconces by the sink. 29 of 45 Galley Kitchen Lighting 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. 30 of 45 Accent Lighting Laurey W. Glenn Use accent lighting to highlight collections and artwork in your kitchen. 31 of 45 Task Lighting Directional downlighting illuminates your work surface to make your time in the kitchen safer and easier on your eyes. 32 of 45 Natural Lighting 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. 33 of 45 General Lighting General lighting provides overall illumination to a space. Use decorative ceiling fixtures supplemented by recessed lights for style and even light. 34 of 45 Casual Warm Lighting Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins Brighten the kitchen space with overhanging warm lighting. 35 of 45 Caged Lighting Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface Who says lighting can't double as storage? Hanging pots and pans from the copper light fixture above the island saves storage space and adds to the contrast seen throughout the kitchen. 36 of 45 Grid Pendant Lighting Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong A grid of pendants, rather than the ubiquitous pair, hangs over the island. The overhang into this kitchen's pathways helps to widen and brighten the space. 37 of 45 Brass Pendant Lighting Everything in this kitchen has texture and warmth. Brass hardware and pendants offset textured neutrals, like the Palecek stools. 38 of 45 Display Lighting Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Kathleen Varner Illuminate your kitchen with a show-stopping light fixture. This Italian Murano bubble glass chandelier hangs overhead a custom white lacquered table. 39 of 45 Warm Up a Dark Space Photography by Brian Woodcock; Styling by Natalie Warady Brighten a darker space with airy, oversized lighting. 40 of 45 Single Overhead Lighting Photography by Brian Woodcock; Styling by Natalie Warady A single, overhead light softens the space and showcases a stunning, oversized farm sink. 41 of 45 Matte-White Pendant Lighting Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene Matte-white pendant lighting and appliances finish this space with a custom look. 42 of 45 Oversized Lanterns Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kathryn Lott Light up a large island with pendants that match the scale of the space. 43 of 45 Slim Fixtures for Small Spaces Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling Work a slender lighting source into a small kitchen to illuminate any space. This bent fixture draws eyes up and completes the room's brass touches. 44 of 45 Vintage Hanging Pendant Lighting Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason Create contrast with deep tones by applying vintage hanging pendant lights to your kitchen space. 45 of 45 Colorful Caged Lighting Brie Williams; Styling: Page Mullins The oversized pendant is a cerused white oak island that's topped with gray-blue Arabescatus marble. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit