HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING BY: HOLLY SMITH
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. Ceiling Luminaires
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.
Rather than pendants over the island that might block a view or change the symmetry of the room, consider simple flush mounts that are practical and interesting.
JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: Veronica Olson
Use fancy lighting in unexpected places. A simple white chandelier is the perfect way to balance a colorful kitchen.
Match natural wood tones with brass or copper lighting for a cohesive look.
Consider textured or worn glass pendants to tie into the spaces' existing character.
Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason
Windows are a healthy and energy-efficient way to add light to your kitchen. Traditionally, there is a window located above the sink.
Lean into the color palette of your kitchen when selecting lighting. Black pendants and sconces compliment the dark trim of this room.
For a modern look and soft glow, use matte white pendants. The sleek round shape helps to not overwhelm small spaces.
Don't let your lighting get in the way of precious views or detract from beautiful woodworking. Instead opt for can lights that'll blend into the ceiling.
The oversized pendant is a cerused white oak island that's topped with gray-blue Arabescatus marble.
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.
Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene
Matte-white pendant lighting and appliances finish this space with a custom look.
Add a unique flare to your kitchen with hanging, patterned lamp shade fixtures.
A one-of-a-kind light fixture is the perfect solution for dressing up your kitchen.
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.
For a simple statement, go for high numbers. This open kitchen draws your eyes up with 18 small pendants as the main light source.
Brighten a darker space with oversized lighting that brings a lighter tone to the room.
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ STYLING BY: HOLLY SMITH
Elevate any hardworking space with elegant lampshades. Swap out existing shades on any fixture or seek out the just-right-pendant.
Create contrast with deep tones by applying vintage hanging pendant lights to your kitchen space.
In a classic white kitchen, adding texture and shape is a beautiful thing.
Nooks are great for natural sunlight, but when the sun goes down a country-chic pendant can keep the candle burning at any hour.
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.
Small, streamlined pendants against shiplap walls bring a breath modern farmhouse style to any kitchen space.
Vintage glam meets modern finishes with large brass-accented glass pendants.
The long rustic lines draw eyes up and lengthen the room, making the light and bright kitchen feel even more open.
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.
Brighten the kitchen space with overhanging warm lighting.
Having multiple overhead lights in the same area but layered is a visually unique and interesting way to make your kitchen brighter—especially when the cabinets and other features are on the darker side.
A single, overhead light softens the space and showcases a stunning, oversized farm sink.
Add a relaxed, yet polished air to any kitchen island by pairing built-in overhead lights with bohemian statement pendants.
A flexible spotlight can illuminate the sink or counter, but it's also handy to move when needed.
A light blue clouded pendant is the perfect accessory for any white kitchen.
Antique lamp fixtures can make kitchen eating feel refined yet relaxed.
Intricate in design and abundant in lights, these pendant lights contain 4 miniature lamps within them.
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.
Industrially glam and wonderfully geometric, these large gold fixtures brighten up a space before you even flip the switch.
Illuminate your kitchen with a show-stopping light fixture. This Italian Murano bubble glass chandelier hangs overhead a custom white lacquered table.
Emphasize high ceilings and beams with an oversized, glass pendant light.
Don't shy away from complementing color in the kitchen. Here, a grapefruit pink pendant gets playful against tropical green.
We almost don't know where to look first. Mix and match fixtures, like this high coral pendant sandwiched between modern, longer globes.
An elongated, petite pendant easily showcases the height of the ceilings and cabinets.
These white industrial pendant lights add a vintage edge to this playful kitchen.
Glass globe lights captivate attention without taking away from other details in your kitchen, like beautiful backsplashes, wallpaper, or seating.
Finish any color scheme with light to match, like these coastal blue statement lights.
Etched glass brings an air of sophistication above a sink, no matter how dirty the dishes are below.
Who says pendants can't have a pop of color? A dark teal fixture can add character above any kitchen sink.
Black matte pendant lights can blend with any kitchen color combination.
Open shelving just might be here to stay. Illuminate your neatly placed dishes and glassware for guests to easily grab what they need.
Balance an oversized island pendant with small sconces by the sink.
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.
Add extra light to prep spaces while highlighting your favorite countertop decor with under cabinet lights.
Light up a large island with pendants that match the scale of the space.
Use accent lighting to highlight collections and artwork in your kitchen.
Directional downlighting illuminates your work surface to make your time in the kitchen safer and easier on your eyes.
Everything in this kitchen has texture and warmth. Brass hardware and pendants offset textured neutrals, like the Palecek stools.
Pendant Luminaires General lighting provides overall illumination to a space. Use decorative ceiling fixtures supplemented by recessed lights for style and even light.