Kitchen Lighting Tips: Style, Bulbs, Layering & Dimmers for a Perfectly Lit Kitchen
Why Your Kitchen Lighting Matters More Than You Think
Lighting isn’t just about being able to see what you’re chopping—it’s one of the most important design elements in your kitchen. It influences the room’s mood, highlights your design choices, and makes everyday tasks easier.
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, and with a few smart lighting choices, you can make it feel warm, inviting, and ready for anything from meal prep to late-night chats.
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Kitchen with example of downlights and under cabinet lighting
Mixing Style with Function in Pendant Lighting
Your pendant lights over the island are more than just task lights—they’re also statement pieces. The style you choose can completely change your kitchen’s look.
Here are some popular kitchen pendant lighting styles to consider:
Industrial kitchen pendants – Think matte black metal, cage designs, or enamel shades. They’re perfect if you love a loft-style or modern farmhouse look.
Modern glass pendants – Clear or frosted glass shades allow light to spread evenly, ideal for smaller kitchens that need a bright, airy feel.
Rustic or farmhouse pendants – Wood, iron, or rattan pendants add warmth and texture, great for cosy, country-style kitchens.
Minimalist pendants – Simple shapes and neutral finishes work well in contemporary spaces where clean lines are key.
Tip: Choose a style that complements your cabinet hardware and other finishes so the design feels cohesive. I’ve curated a selection of Industrial style pendants here.
Check out my formula for calculating the number of pendant lights you need above your kitchen island here.
Choosing the Right Bulb for Your Kitchen
Bulb choice can make or break your kitchen lighting. The wrong colour temperature can make the space feel harsh or dull.
Warm white (2700–3000K) – Perfect for creating a cosy, inviting glow. Works well for dining areas and entertaining.
Cool white (3500–4100K) – Gives a brighter, crisper light. Good for prep-heavy kitchens where visibility is key.
Daylight (5000K+) – Very bright, close to natural daylight. Best used sparingly, as it can feel clinical in a home setting.
For most kitchens, warm white LED bulbs strike the right balance between practicality and atmosphere. LEDs also last longer and use less energy.
Dramatic kitchen island pendants
Layering Your Kitchen Lighting
One common lighting mistake is relying on just one light source—usually ceiling lights. The most inviting kitchens combine three layers of lighting:
Ambient lighting – The main source of light in the room, such as recessed ceiling lights or a central pendant.
Task lighting – Direct light for specific activities, like pendants over the island or under-cabinet lights for chopping and cooking.
Accent lighting – Adds depth and highlights design features, like LED strips along shelves, uplighting above cabinets, or spotlights on art or architectural details.
Tip: In a self-build or renovation, plan wiring for all three layers from the start—it’s much easier than trying to retrofit later. Also plan any recessed ceiling lights carefully, they don’t have to go in a matrix, install them where you need the light – I hate the ones in our kitchen as it looks like a runway!
How to Use Dimmers in Your Kitchen
Adding a dimmer switch to your lighting is one of the easiest upgrades you can make.
Practicality: Bright light for cooking, softer light for dining.
Energy saving: Lower brightness means less energy use.
Mood setting: Perfect for evenings or when you want a more relaxed vibe. This is particularly important in an open plan space as you can keep some low level lighting on in the area of the room that is not being used.
Pair dimmers with warm LED bulbs for the most versatile setup. If you have multiple lighting zones, consider installing a smart system like Lutron.
Lutron Smart System
The Lutron system allows us to set programs for the lighting in our open plan space. We have programs for dining, cooking and chilling in the evenings. The system also allows you to adjust the brightness of each of the lights that are connected to the system. The main benefit is that you only need one light switch for the control instead of multiple switches to cover each set of lights. You can also control the lights via an app on your phone. I’d definitely recommend the extra cost of getting a smart system installed if you have an open plan space. We also use ours for the downstairs hallway and outdoor lighting as well and you can add to it over time if you want to keep costs down at the start.
How I Designed My Kitchen Lighting
When we built our kitchen, I layered lighting in three ways:
Ambient: A row of recessed ceiling spotlights for overall brightness.
Task: Three pendant lights over the island, each with neutral LED bulbs for food prep and baking.
Accent: LED strip lighting in the open shelves.
Having dimmers on the pendants means we can turn them right up when cooking but dial them down when we are relaxing in the living room. It’s a small change that’s made a big difference to how we use the space
Final Thoughts
Great kitchen lighting combines function, comfort, and style. From choosing the right pendant design to layering your lights and adding dimmers, every choice shapes how your kitchen feels and works.
If you’re renovating or self-building, take time to plan your lighting—it’s one of those details that you’ll appreciate every single day.