I love spending time in my kitchen, but I often find that the lighting can be a bit lacking.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of 55 kitchen lighting ideas to help you brighten up your space and make it more functional.
From pendant lights to under-cabinet lighting, there are so many different options to choose from when it comes to kitchen lighting.
Whether you’re looking for something sleek and modern or more traditional and rustic, there’s sure to be a lighting solution that fits your style and needs.
So if you’re ready to transform your kitchen with some new lighting, read on for 55 inspiring ideas that are sure to brighten up your space and make it feel more welcoming and functional.
1.Danish Modern Pendants
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Design by Sissy + Marley Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca
This clean, modern farmhouse kitchen from Sissy + Marley Interiors has all-white cabinetry and countertops,
Scandi-style spindle-back white painted wood bar stools, and a trio of pendant lights with a Danish modern bent that complement the light and airy feel of the space.
2.Single Sconce Light
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo
This modern Northern California kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors has a minimalist palette of pale woods and white herringbone patterned tiles.
A warm gold-toned single sconce light in one corner gleams even in the daytime and echoes the cabinetry hardware for a look that is both functional and decorative.
3.Multi-Directional Modern
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Design by Forge & Bow Dwellings / Arris Photography
This warm, minimalist kitchen from Forge & Bow Dwellings has a multi-directional pendant light that hangs over the kitchen island between the wood ceiling beams.
The fixture provides a graphic black accent that echoes the plumbing fixtures and bar stools, and adds a playful sense of movement in the streamlined space.
4.Long and Linear
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Maydan Architects / Photo by Peter Kubilis
Maydan Architects added bright white under-cabinet task lighting to this black-and-one one-wall kitchen in a New York City apartment that proves that there is no reason that a kitchenette can’t be ultra chic.
The under-cabinet LED lighting is strong enough to provide ample task lighting for food prep, and illuminates the wall day or night, energizing the space.
5.Transparent Pendant Light
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
In this minimalist kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, a silver-toned light fixture with transparent glass shades that look like giant bubbles has presence but doesn’t disrupt the airy feel of the space, or block natural light.
The silver-toned hardware of the light fixture matches the stainless steel fittings throughout the space.
6.Gold-Toned Metal
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Design by Mendelson Group / Photo by Eric Piasecki
This warm and inviting modern kitchen from Mendelson Group is outfitted in soothing shades of beige and pale wood, with a pair of oversized gold-toned brass pendants hanging over the double islands that create a focal point and add a sunny warmth.
The gleaming golden pendant lights are balanced by silver and stainless steel fixtures and appliances throughout the rest of the kitchen.
7.Picture Light
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Kate Marker Interiors hung a gold picture light over a framed photo on the wall of this modern farmhouse-style kitchen that illuminates the wall decor and can be turned on at night to create ambiance once the dishes have been put away.
Over the kitchen island, vintage-style fluted glass pendants enhance the farmhouse feel of the modern kitchen, with black mounts that echo the cabinet hardware and the oven.
8.Woven Pendant Light
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
In this airy eat-in kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, a woven rattan pendant light is hung low over the farmhouse table, adding a casual focal point in the center of the room and providing soft light after dark.
TipOne trick to creating a cozy eat-in kitchen dining space is to hang your pendant light low so that it hovers just above eye level of the tallest person in your home.
This will make the space feel grounded and flood the table with soft light during evening meals.
9.Gooseneck Sconce
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Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto
A pair of vintage-style gooseneck sconces mounted over the window sink in this kitchen from Calimia Home adds a timeless and familiar element to the space.
The black sconces contrast with the pale neutral patterned tile and wood and woven accents.
10.Backlit Shelving
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This Barcelona apartment kitchen from Fantastic Frank mixes earthy finishes like exposed brick walls, wood tones on the ceiling and cabinetry, and patterned floor tiles for a warm modern feel.
A wall of cabinetry glows thanks to integrated LED lighting from the under-counter cabinetry to the tops of the cabinets and the backlit glass-front display shelving stocked with transparent glassware.
11.Statement Lighting
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Design by J Hill Interiors / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
Task lighting is important in a kitchen to ensure that you can prep food safely and keep your kitchen clean and tidy.
But you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, and there’s a place for ambient lighting to create atmosphere and light up mealtime, too.
In this eat-in kitchen from J Hill Interiors, a vintage gilded pendant light hangs over the small round table and chairs, complementing the large-scale tropical wallpaper and creating a focal point.
12.Industrial Bulb Lights
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This industrial-style kitchen from Fantastic Frank has built-in can lights in the ceiling to balance light throughout the room.
But it’s the eye-catching single bulb light pendants hung around the periphery of the L-shaped, subway-tiled kitchen space that steal the spotlight.
13.Can Lights + Pendants
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Design by Forge & Bow Dwellings / Christa Tippmann Photography
This small kitchen from Forge & Bow Dwellings has layered lighting that makes it functional and cozy,
from the practical can lights int he ceiling to the stovetop task lighting on the range hood to the ceiling light fixtures over the sink and the pair of glowing glass pendant lights that anchor the island.
14.Sculptural Lighting
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo
This bright California kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors is minimal and contemporary, with clean lines, white walls, mixed metals, and a massive island that comfortably seats six.
It’s anchored by a sculptural modern pendant light in tones of black and gold that resembles a pair of interlocking paper clips.
A large sliding glass door leading to the outside floods the space with natural light.
15.Rattan Pendants
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Desiree Burns Interiors hung a pair of rattan pendants over the peninsula bar in this light and bright apartment kitchen that adds light and defines the space from the rest of the open-plan room.
16.Candlelight
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When it comes to kitchen lighting, it’s important to be both practical and mindful of aesthetics and the kind of mood you want to create.
Layering lighting options from candlelight to task lighting is a winning strategy if you want your kitchen to feel like a home, not a laboratory.
This classic English Victorian villa kitchen from deVOL Kitchens has soft rosy pink walls, soft green tiling, and warm, ambient lighting that includes a vintage sconce on the wall lit with real candles that creates a soft and inviting atmosphere that feels as good as it looks.
17.Ceiling Light
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In this NYC apartment, interior designer Alvin Wayne added a spiky contemporary black ceiling fixture that adds a bit of sass to what could be a forgettable element or even an eyesore.
TipIf you live in a highrise apartment with a compact galley-style kitchen that’s outfitted with an uninspiring ceiling light, give it an upgrade to turn it into more of a feature by changing out the fixture.
Just be sure to hold onto the old one so your security deposit doesn’t get dinged when you move out.
18.Sconces + Pendants
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Desiree Burns Interiors added stylish pendant lights and sconces in tones of gold, black, and white that add rhythm to the design of this kitchen.
The sparkling new fixtures and fittings add contrast with the rustic exposed ceiling to create a dynamic feel.
19.Crystal Chandelier
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Ashley Montgomery Design added old school glamour and drama to this ornate kitchen with a large and sparkling crystal chandelier.
The light is the crowning touch to a kitchen space that combines elaborate moldings, heavily veined marble, custom cabinetry, and farmhouse elements to create an eclectic mix.
The light fixture adds luminosity and sparkle when lit, but the crystals catch and bounce around light even when it’s not lit.
20.Industrial Pendants
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Design by Caroline Andreoni Interior Design Studio / Photo by Sophie Lloyd
Industrial black pendant lighting adds edge to this Paris kitchen from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design Studio that mixes dark wood and stone with gleaming backsplash tiles.
21.Small Table Lamps
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Task lighting is vital in a kitchen, but so is ambiance.
A couple of small table lamps perched on alternate sides and shelves of the coffee bar in this kitchen from Most Lovely Things adds warmth and ambiance that makes the space feel homey and inviting.
22.Oversized Pendant Light
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
An oversized pendant light creates an almost dome-like effect over the central island in this converted sunroom kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors.
Choosing a white fixture allows it to blend into the room while creating an impression.
23.Candy-Colored Pendants
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Design by DasMod and Handsome Salt / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
This warm modern minimalist kitchen designed by Eric Gilmer and Sven Simon of DasMod in conjunction with interior designer Sara Simon of Handsome Salt features a mix of natural wood and mint green painted cabinetry and bright copper fixtures.
Overhead, striped, multi-colored pendant lighting that looks like a toy or an oversized piece of candy floats above the streamlined kitchen island while adding a whimsical note that lifts the design.
24.Mismatched Lights
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Kate Marker Interiors defined the island bar seating and the adjacent breakfast nook banquette and table in this spacious kitchen by using mismatched pendant lights to give each space its own flavor.
Gold tones on both fixtures maintain cohesion.
25.Metal and Glass Pendant
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Marie Flanigan InteriorsMarie Flanigan Interiors hung a glass and black metal pendant that mimics the windows in this eat-in kitchen that look out onto the patio and outdoor kitchen space.
26.Beaded Chandelier
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Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography
Jessica Nelson Design added some French country charm to this modern white kitchen with wooden cross-back bar stools and a beaded chandelier.
Sconce lights placed high on the wall above each window draw the eye up and are balanced by ceiling-height cabinetry on the adjacent wall.
27.Plug-In Sconce
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This stylish black-and-white kitchen from Fantastic Frank includes an industrial-style task light with a plug-in cord that feels unexpected and makes a statement in the compact space.
And the light fixture could easily be repurposed in a living room, home office, or bedroom down the road.
TipIf you’re a renter or don’t want to spend the money or time to hardwire a lighting fixture into the wall of your small kitchen, choose a plug-in sconce.
28.Trio of Pendants
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Marie Flanigan Interiors used three oversized pendant lights to anchor the large kitchen island in this airy kitchen decorated with an upscale combination of transitional and modern farmhouse styles.
Can lighting in the ceiling helps to balance light in the large space, while the volume of the lighting fixtures helps to ground the room and make it feel cozy despite the tall ceiling height.
29.Neon Sign
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Design by Emilie Fournet Interiors / Photo by Caitlin Mogridge
Once you’ve got your general and task lighting installed, don’t forget that there is always a place for purely decorative lighting in the kitchen.
In this London kitchen from Emilie Fournet Interiors, a white hot neon lightning bolt mounted on the reclaimed wood range hood creates a focal point and a conversation starter that adds a modern edge to the rustic wood and white brick.
30.Dome Light With Gilding
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
A dome-shaped pendant light with a gilded interior adds subtle luster to this home from Leanne Ford Interiors that features original architectural features like leaded glass windows and a classic fireplace.
31.Vintage Style
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This all-white modern farmhouse kitchen from Liz Marie Blog features a pair of vintage pendant lights over the kitchen island that lend the space a timeless feel, and recede into the background during daytime.
32.Copper Wire Pendants
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Michelle Berwick Design chose to accent this black-and-white kitchen with copper tones that add palpable warmth to the space.
This includes a pair of lightweight copper wire pendant lights over the kitchen island that float in the airy space.
33.Cluster Lights
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls
Rather than choosing the banality of ceiling can lights, Leanne Ford Interiors spread the light in this stylish kitchen by hanging a cluster of bulb lights.
This idea can be scaled up or down depending on the size of your kitchen, and can be more cost-effective than purchasing a large single light fixture while allowing you to balance the light more effectively so that the room doesn’t have any shadowy pockets.
34.Black Metal Lighting
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This light-flooded English coach house kitchen from deVOL Kitchens has a simple layout anchored by a massive central island prep space that keeps the focus on the classic architecture while creating an updated modern feel.
A pair of hanging metal pendant lights draw attention to the vaulted ceiling and harmonize with the black metal framing on the ceiling skylight windows and industrial style metal and glass door.
Exposed Edison bulbs strike just the right note.
35.Mixed Materials
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Pendant lighting can function like jewelry for a kitchen.
This pair of glass and multi-colored metal lights from Marie Flanigan Interiors hang above the island like a pair of oversized earrings, as decorative as they are functional.
36.Giant Skylight
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo
The best light is natural light.
This Northern California kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors has a giant skylight carved out of the ceiling over the main cooking and island seating, flooding the open-plan kitchen with light.
A kitchen window over the sink includes an opaque solar shade to regulate glare throughout the day.
If you’re installing a skylight or roof window, you might want to install an automatic shade along with it that can be adjusted according to the weather.
37.Clear Glass Pendant
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls
In this bright white, compact U-shaped kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors, a glass bulb pendant light hangs in front of the central kitchen sink window, making it virtually disappear when natural light is flooding in.
38.LED Strip + Pendant
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In this kitchen from Fantastic Frank, linear LED lighting adds both structure and warmth.
The under-counter LED strip casts a bright, warm glow onto the beige backsplash and countertop, while a long and linear LED light hanging over the small peninsula adds a contemporary feel.
39.Mixed Metals
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photography
In a kitchen dominated by tones of white and gray and silver fixtures and stainless steel appliances, Cathie Hong Interiors added a twist with an eye-catching light fixture that introduces some warm gold tones to the mix.
40.Black + Gold Pendants
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Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Keyanna Bowen
In this kitchen designed by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design, black and gold pendant lights over the peninsula help to create a cozy feel and complement the tones of the bar stools.
41,Peninsula Lights
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Lighting can be used to focus the eye and define space where you want it, which sometimes means a side wall rather than the main wall in an open-plan kitchen.
Contemporary black pendant lights with gilded undersides define the peninsula in this NYC kitchen from JLA Designs.
42.Classic Globe Lights
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photography
This California modern Eichler house in San Jose was updated by Cathie Hong Interiors, who turned the dark, outdated room into a space fit for 21st-century living.
The designer added an island to optimize circulation, replaced outdated cabinets, and added new appliances, tile work, open shelving, and multiple globe light fixtures that are appropriate for the era the home was built and feel just as modern today.
43.Glass Bubble Light
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
A black metal and multi bubble light fixture hangs over the large farmhouse table of this eat-in kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors.
44.Black Wire Pendant Lights
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Michelle Berwick Design used black wire pendants to help structure the double islands in this large modern kitchen.
The lightweight pendants keep the space feeling open and bright while echoing black cabinetry, bar stools, and fixtures like cabinet pulls and the black metal pot filler over the stove.
45.Organic Shapes
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo
Cathie Hong Interiors chose an organic shaped pendant light with golden beige tones to anchor the island in this modern open-plan kitchen.
46.Colorful Bulb Lights
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In this pale pink and gray Scandinavian kitchen from Fantastic Frank, a couple of E27 lights from Muuto have a pink silicone cord that adds a spot of subtle color.
The cords are nonchalantly looped and knotted up to give the lighting a spontaneous and playful feel that warms up the streamlined space.
47.Painted Lantern
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A painted white lantern-style pendant hangs over the sink of this white modern farmhouse kitchen from Marie Flanigan Interiors.
48.Lighted China Cabinet
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Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture & Interiors / Photo by Wendy Concannon
In this kitchen from Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture & Interiors, a lighted china cabinet creates a focal point.
The arched glass-front cabinet has natural wood interiors and a simple arrangement of everyday white dishes that are elevated by the theatrical styling.
49.Floor Lamp
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In this spacious gray-and-white Florida highrise kitchen from interior designer Maite Granda, a bright red floor lamp helps to define the open-plan space, while adding a jolt of color and an ambient light source in the contemporary space.
50.Built-In Light Column
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Fantastic FrankIn this modern kitchen from Fantastic Frank, a backlit column of glass-front cabinetry houses stemware for a crowd and has a decorative effect that adds dimension to the wall of built-ins.
51.Vintage-Style Fixture
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Design by Joshua Smith Inc. / Photo by Allyson Lubow
A vintage-style metal and fluted glass ceiling pendant adds a homey feel to this modern farmhouse style kitchen from Joshua Smith Inc.
52.Organic Modern Pendant
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Design by Living With Lolo / Photo by Life Created
A black pendant light with an organic ruffled form adds interest to this modern kitchen from Living With Lolo.
53.Exposed Wiring
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Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls
In this converted industrial building turned loft in downtown Pittsburgh from Leanne Ford Interiors, exposed pipes were painted black to add a bold contrast with painted white brick and concrete countertops and flooring.
The black pendant lighting over the massive concrete island has exposed black wiring that continues the effect and complements the casement windows and black accents and plumbing fixtures throughout the space.
54.Midcentury Modern
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An iconic midcentury Danish modern pendant light adds iconic design cred to this small Scandinavian eat-in kitchen from Fantastic Frank, complementing the George Nelson wall clock and molded Eames Eiffel chairs to lend the room some timeless style.
55.Invisible Lighting
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Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Amber Thrane
The lighting in this natural light-flooded Northern California kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors is minimalist and unobtrusive, from the globe light over the sink that disappears into the white walls to the can lights embedded in the ceiling that hide in plain sight.