Light up your life – Top genius kitchen lighting ideas you’ll love
In any well-thought-out design, kitchen lighting plays a crucial role, offering both functional and aesthetic benefits. This is especially important in spaces that are used for socializing in addition to cooking. Proper lighting can make the space appear larger, accentuate key elements, and create an inviting vibe. Keep reading to explore kitchen lighting ideas to create a bright and welcoming space.
Illuminate Your Focal Point with a Solo Fixture
- In kitchen design, opting for a single designer light suspended above an island unit can bring together a scheme, add sophistication, and illuminate a central focal point. If you’re going for a solo fixture, it should be in proportion with the island.
Not so big it overpowers, nor so small it looks lost in the space. Position centrally if the shape of the island suits or above a bar seating area. The bottom of the pendant should be above head height.
Adopt the Rule of Three for Balanced Kitchen Lighting
- In modern kitchen lighting, the rule of three is a key design principle involving task, mood, and feature lighting. Task lights, being the brightest, focus on functional areas like preparation surfaces, the cooker, and the sink. On the other hand, mood lighting provides soft, diffused illumination. Feature lighting can refer to the fitting itself, making a statement whether on or off, or to intriguing elements like a color-changing system.
Opt for more light sources rather than brighter ones, and set decorative and mood lighting on dimmers so they can be adjusted with ease. Another application of the rule of three is seen in the use of three pendants over a kitchen island, as odd numbers are generally more visually pleasing.
Choose Lights Aligned with Your Kitchen Island
- When designing your kitchen lighting, it’s essential to consider stylish lighting fixtures above modern kitchen islands or peninsula units. For islands extending beyond two meters, proper planning is necessary.
On longer surfaces, it’s often more effective to focus lighting on key points, such as the prep area and breakfast bar, rather than evenly spacing pendants in rows.
Use Varied Fixtures
- Using a mix of various fixtures is a trend that adds vibrancy to a space. While it’s exciting to experiment with different shapes and shades, maintaining visual coherence is key. Stick to a theme or a core tone so that everything hangs together visually.
For instance, you can use three distinct styles of pendant, chandelier, and wall lighting for the counters, island, and dining tables. Maintain a cohesive theme by featuring one solid color in all the fixtures.
Experiment with Grouped, Understated Lights
- The strategic placement of vintage pendants enhances the aesthetics while serving practical purposes by bringing the light source closer to the task at hand. Despite the individual pendants being small and delicate, their collective arrangement creates a bolder impression.
Layer Lighting in High-Ceiling Kitchens
When designing lighting for contemporary kitchens, it’s essential to consider both horizontal and vertical coverage. While fitted downlighters offer widespread illumination to highlight specific areas, additional lower lighting may be necessary. This becomes particularly crucial in kitchens with high ceilings, where downlighters may have a diminished impact.
In such cases, adding extra lighting closer to eye level can be beneficial. For instance, in a kitchen with a double-height ceiling, low-hanging pendant lights are strategically used over the island to enhance the light in the food preparation area.
To get on board with the latest interior design trends, consult House and Harmony. We offer interior design services in San Diego and Carlsbad, California. Fifteen years of industry experience and hundreds of happy clients are proof of our excellent interior home design services. We offer turnkey solutions and take care of all components of an interior home design project. For more information, call us at (858) 432-6800 or visit our website.
