30 Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas to Illuminate the Heart of Your Home (2024)

FAQs

What type of lighting is best for a kitchen island? ›

Pendant Lights

Pendant lights have gained popularity in recent years as one of the most stylish types of all kitchen island lights suitable for almost any type of interior design aesthetic. Pendant lights are singular light fixtures that hang from the ceiling by a cord, metal rod, or chain.

If you have an island that measures 10 feet long, you will need three pendants unless you go with very large-scale pendants (think more than 2 feet diameter). Center one pendant, then allow 24 to 36 inches to place the others on each side. Leave 6 to 12 inches from the edge of the counter to each outside pendant.

Kitchen island lights should be placed at least 6” from the edge of the island (the ones on either end) and 30” to 32” apart from each other. This applies if you're hanging three pendant lights.

To ensure comfortable and unhindered movement around the kitchen island, it is recommended to hang pendant lights with a clearance of approximately 30 to 36 inches above the countertop.

One of today's most prominent trends is using mini pendants in rows over kitchen islands or bars as a substitute for the traditional kitchen island light. With thousands of pendant styles available, you really can't go wrong. Under Cabinet Lights: Your Secret Weapon in Kitchen Lighting.

It's good to make some kind of differentiation between the two, even if you're not sure of the best way to make them different. A kitchen island that's darker than the kitchen cabinets will stand out and make a strong contrast.

By considering factors such as the size of your island, ceiling height, style, and purpose of the light, you can select the perfect fixture for your needs. Remember to also consider installation tips such as the height and number of fixtures and wiring and electrical needs.

You will need to leave at least six to 12 inches on each side, between the end of the island and your pendant. We recommend that lights should sit centered, around 30 to 36 inches above your island countertop.

Measure the width of your island and subtract the number 12 from the measurement. This will be the maximum width your kitchen island pendant lighting should be. You'll want to space your pendant lights 24-inches to 30-inches apart.

The right height for pendant lights is 30 to 32 inches above the kitchen island to give good light and not block views. Space your pendants at least 30 inches apart over your island to avoid a crowded look. Pick pendant lights that are one-third to one-half as wide as your island for a balanced design.

Should I do 2 or 3 pendant lights over island? ›

Should I Go With Two Pendant Lights Over My Kitchen Island, or Three? The number of pendant lights you should install depends on the length of your kitchen island and the size of each individual pendant light. As a general rule, you should install one pendant light for every 2 feet of island length.

Aimed at the countertop edges, the lights will illuminate counter work areas or the sink, and avoid creating shadows by people standing at the counters working. Place your recessed downlights 12″ apart from each other and 12″ to 18″ away from any cabinets to illuminate counter areas.

Pendant lights – By far, pendant lights are the most popular picks for a kitchen island. Pendants are naturally strong task lighters, because their bulbs are oriented to shine directly down. Plus, their long cables extend from the ceiling, thus bringing the light source even closer to the action.

Small islands (4 to 5 feet long) can handle 1 large or 2 medium pendants. Large islands (6 feet and longer) can handle 2 large or 3 medium pendants. Using 3 pendants is very pleasing to the eye. Small pendants are 10" or smaller, medium pendants are 10" to 20" wide and large pendants are 20"+ wide.

Size of the Room

If you're looking to light a very large room, upwards-facing lights will be more effective for diffusing light further, whereas downwards-facing lights would be sufficient if you're only lighting a small space.

The main kitchen light, or the ambient light, should be a warm white tone rather than a bright white or daylight bulb. This yellow-ish hue creates a softer glow in the space that can be supplemented with brighter white task lighting under counters or through lamps.

We recommend providing anywhere from 35 to 50 lumens per square foot of island. The higher or lower end of that range depends on the size of your space, other lighting in the room, and the ambiance you're looking for.

Space pendants at least two feet (24″) apart. If you choose one long pendant, it should be hung centered with the center point of the island and take up no more than ⅔ or the island (see diagram in next section)