How to Layer Lighting in Your Kitchen
Kitchens need more light than almost any other room in the house, and a single overhead fixture rarely covers it. Task lighting under cabinets illuminates countertops where you’re actually chopping and prepping; a pendant or fixture over an island adds both function and style; and general ceiling lighting ties the room together.Because kitchens combine so many different activities — cooking, cleaning, eating, socializing — they benefit more than almost any other room from thinking about illumination in distinct layers rather than one blanket light source.
Bold cabinet or wall colors can also change how a space reads under different bulb temperatures, so it’s worth testing a bulb’s warmth before committing to a full kitchen lighting plan. A cool white bulb over a warm-toned wood cabinet can wash out its color, while a warmer bulb can bring out tones that a showroom sample never suggested.Pendant fixtures in particular double as an aesthetic anchor for the whole kitchen — since they hang at eye level over an island, their finish and shape often set the tone for the rest of the room’s hardware and fixtures.
Our pendant lighting collection includes several options sized well for an island or over a sink, balancing focused task illumination with a look that can become a real style centerpiece for the kitchen.
