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Best light fixtures for small kitchens


13 Lighting Ideas for Small Kitchens

By

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

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Published on 03/31/22

Desiree Burns

Your small kitchen deserves to shine—literally! "Like any room in your home, creating layers of lighting from the ceiling down is imperative," designer Amy Youngblood says. "This is true especially for a small kitchen—if it is not well lit, it will look even smaller."

So how can you easily introduce plenty of functional lighting into your pint sized cooking space? We spoke with designers who weighed in on everything from the benefits of statement lighting to minimalistic solutions.

9 Small Kitchen Lighting Ideas for Big Results

One of the most important details in a modern kitchen is the lighting. Great lighting in a small kitchen can make the space feel larger and function better. Get inspired by these 9 lighting ideas that will make a big impact in a small kitchen.

Types of Lighting

Before you start planning the lighting and picking the fixtures, you should understand the three types of lighting used in lighting design. They are general (ambient) lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Think of each type as a layer of light with a specific purpose.

Interior designers consider all three types when designing a project. This creates a well-rounded design and ensures that your space is adequately lit.

Here is a quick overview of the three types of lighting.

Ambient Lighting

Also called general lighting, ambient lighting is meant to provide overall illumination for a room. It should provide uniform light throughout the room, without depending on other light sources. Ceiling lights are often the primary source of ambient light.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is just as it sounds. It brightens an area enough to perform tasks like reading, writing, or cooking. Proper task lighting should create high illumination for a designated surface or area.

It’s good practice to be able to turn task lighting on and off independently of other lighting in the room.

Desk lamps and pendant lights are examples of task lighting.

Accent Lighting

When you want to draw attention to a specific point in a room, use accent lighting. This can include highlighting architectural features, artwork, plants, or items in a collection.

Accent lighting has more flexibility than the other types of lighting in terms of fixtures and their placement. Wall-mounted fixtures, downlights, uplights, and backlights are great examples of accent lighting.

While it’s not required lighting, accent lighting creates a well-rounded room design.

Lighting Ideas for A Small Kitchen

Idea #1 – Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting is popular for all spaces. But because of its versatility, it’s especially good for small kitchens. LED recessed lights are small and unobtrusive, and work great for general, task, or accent lighting.

Recessed lighting is more functional than decorative, so combining it with fixtures is a great way to add detail to the overall design.

Idea #2 – Under Cabinet Lighting

Installing lights under the cabinets is the most effective way to illuminate your workspace as you prep, cook, and bake. Since they are mounted to the bottom of the upper cabinets, they are positioned perfectly between you and the countertop which eliminates shadows.

There are several types of lights that can be installed under cabinets. They include slim fixtures, puck lights, and LED strip lights.

If your cabinets do not go all the way to the ceiling, you can also add above cabinet lighting that shines upward and reflects off the ceiling. The can help a small kitchen feel larger, and also creates a nice ambiance when the overhead lights are off. 

Idea #3 – Lighting Centerpiece

A centerpiece light is a fixture that becomes the focal point of the design.

If your kitchen has a low ceiling, a flush mount or semi-flush mount fixture can look stunning and fit perfectly in a small kitchen design.

Idea #4 – Pendant Lighting

Pendant lights are a kitchen staple. They are ceiling-mounted lights that suspend a single light bulb in the fixture. They come in a variety of designs and can be hung at different heights.

You’ll typically find pendant lights installed over a kitchen island. However, some small kitchens don’t have the space for a center island. That doesn’t mean you can’t use pendant lighting. A group of two or three pendants above a peninsula can be the perfect combination of task lighting and a focal centerpiece.

Idea #5 – Inside a Cabinet

Cabinet lighting can be functional and decorative. If you have cabinets with glass doors, it can provide a soft illumination for the entire kitchen. It can also make a small kitchen feel larger.

If you decide to add lights inside the cabinets, there are few ways to do it. If you light the cabinet from the top, you’ll need to use glass shelves so that the light can travel throughout the cabinet.

A second option is to use LED strip lights and install them vertically on both sides of the inside face of the cabinet. This will light the entire cabinet whether you use wood or glass shelves.

Idea #6 – Backlight Open Shelving

Open shelving is both an aesthetic choice and a great storage solution for small kitchens. It can be used to display a mix of dishes and decor.

It also creates an opportunity to feature the shelving using backlighting. This is done by installing LED strip lighting where the shelf meets the wall.

Idea #7 – Wall Sconces

Wall sconces can be a great choice for ambient or task lighting in small kitchens. Need to add more light to the kitchen but can’t fit a ceiling light? A wall sconce fixture could be a great solution.

If you have a place in your kitchen without upper cabinets, consider opting for wall light. It can be used illuminate a dark corner or install one as a task light directly above the kitchen sink.

Idea #8 – Track Lighting

If recessed lighting isn’t possible in your small kitchen, track lighting can be a good alternative. These ceiling-level adjustable spotlights (aka heads) are mounted to the ceiling on a fixed track and can be aimed in any direction.

If you decide to use track lighting in your kitchen, I recommend installing the tracks in a symmetrical pattern across the ceiling. Then use multiple heads to direct the light as needed.

Idea #9 – Light Up Drawers

Drawers shouldn’t feel like an endless black hole, especially not in a small kitchen. Adding a small LED light inside the drawers will illuminate the space.

A drawer light is typically installed on the inside face of the cabinet above the drawer, and controlled by a sensor so it turns on automatically when you open the drawer. Besides being practical, this is the kind of detail that makes it look like a professional designed the kitchen.

Small Kitchen Lighting Design Tips

Now that you have some ideas to light your small kitchen, use these interior lighting design tips to pull the area together. These are especially important in a small space to prevent it from feeling cluttered.

Use Lighting to Define Spaces

Lighting can define a space. If you have an open floor plan, have your electrical fixtures wired in a way that the kitchen is controlled separately from other spaces like the breakfast nook and family room.

The light fixtures should also be organized in the ceiling so that they are placed and aligned in a logical way.

Keep Scale in Mind

Nothing makes a small room look overcrowded like furniture and fixtures that are too large for the space. You may have fallen in love with a stunning chandelier, but if it’s too large, it can look out of place in the room.

When shopping for fixtures, pay attention to how low a light will hang so you don’t have to dodge pendants as you walk through your kitchen. You also don’t want to choose lights that are too small for the room and won’t provide enough light for the space.

Color Temperature is Everything

Color temperature is the hue of white that a light gives off. It is measured in kelvins (k). The lower the kelvin number, the warmer the hue. Warm lighting (~2700K) has yellow hues, while cool lighting (~5000K) has bluish-white hues.

Cool lighting is bright when illuminated. It’s commonly used in commercial spaces, so it can look too harsh in a home. Warm lighting feels more welcoming in most residential settings.

As a rule of thumb, sticking to a color temperature around 3000K for residential setting is a safe bet that’s not too yellow or too white.

Don’t overdo it

It can be easy to get carried away with lighting in a small kitchen, so try not to overdo it.

Limit the number of fixtures in the ceiling to what’s necessary, and keep hanging fixtures to a minimum. If you are using pendant lights above a peninsula, don’t also hang a chandelier in the middle – do one or the other.

In Conclusion

Whether you’re doing a total kitchen renovation or just a small makeover, updating the lighting is one of the best improvements you can make.

Hopefully I’ve presented you with some ideas that will provide the decorative and functional lighting you need, and make a big difference in your small kitchen.

Let there be light! - the right lighting for a small kitchen

A small kitchen requires good lighting - we have already talked about this many times in our other articles. A brightly lit kitchen looks more spacious, and well-placed light sources make working in such a kitchen comfortable and enjoyable.

Whatever the size of the kitchen, there are three main areas that need their own light source. This is the kitchen as a whole (the central lighting of the kitchen), the illumination of the working area and the illumination of the dining table. Let's look at each of them. nine0003

Central kitchen lighting:

In the vast majority of apartments, the most popular lighting option for a small kitchen is a single light source, which is located in the center of the room. As a rule, this is a chandelier with one shade or lampshade.

At first glance, it may seem that such lighting is enough for a small room. But it's not.

The light source located in the center of the kitchen makes it impossible to evenly illuminate the entire area of ​​the room. The corners of the kitchen remain poorly lit, which visually reduces the already small space of the kitchen. Little light also enters the working area of ​​the kitchen, because, firstly, hanging cabinets that are often located above the work surface prevent the penetration of light from above, and secondly, the light is blocked by the person himself, who, as a rule, stands at the stove, sink or worktop. areas with their backs to the light. Therefore, such lighting is far from ideal. nine0003

In order to achieve uniform illumination of the entire area of ​​the kitchen, it is necessary to use several lamps, which will be located at the same distance from each other. Therefore, the central lighting of a small kitchen is best organized using spotlights, swivel lights (spotlights) or spotlights.

A great advantage of the swivel luminaires is the ability to adjust the light direction. This will allow you to illuminate all corners of the kitchen and make it visually larger. nine0003

It is best to place the central lighting in a small kitchen right under the ceiling.

Smaller kitchens often don't have high ceilings, and low lights will make the ceiling even lower.

If you do not have the opportunity to make several points of central lighting in the kitchen, we recommend that you at least replace the classic chandelier with one shade with a chandelier with several small shades and with the ability to adjust the light direction. nine0003

In general, massive chandeliers, lampshades and lamps should be avoided in the interior of a small kitchen. It is better to give preference to neat, small lamps with a concise design.

Work area lighting:

The next place in the kitchen that needs additional lighting is the work area. Namely - a sink, a desktop and a plate. As mentioned above, when using only one central light source, a person, standing at the work surface and with his back to him, casts a shadow on the work surface. Working in such conditions becomes extremely inconvenient. Therefore, the illumination of the working area is mandatory not only for small-sized, but for all kitchens in general. nine0003

Spotlights built into wall cabinets as well as hanging lights or LED strips can be used as lighting for the work area.

As a rule, stove lighting is not a problem, since most often the kitchen hood already has built-in lighting.

An interesting solution is a swivel luminaire with a flexible long stem. You can direct the light in the direction where you are currently working. nine0003

Dining table lighting:

Unlike central lighting, a single height-adjustable luminaire is perfect for illuminating the dining area.

You can also use several lamps that harmonize with each other and together create a composition.

It is worth remembering that the wider the ceiling, the more illuminated the dining table will be. For the dining area, you should choose lamps with an inner white part. Such a lamp will not shade dishes and absorb light. nine0003

Cold or warm?

We have dealt with lighting points and types of lamps. It remains only to choose the bulbs for our lamps, but even here it is not so simple. It is known that the most optimal for the human eye and perception is sunlight. But, unfortunately, no light bulb manufacturer has yet been able to accurately recreate sunlight. Each lamp has its own color and light characteristics, which determine the perception of the interior as a whole. Let's try to figure them out. nine0003

Each lamp has 2 main parameters that you should pay attention to when buying. These are color rendering index and color temperature .

Color rendering index

This indicator determines how adequately the color scheme of the interior will be perceived, that is, how artificial lighting will distort it. On the packaging, this indicator is marked with the letters CRI or Ra. Lamps with an indicator of 90-100 give the least distortion. They should be chosen to illuminate a small kitchen. nine0109

Color temperature

This parameter controls the color of the light. It is marked with the letter K on the package. The color temperature varies from warm (2700K) to cold (6000K).

For residential areas it is best to choose lamps of warm (2700-3000K) or neutral (4100K) light. Cold light is more suitable for offices and other institutions, as it sets the mood for work and promotes concentration.

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50+ photo examples of how to choose

The choice of quality lighting fixtures for the kitchen is an important process that is of great importance for arranging a harmonious interior. Currently, spotlights that can perfectly complement the main chandelier, or even completely replace it, are very popular.

An excellent solution to the issue of lighting in the kitchen are spotlights.

The convenience of staying in the kitchen, as well as the harmony of the design of the room, will depend on how competently such lamps are selected and installed. To make the right choice, you should listen to some advice from experts. nine0003

Contents

Before you start arranging spotlights in your own kitchen, you should familiarize yourself with all the features and subtleties of this process. This type of lighting organization has both its advantages and some disadvantages.

Spotlights are very popular for many reasons:

For a small kitchen a good option would be to use spotlights.

This method also has some disadvantages (however, they are insignificant):

Luminaires built into the kitchen.

Tip! When installing spotlights indoors, you should also install a rheostat, which provides more economical power consumption. nine0003

Spotlights and their varieties

Spotlights can be conditionally divided into several types according to the type of installation - they are overhead, suspended and mortise. Recessed products are only suitable for installation in suspended ceilings. Surface-mounted luminaires are installed on a regular ceiling, thanks to a special mounting plate for screws located on the base of the housing.

Recessed luminaires for stretch ceilings.

The most popular are built-in models of spotlights, presented in a huge range. Recessed luminaires can be completely recessed into the base of the surface on which they are installed, and then the light source will be practically invisible. nine0003

They can also be placed on the ceiling in a specific pattern, and then they will turn into a beautiful decorative light diffuser.

The most popular recessed spotlights.

Spotlights in the kitchen can be used to create basic, local and decorative lighting. It should be remembered that one such device is able to independently illuminate about 2 square meters. meters of the room. As for the surface finish on which spotlights are mounted, it can be any, since all modern appliances are highly fire resistant. nine0003 Spotlights can be built into any surface /

For the manufacture of housings, moisture-proof materials are used that perfectly withstand high humidity.

Which lamps are used in spotlights

Halogen and LED lamps, as well as conventional incandescent lamps, are used in spotlight designs. The most popular option is LED lamps, which are highly economical as they require very little electricity to operate. nine0032

Incandescent, halogen and LED lamps can be used in spotlights.

In addition, they are practically incapable of heating up. Such lamps can be safely installed on any surface, even in the vicinity of flammable objects - they are not capable of causing a fire. Recessed LED luminaires are fixed and swivel (they can change the direction of light).

Rotatable spotlights create a cozy atmosphere in the kitchen.

Traditional incandescent lamps provide a pleasant soft light, but they are larger in size, in addition, such devices will not last long (they will have to be changed often). nine0003

For installation on suspended ceilings, incandescent lamps with a power not exceeding 60 watts can be used. The most durable and least energy-consuming are halogen lamps, but their price is quite high.

Soft warm lighting in the kitchen created with spotlights.

Such devices provide illumination of high brightness, as close to natural as possible. The only drawback of such lamps is the ability to get very hot, so you should choose devices with a metal frame, a ceramic cartridge and a glass diffuser. nine0003

These lamps also require a transformer that converts 220W to 12W. If halogen lamps are mounted on a stretch ceiling, then their maximum power should be no more than 35 watts.

Proper organization of lighting in the kitchen using spotlights

To organize the main lighting in the kitchen, place the spotlights at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other, maintaining a distance from the wall corner of at least 20 cm.

On the recommendation of experts, for every 1 sq. meter of the ceiling should place a lamp with a power of 20 watts. If spotlights are combined with a chandelier, there may be less of them.

Spotlights in combination with a chandelier.

Thanks to the correct placement of spotlights, you can completely change the perception of space. Such lighting helps to visually enlarge a small kitchen by evenly filling it with diffused soft light without shadows.

Soft light without shadows can visually enlarge the space in a small kitchen. nine0002 When illuminating a spacious kitchen, light sources should be arranged in such a way that they illuminate all functional areas well. At the same time, intimacy and comfort should be felt, and the whole atmosphere of the kitchen should be pleasant. Lamps are often placed around the perimeter of the kitchen, installing a hanging chandelier in the center of the room, above the dining table.

Spotlights are located around the perimeter of the kitchen and there is a large chandelier in the center.

If the ceilings in the kitchen are low, then experts advise to install rotary models of lamps, directing their light to the ceiling. In addition, you can also install lamps on the visors of wall cabinets. The use of a ceiling chandelier should be abandoned. nine0003

Using spotlights, you can perfectly zone the room, correctly highlighting each functional area. Spotlights are ideal for lighting and decorative decoration of two-level ceilings. It is best to use embedded models for this.

Spotlights located on a two-level ceiling.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing spotlights

When choosing spotlights that will help equip the ideal kitchen space, you should pay attention to some parameters. nine0003

Country of manufacture - most of the spotlights on the market of the country were produced in China. To purchase a really high-quality product, you need to look for the marking by Europe on it. As a rule, these products are of higher quality and therefore longer service life.

Choose quality lamps, then they will serve you for a long time.

At the same time, the cost of European products is almost the same as the cost of Chinese products. It is worth paying attention to spotlights that are produced in Poland; products from Russia and Ukraine are of good quality at an affordable cost. nine0003

Product quality - until recently, spotlights were presented on the market in a small assortment. Currently, their choice is very large, which is why choosing the most suitable option can be difficult.

Manufacturers offer lighting devices for every taste and budget. In stores you can buy cheap stamped devices, and expensive models of lamps inlaid with Swarovski crystals.

Currently, there is a huge selection of lamps of different types and shapes. nine0002 Luminaire color scheme — it is recommended to buy all kitchen spotlights from the same batch so that they have the maximum similarity with each other in terms of body shade. It is also important that such devices, in their color scheme, are in harmony with the overall design of the room, and are made in the same style with the interior.

It is important that spotlights are in harmony with the overall interior of the kitchen.

Device design - for installation in the kitchen, it is recommended to choose spotlights of simpler shapes, which will be much easier to clean from dust or dirt. For mounting on stretch ceilings, luminaire models with a rounded edge are more suitable. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, you can purchase the simplest models of spotlights, in which there is no crystal or glass. nine0003 For the kitchen, it is better to choose spotlights of simple shapes.

Tip! Before making a purchase, it is recommended to get detailed advice from the seller, who will provide all the necessary information about the product itself, the method of its installation and operation features.

When used correctly, spotlights are a great replacement for a traditional chandelier and create perfect lighting in the kitchen.

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