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Kitchen lighting ideas 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.

Lighting ideas for small kitchens – 10 ways to brighten up compact rooms |

(Image credit: Roundhouse)

Lighting ideas for small kitchens have to deliver on a lot of fronts. They need to make the room safe and practical for preparing and cooking and, often, create the right atmosphere for dining, too. 

But kitchen ideas – particularly those for tight spaces – should also visually expand the space so it doesn’t feel like a small kitchen when you’re spending time there. Also on the list of demands? Small kitchen lighting needs to look good, too, creating an impact on the decor and often a much-needed focal point.

To inspire you, we’ve put together the best lighting solutions for small kitchens. And we’ve also asked expert designers to share their insight into lighting a small kitchen.

Lighting ideas for small kitchens

Kitchen lighting ideas are more difficult to get right than lighting for other rooms – partly because the space is so intensively used and often full of hustle and bustle. And while your small kitchen might enjoy good natural light, it's more likely to have little or none; either way, it’s essential to plan kitchen lighting as part of the kitchen design so that there is good overall light, along with task lighting and feature lighting, for a practical and sophisticated scheme.

1. Opt for a centerpiece light

(Image credit: Cameron Design House)

Small kitchen ideas don’t require barely-there lights. ‘Lighting is one of the most important elements in a room as it has a profound effect on our emotional response to space; it sets the mood and the surrounding atmosphere,’ says Simeon Chilvers, managing director of bespoke sculptural lighting company Cameron Design House .

‘Light naturally draws our eyes in so I have always been of the opinion that what holds that light should be beautiful, interesting to look at and meticulously crafted. A geometric pendant light suspended effortlessly from the ceiling above a kitchen island makes for a wonderful centerpiece and is the perfect way to light a small kitchen.’

2. Fall for vintage style

(Image credit: DelightFULL)

Where once lighting ideas for small kitchens were limited to subtle downlights, now the trend is for modern kitchen lighting ideas that give the room plenty of personality. A design with vintage style like this one could fit the bill if yours is a traditional or transitional room – but it could also bring a great twist to a contemporary room.

A small kitchen may not have sufficient floor area to accommodate an island, but a light design like this one looks fabulous above a dining table, helping to define this zone of the room.

3. Light your task

(Image credit: Amos Lighting)

Incorporating task lighting into small kitchen layouts is essential for safe and efficient preparation and cooking, and wall lights like these Original BTC designs from Amos Lighting can often be the best way to provide it.

‘Task lighting is especially important in a small space, so ensure you consider where you position it. There is nothing worse than being in one’s own shadow, so err on more rather than less,’ says Oli Moss, designer at Roundhouse Furniture .

4. Make use of spotlights

(Image credit: Harvey Jones)

Kitchen lighting trends aside, plain old spotlights can be one of the sleekest lighting ideas for small kitchens, as part of the overall lighting scheme. Here they’ve been located above the counter and the sink and faucet.  

‘Position spots directly above key areas to ensure the light isn’t blocked while you stand at the sink, hob or counter,’ says Melissa Klink, Harvey Jones kitchen designer.

When choosing spotlights, you need to ask yourself: how much light does my kitchen need? This will ensure that you don't over- or under-light your kitchen. A qualified electrician can help you work this out.

As this kitchen shows, small dimensions needn’t restrict you to choosing light-colored cabinets. In this room white walls reflect the light to brightening effect allowing the use of a statement cabinet shade.

5. Try a trio

(Image credit: Fritz Fryer)

When it comes to kitchen island lighting, a series of pendants can be an appealing alternative to a single light. When contemplating lighting ideas for small kitchens that don’t have the benefit of plentiful natural light, you might want to take inspiration from this room and opt for designs like these from Fritz Fryer . With clear glass shades they don’t block any light. 

Curvaceous shades like these are also a pleasing contrast to a kitchen’s straight lines and angles.

6. Light cabinet interiors

(Image credit: Brayer Design)

What to consider when choosing kitchen lighting? Put the interiors of cabinets among your lighting ideas for small kitchens. They’ll make the room more practical as all the items you store will be easier to find. ‘Lights can be fitted within drawers and pantry units to switch on when a cupboard or drawer is opened,’ explains Melissa Klink.

Interior lighting can also highlight the attractive detail of a bespoke kitchen design as it does in this pantry from Brayer Design . 

7. Pay attention to shelves

(Image credit: Detail Lighting)

Open kitchen shelving is popular in both traditional and modern schemes, and it also provides the opportunity to add an additional layer of lighting to brighten a small kitchen.

Here, linear LED lights from Detail Lighting illuminate the items displayed on the shelves, and these are also an option you might consider both above and under cabinets.  

‘Under-cabinet lighting is ideal for boosting light levels where it’s needed, however it must be concealed and ideally dimmable, as these can have a second function as calming night-time lighting,’ advises Piero De Marchis, director, Detail Lighting. ‘If there is no switch, then a sensor with a variable time setting is a good alternative.’ 

8. Incorporate an industrial style

(Image credit: Pooky)

Kitchen wall lighting ideas such as factory-style task lighting, are the perfect accompaniment to a scheme featuring open shelving and wood paneling or vintage-style white metro tiles. 

For a small kitchen opt for a petite version for walls that can be directed to shine a warming light on shelving and worktops.

9. Create shine

(Image credit: Roundhouse)

Think about choosing lighting ideas for small kitchens with a reflective metallic finish. They’ll add to the overall brightness of the space and provide sophisticated highlights.  

‘If you’ve chosen a plain kitchen it’s a chance to bring in more interest, texture and colour – go for pendants in coppers and metallics,’ says Roundhouse designer Allison Lynch.

10. Choose reflective cabinet materials

(Image credit: Mowlem & Co)

Maximize the light in a small kitchen with your choice of cabinetry materials and finishes. Cabinets in white or pale gray are a sensible choice, but if you go for a finish like the laminate used for this ‘secret’ kitchen from Mowlem & Co , it will reflect the light allowing you to use a more dramatic color.

This kitchen is located behind full height external doors hand-painted in white to match the walls of the space. Internal task lighting is combined with external downlighters angled towards it.

What type of lighting is best in a small kitchen?

Use a range of different types of lighting in a small kitchen. ‘Strategically planning lighting is essential in small spaces, especially if you have limited natural light,’ advises Ben Burbidge, managing director at Kitchen Makers .  

‘Task lights and pendants work particularly well above counters. Consider integrating lighting with dimmers throughout the rest of the space to allow you to adjust the light depending on the time of day and whether you are entertaining.’ 

Don’t be afraid to include a sizeable light. ‘A large, centralized ceiling fitting, such as a chandelier or set of pendants, will create an even layer of ambient task lighting and allow for a beautiful statement feature in the room; ideally these fixtures should be positioned over an island or tabletop to help bring focus,’ says Chris Jordan, managing director at Christopher Wray .

'Be careful with kitchens with lower ceilings, as anything hanging too low could dominate and disrupt the space.’

What are the latest trends in small kitchen lighting?

Ribbed and smoked glass are both big favorites right now, with pendant lights being the best way to show them off. Industrial-look domed metal light shades have been popular for a while but this has now expanded to include not just opaline wall lights and pendants but articulated factory lights for walls, too.

How do I add more light to my small kitchen?

As a general rule, using lighter colors for walls, floors and for cabinetry will help to open up a smaller space. However, that doesn’t mean you have to swerve dark cabinetry if you hanker for a design that’s a touch more maximalist: it just means you’ll have to be a little cleverer with your lighting ideas.

Reflective surfaces, such as high gloss cabinetry, worktops and flooring are great lighting ideas for small kitchens, as they will help to bounce light around a room. But the trend for matte surfaces doesn’t necessarily preclude their use in a small kitchen with little natural light.

Just keep those materials below eye level and keep the walls free of bulky light-reducing cabinets by employing open shelving instead. If you need wall cabinets because of space constraints, give them glass fronts, and light them from within.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

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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8 Stunning functional styles perfect for small kitchens

Each home is different and brings with it a unique set of requirements for the combination of aesthetics and ergonomics. The task becomes even more difficult in small rooms, where every centimeter of space must be used to the maximum. Small kitchens don't have to feel crowded and boring, and the style in these spaces doesn't have to be limited to modern and traditional. Balance the various elements the right way and you have a space that rivals any large and spacious kitchen. nine0110 Today we're exploring 10 different great styles for a small kitchen that go beyond the two most obvious - modern and traditional. Each of them offers something different in terms of visual appeal, but everything also remains flawlessly functional.

Contemporary style kitchens

We start with a style that is simple, elegant and perfect for a modern home with limited space. Modern kitchens strike that subtle balance between modernity and minimalism, pairing polished surfaces with elegant wood shelves and cabinets and mostly neutral hues. White is the most dominant color here and you can pair it with wood accents or brighter colors on the facades. nine0003

In modern kitchen interiors, single pendant lights act as an alternative to a chandelier and are most often placed above the countertop or in the center of the room. The bar counter has become a fashionable solution even in small kitchens, above which a hanging group of lamps looks very appropriate.

Wall lights come to the rescue in illuminating the work area. They perform two functions at once - comfortable lighting in the working area and, on the other hand, provide comfort and zonal lighting in the places you need. nine0003

A table lamp on a coffee table in the kitchen area is a rare guest, but a very interesting solution for cozy evenings.

The cozy warmth of a farmhouse

You might think that classic farmhouse design elements don't go well with a small kitchen space. However, it is one of the most popular styles in these spaces due to the many natural elements it brings. From wall cladding and elegant wood countertops to wire mesh cabinet doors and beautiful antiques, there's a lot to fall in love with! nine0003

See how stylish the sconces look in the interior of the kitchen. When creating your design, pay attention to the combination of several light sources. In addition to the central ceiling chandelier, a pendant lamp or wall lamp above the work surface will brighten the surrounding space. It remains to find out which lamp is right for you!

Industrial Finishes

Industrial style is all about efficiency and practicality. With gleaming steel or rough wood countertops, exposed shelves, brick walls, exposed chimneys, and more, it's important to understand the clear blueprint for this style. Combining different finishes and elements requires both care and proper planning. Pair them with the right pendant lighting for the finishing touch. nine0003

Beach style is always in fashion!

We love beach or coastal style cuisine because of the simplicity and how it works through the seasons. A relaxing neutral backdrop, gorgeous blue accents and a bit of beachy charm with the right decorative elements are all it takes to create this space. Light wooden elements and ample natural light give this space the finishing touches.

Lamps suitable for the interior in this style: nine0003

Scandinavian simplicity

Similar to beach style, Scandinavian style is another hit in modern homes due to how perfect it is for small spaces. Once again, neutral backgrounds, light wooden surfaces, a minimal approach to decoration and a flood of natural light reign here. Adaptable décor and multifunctional kitchen fittings ensure that you can save as much space as possible. nine0003

Lamps suitable for the interior in this style:

Colorful Mediterranean Kitchen

Mediterranean cuisines are inherently cozy and work well in a small space. Warm yellows, dark greens and oranges are perfect for these kitchens along with textured walls and arched windows. This style is easy to pair with modern touches for a balanced and elegant look. It creates a charming environment. nine0003

Lamps suitable for the interior in this style:

Shabby chic is back

Shabby chic is admittedly not for everyone. It's all about worn finishes, decor with weathered surfaces, and a bit of floral charm here and there. Whitewashed fixtures, clean white backgrounds and secondhand look cabinets are perfect for tiny kitchens with a hint of subtlety and femininity. nine0003

Try Eclectic

Finally, we will discuss the style that most homeowners prefer to stay away from when planning a small space - eclectic. An eclectic little kitchen is anything but cluttered when done right. Despite using different elements from contrasting styles, you can use a common element to tie it all together. This unifying element can be a color or a pattern; but make sure you don't use more than two or three colors in that tiny space. nine0003

Lamps suitable for the interior in this style:

We hope the collection of ideas will inspire you and help you create a unique style. It is better to plan and implement for a long time and carefully than to make mistakes and correct them for a long and expensive time. Good luck in finding your own style, we hope that our tips will be useful to you.

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