Lighting Tips for Your Kitchen

Whether it’s a quiet weeknight with the family or a gathering of everyone you know, the kitchen inevitably ends up being the space everyone gathers in, no matter the occasion. It has a big job to do, serving as both a functional space for cooking and an atmospheric space for entertaining guests which is why it’s often top of the list when planning a new home reno!

Design your kitchen lighting to suit all of life’s occasions with our top tips!

Because the kitchen is essentially a ‘task-driven’ area, you’ll want to cast as much ambient light as evenly as possible from your ceiling. You can achieve this with a combination of pendant lights, downlights, tracklights and flush mounts. Remember though, while your kitchen should be a space that feels light and bright, it's important to consider installing dimmers on your main fixtures so you can change the light intensity when you need to. 

While ambient lighting helps you navigate the kitchen as a whole, it can leave shadows on imortant work surfaces and around cabinetry. This is where task lighting comes into play. Including pendants over an island bench ensures you can safely prepare food and recipes, while strip lighting in cabinets helps you easily spot ingredients on a shelf or in a pantry. 

The first step should be to list the tasks you do in this space as this will dictate what type of lighting you need. For example, if you have an integrated cooktop/workspace, you'll need a mix of downlights, spotlights, and hanging lights to ensure you have enough light for the task at hand. However, if your island has counter seating and is more a place to hang out, you may opt for ambient lighting that is warm and casual. Pendants are perfect here. 

A cluster of pendants over an island bench offers great task lighting and statement style in one. If you're installing a set of two, they should be at least 76cm from the centre of the island and have 76-82cm between the countertop and the bottom of the pendant. A set of three pendant lights should be just as high up, spaced evenly apart, and be at least 15cm from the edge of the island. 

If you have higher ceilings, linear suspension lights like our Contempo pendant work especially well.  This style of pendant should be hung at least 100cm above your countertop. 

The most beautiful kitchens always feature not just statement pendants, but subtle accent lighting that accentuates elements of the décor and architecture. Think downlights in glass cabinets and strip lighting above your splashback, in drawers, shelves, or pantries. 

If you're still unsure of the look that's best for you, meet with one of our experts! Beacon's Design Studio consultants are accredited lighting designers with extensive experience in interior design. Schedule an appointment with a professional near you today! Click here to make your booking.