How To Plan Kitchen Lighting

The kitchen is one of the hardest working spaces in a home. It needs to function equally well for practical tasks such as preparing food whilst also feeling calm and atmospheric for dining and winding down in the evening. A successful lighting scheme should be flexible enough to support these transitions throughout the day rather than treating the room as one lit space. 

Downlights

Downlights should respond to the kitchen layout rather than being arranged in a uniform grid across the ceiling, which often results in brightly illuminated floors and comparatively dark work surfaces. Fittings should be positioned directly above preparation areas, sinks and islands so that light falls where it is actually needed and shadows cast by the user are reduced. 

The quantity and spacing of downlights required will depend on factors such as ceiling height, beam angle and light output. Often, fewer fittings positioned accurately above work surfaces will provide better task lighting than a larger number spread evenly across a room. If unsure, ask your supplier for a sample of the downlight you’ve chosen and test how the spread of light works onsite before confirming your quantity and positions. 

Under Cabinet Lighting

Under cabinet lighting is one of the most effective forms of kitchen task lighting as it illuminates the worktop directly. LED strip concealed within the joinery can provide an even wash of light across the surface without creating glare from an exposed light source. A diffused profile will reduce LED dotting resulting in a softer, more homogenous glow.

Under cabinet downlights can also work well, although as these fittings sit at eye level it is important they are installed with a glare cowl to hide the light source and ensure visual comfort. This method works particularly well with a tiled backsplash as it produces gentle scallops of light that skim down the surface enhancing colour, texture and materiality. 

Shelf & Joinery Lighting

Integrated shelf and joinery lighting can add significant depth to a kitchen, particularly during the evening when brighter task lighting is no longer required. Shelving, glazed cabinetry and open joinery are not just storage elements but also opportunities for lighting.

There are multiple ways of approaching this and the most effective method will depend on what the shelves are being used for. If displaying solid objects such as stacked plates or recipe books, an LED strip positioned towards the front of the shelf behind a small downstand will illuminate the objects themselves, drawing attention to their form, detail and tonal variation. Alternatively, shelves used for decorative pieces or glassware can work well with a backlit method, which creates an atmospheric halo effect and emphasises the silhouettes of the objects instead. 

Pendants & Decorative Lighting 

Decorative fittings such as pendants and wall lights help break away from the overly functional feel that kitchens can sometimes develop. Whilst these fittings are often positioned above islands or dining tables, they should not be relied upon as the primary source of task lighting. Their role is instead largely aesthetic, influencing the overall look and feel of the kitchen far more than the practical illumination of the space. The shape, finish and style of a decorative fitting can completely change the character of a kitchen and should therefore be considered as part of the wider interior design scheme rather than purely a source of light.

Dimming and Lighting Controls

Lighting controls are just as important as the fittings themselves. A kitchen used for cooking during the afternoon may require a completely different setting later in the evening, making flexibility essential. Separating lighting onto different circuits allows task lighting, decorative fittings and joinery lighting to operate independently depending on how the space is being used. 

Dimming is equally crucial and allows a kitchen to transition from daytime brightness to a calm evening environment. Reducing light levels after dark can help support the body’s natural winding down process whilst also creating a more atmospheric space to spend time in. Despite common assumptions, dimmable lighting is not necessarily more complicated or expensive to install, particularly when considered early within a project.