The kitchen island is one of the hardest-working and most versatile spots in a home, employed for food prep, cooking and family time. Lighting over the kitchen island not only adds a visual element to your kitchen but provides a key layer to the functionality of the space.
Select lighting that will complement the range of functions performed here, from chopping vegetables to reading recipes, to entertaining and even homework. An optimal lighting plan provides the ability to control brightness for these various tasks while enhancing the overall design and providing visual cues about the central importance of this space in the kitchen.
What is the best lighting for kitchen islands?
Pendants fit the bill for task and decorative needs, but people often go too small with them. Consider using two matching pendants rather than one and a larger size to achieve a more upscale look.
Linear lighting over a large or long kitchen island
For longer kitchen islands and large kitchen islands with deeper counters, you can try one or more large and linear chandeliers. Another approach is to use a cluster of pendant lights, either pre-configured as a multi-light or hung separately.
Recessed lighting over a kitchen island
If you don’t want anything hanging over your island, recessed lighting works perfectly. It offers a more concealed light source while maintaining the appropriate illumination for all tasks.
However, it’s good to think of your lighting plan three-dimensionally, and ways to layer it. Recessed lighting will provide continuous illumination across the kitchen while helping to highlight any decorative fixtures over the island. If the pendants are shiny, complementing them with recessed lighting will help show off the design.
LED for kitchen island lighting
We’re partial to LED, and with the technology providing directional illumination and higher lumen output, decorative chandeliers and pendants can now be utilized over the kitchen island for task lighting.
Equal parts decorative and functional, kitchen island lighting is a key design element of any kitchen. Choosing the right fixtures will make your kitchen ready for any task, any meal and any guest.
Leave a reply