How to Light the Kitchen: 15 Tips You Need to Know

The kitchen is, together with the living room, one of the home’s spaces where we spend the most time. From breakfast to dinner, we start and end our days in the kitchen. For this reason, knowing how to light the kitchen correctly is essential to ensure the right brightness during preparation without sacrificing beauty and aesthetics. Here is our guide—happy reading.

INDEX

Why Kitchen Lighting Is Crucial
Kitchen-Lighting Tip: Where to Start
How to Light the Kitchen Between Functionality and Aesthetics
Types of Lamps: Which to Choose and When to Use Them
Lighting an Open-Plan Kitchen
How to Light the Kitchen Worktop
Lamps and Pendants over the Dining Table
Real-Life Examples of Well-Lit Kitchens
Lights for Small Kitchens or Those with Low Ceilings
Integrated Lighting: Recessed Spots and LED Strips
Low-Consumption, Dramatic-Effect Solutions
Combating Glare and Reflections: Practices to Know
Combining Design and Practicality: High-End Lamps in the Kitchen Too
Where to Find Used Designer Lamps on Deesup
Conclusions: The Kitchen as the Luminous Heart of the Home

1. Why Kitchen Lighting Is Crucial

The kitchen is one of the most lived-in domestic environments: it is here that we prepare food every day, organise dinners and gatherings with friends, have breakfast with the family and spend informal chat time. Precisely for this reason, its lighting cannot be left to chance. Having proper kitchen-lighting advice means blending the practical component (clearly seeing what you are cooking and working on) with the aesthetic one (creating a pleasant atmosphere, also suited to convivial moments).

Nothing is more inconvenient than a work area in half-light, where you struggle to distinguish the colours of foods or read ingredient labels. Nor is it pleasant to have a kitchen that, once seated at the table, feels cold or poorly lit, making the environment less welcoming. For this reason, learning how to light the kitchen correctly is the first step towards more functional, rewarding use of the space.

Besides functionality, lighting also gives character: a well-designed kitchen with carefully curated lighting immediately conveys the feeling of a refined, design-oriented environment. Not surprisingly, brands specialising in kitchen furnishings often propose integrated lighting solutions in wall units, on-trend pendants or directional spots. Nevertheless, even in an existing kitchen it is possible to make substantial changes to the lighting setup, transforming it into a more pleasant place without having to overhaul the furniture.

2. Kitchen-Lighting Tip: Where to Start

When asking how to light the kitchen, you must first assess the layout of the space and the habits of those who live there. Here are some useful questions:

What are the kitchen’s dimensions? If it is very small, every single light point counts. If it is large, you can think of several distinctly lit zones (cooking area, island, table, etc.).
Are there windows or sources of natural light? If the kitchen receives plenty of daylight, you can focus on artificial light for evenings and cloudy days. If instead the window is small or absent (as in windowless kitchens), artificial lighting must constantly compensate.
Which activities take place in the kitchen? Do you cook a lot, have breakfast, gather with friends? Or is it a passageway to heat something in the microwave? The main purpose will guide the choices: a family that loves to experiment with complex recipes will need technical, strong lights, while a single who often eats out can opt for less powerful, more decorative solutions.
How much space is there on the ceiling or wall? In some kitchens with a lowered false ceiling, recessed spots are ideal. If the ceiling is high, you can opt for a suspension or a designer chandelier.

Once these answers are clear, it is easier to define a strategy. A good kitchen-lighting tip is always to plan multiple layers of light: one main (general), one dedicated to work areas (task), and a few decorative or accent touches (to enrich the atmosphere).

3. How to Light the Kitchen Between Functionality and Aesthetics

In the kitchen, above all, practicality is needed. You cannot cook, cut, and prepare dishes without clearly seeing what you are doing. That is why worktops deserve punctual, well-calibrated lighting, usually achieved with under-cabinet lights or directional spots. At the same time, the eye also wants its share: a pleasant, well-lit environment encourages spending time there or chatting with guests while you finish cooking.

To light a kitchen in style, you can consider various combinations:

Ceiling spots + under-cabinet lights: The former provide diffuse, even lighting; the latter focus light on the worktop. It is a common setup that suits both linear and L-shaped kitchens.
Pendant lamp + lights integrated into the cabinetry: In modern kitchens you often see a large designer pendant above the island or table, flanked by LED strips placed in wall units or under shelves. This unites strong visual impact and functionality.
Recessed LED strips: An increasingly popular trend. LED strips can be housed in aluminium profiles and placed along the edges of wall units, illuminating the area below—or integrated into the false ceiling, creating light lines that enhance the kitchen layout.

Naturally, aesthetics go hand-in-hand with luminous performance. It is wise to choose quality bulbs with a good colour-rendering index (CRI) so that food colours and shades are perceived correctly. A very cool light (over 5000 K) can feel clinical, while a warm light (2700-3000 K) is more welcoming. It depends on taste and the effect desired, but a neutral temperature (3500-4000 K) is generally an excellent compromise between clarity and visual comfort.

4. Types of Lamps: Which to Choose and When to Use Them

Talking about how to light the kitchen also means knowing the different types of light fixtures:

Ceiling lights: Fixed to the ceiling, they diffuse light evenly. Ideal in rooms with low ceilings because they take up little space. Very common in traditional kitchens, though modern designer models exist.
Suspensions: They hang the diffuser with one or more cables, creating a scenic effect. They cast more focused light, concentrating on a particular area (like the table or island). If the kitchen has a high ceiling, they are a personality-adding choice.
Recessed or track spots: Integrated into the false ceiling or running on a visible track, they allow you to direct the beam where needed. A flexible, contemporary-flavoured solution.
Under-cabinet lights: Mounted under wall units or shelves, they light the worktop directly. They can be single lamps, recessed spots or continuous LED strips. They ensure great practicality and are essential to avoid working in shadow.
Table or floor lamps: Less common in kitchens—unless very spacious or in particular contexts (e.g., open-plan kitchens with living area). They can add a decorative touch but require attention to size and footprint.
Lights integrated into furniture: Some high-end kitchen models include lighting in drawers, doors or niches. A refined, minimal choice that requires buying pre-wired units or performing specific modifications.

Each of these fixtures can combine with the others to build a modular lighting system. For example, you might have a central ceiling light plus under-cabinet lights on the worktops, or a suspension over the table and recessed spots for the rest of the room. The keyword is layering: every light point has a function, and together they create a complete picture.

5. Lighting an Open-Plan Kitchen

Open-plan kitchens connected to the living room are increasingly popular. Here the challenge is to integrate kitchen lighting with the lounge’s lighting without creating jarring breaks. If the kitchen is on display, it is worth taking care with the aesthetics of the light fixtures so that they harmonise with the rest of the space.

A typical tip for open-plan kitchen lighting is to choose a common thread in the materials or style of the lamps. For example, if the lounge has black-metal, minimal-design lamps, you might replicate the same language in the suspension above the island. The space then feels coherent while maintaining distinct functions.

Often you need brighter lighting in the kitchen (when cooking) and softer lighting in the lounge (when relaxing). Separate switching lines are useful: you can turn on the strong lights in the cooking area only during meal prep and switch them off when moving to the sofa or table. Meanwhile, decorative or mood lights can stay on in the kitchen, still maintaining visual cohesion with the living area.

Real-life example: In a 40 m² open plan with a visible kitchen and peninsula, you can install two matching matte-metal suspensions above the peninsula, while the rest of the kitchen is lit by recessed spots in the false ceiling. In the lounge area, a floor lamp and a chandelier in a similar style complete the picture. The result: a single large environment, yet lit differently and with a harmonious look.

6. How to Light the Kitchen Worktop

The worktop (or countertop) is where the most operational tasks take place: cutting, kneading, using appliances, reading recipes. Having direct, well-defined light is essential. Usually this is achieved with under-cabinet lights, as wall units (if present) cast shadows on the worktop if the light comes only from the ceiling.

Under-cabinet lights can be made with:

Rigid LED bars: fixed under the wall unit to diffuse even light.
Flexible LED strips: recessed or stuck to an aluminium support, giving continuous illumination.
Single spots: small circular or square spots placed at regular intervals—less uniform than a strip but more targeted.

When the work area has no wall units above (as with an island), you can use track spots on the ceiling, directing them onto the top. Or a suspension that must not hang too high, otherwise you lose luminous intensity where needed.

Pay attention to colour temperature: many prefer more neutral lighting (about 4000 K) on the worktop because it enhances colour perception of food and avoids the “yellow” feel typical of warm bulbs (2700 K). However, there is no rigid rule: someone who cooks for pleasure and wants a warm ambience might stick with 3000 K. The important thing is to ensure that brightness (expressed in lumens) is adequate for the task.

7. Lamps and Pendants over the Dining Table

Often the kitchen also includes a table for everyday meals. In this case, placing a pendant focused on the table gives an intimate, “restaurant-like” touch. It visually demarcates the dining space, especially if the kitchen is open plan.

The distance between the lamp and the tabletop usually ranges from 70 to 80 cm, but it is not a dogma: it depends on ceiling height, and on the lamp’s shape and size. The goal is to light dishes and diners’ faces correctly without glare or obstructing the view.

If the table is long or rectangular, you can install two or three pendants in line, evenly distributed. If it is round, one central suspension is often enough. For a dash of character, you can mix different lamp shapes in a cluster, provided they share a chromatic or stylistic theme. This creates a scenic effect highly appreciated in design kitchens.

Remember the option of dimming: when alone or as a couple you can keep softer light; when guests arrive or extra tasks are done at the table, you increase brightness. Flexibility makes the difference between mediocre and excellent lighting.

8. Real-Life Examples of Well-Lit Kitchens

Lighting a Small Linear Kitchen

Take, for example, a kitchen about three metres long. A ceiling track with three to four spots can handle general lighting, and an under-cabinet LED strip can light the worktop. Add a small suspension over the table, if present, or choose a ceiling light that covers the dining area too. In a compact space, simplicity wins.

Lighting a Kitchen with an Island and High Ceiling

Here the aesthetic impact is strong: two matching suspensions above the island, paired with recessed spots in the wall-unit or oven area. Under the wall units, neutral-light LED strips. If the kitchen opens to the living area, you can add decorative wall lights to create depth. The island becomes the scene’s heart, with lamps drawing the eye.

Lighting a Rustic Wooden Kitchen

If the style is more traditional, perhaps with exposed beams, inserting suspensions with ceramic shades or wrought-iron chandeliers is charming. Under-cabinet lighting can be less high-tech with brass lamps or vintage-style bulbs, yet still offer adequate brightness. In such cases, a warm colour temperature (2700 K) provides a cosy atmosphere.

Lighting a Modern Kitchen

Super-modern glossy white furnishings? Light reflects on surfaces, amplifying the sense of space. Nearly invisible recessed spots and LED strips integrated into cabinet grooves or between countertop and wall unit can be used. One or two minimal suspensions above the table, with linear design (perhaps in black metal), create sharp, dramatic contrast.

9. Lights for Small Kitchens or Those with Low Ceilings

Small kitchens or those with low ceilings need space-saving solutions. A large chandelier may feel bulky and claustrophobic.

Better to opt for:

Minimal ceiling lights or recessed spots: They take up little vertical space and diffuse light evenly.
Short suspensions: If a suspension is a must, simply adjust cables to a lower height. Be careful not to block sightlines, especially in very small kitchens.
Under-cabinet lights to increase brightness on worktops, compensating for a less powerful general light.
Mirrors or reflective surfaces: While not lights, reflective materials (such as a mirrored splashback or glossy lacquered wall units) amplify existing light.

In very small kitchens, the primary goal is functional—seeing clearly without sacrificing space. Nonetheless, you can still choose compact designer fixtures (like sculptural spots or micro-recessed lamps) for a distinctive touch. Important: don’t overdo the number of light points to avoid visual clutter.

10. Integrated Lighting: Recessed Spots and LED Strips

A strong trend is using recessed spots and LED strips integrated into kitchen structures. This approach perfectly suits contemporary or minimalist kitchens where you want to avoid exposed lamps.

Recessed spots in the false ceiling: If the kitchen has a dropped ceiling, placing spots strategically and aiming them at operational areas or features to highlight is easy. Thanks to LED bulbs, the spots can have a wider or narrower beam depending on needs.
Hidden LED strips: They can be placed in profiles under wall units, inside cabinet grooves, in low plinths or even along countertop edges. The result is very sophisticated: the light sources are not directly visible, yet you perceive the light trail enhancing the kitchen’s shapes.
Advantages: Integrated lighting reduces clutter and simplifies cleaning, as there are no external chandeliers or fixtures to dust. Moreover, light distribution is often more uniform, without direct glare.

A possible drawback is the need to plan the electrical system from the start, especially if installing recessed LED profiles. In a full renovation, this is no problem. If you add integrated lighting to an existing kitchen, you may need small joinery or drywall work.

11. Low-Consumption, Dramatic-Effect Solutions

LED technology has revolutionised kitchen lighting, offering lower consumption and great versatility. If you want dramatic lighting without hiking up the energy bill, here are some suggestions:

Use LED strips: They consume little yet have significant visual impact. If a high-tech ambience appeals to you, choose RGB LED strips that change colour on command. For a more traditional use, white LED strips (warm or cool) work perfectly.
Dimmer: Integrating a dimmer lets you adjust light intensity. You can have full power only when needed (e.g., complex preparations) and softer light at other times, saving energy.
Motion sensors: If you have wall units or larder doors that lift, you can install sensors that switch on the internal LED only when you open the door, switching it off automatically at closure—convenient and sustainable.
Choose quality bulbs: Not all LED bulbs are equal. Some have a higher CRI (Colour Rendering Index), giving more natural colours. Better to invest in reliable products with CRI above 80—or better yet 90—and guaranteed lifespan.

The dramatic effect comes from playing with light-shadow contrasts, creating luminous pathways or highlighting decorative elements (a coloured wall, a wall clock, a glass door). Even simply installing LED lights in the spice niche or inside a display cabinet can give a very striking touch.

12. Combating Glare and Reflections: Practices to Know

One of the most frequent problems in kitchen lighting concerns reflections and glare. Glossy surfaces such as stainless steel or lacquer can reflect light, creating annoying flares or facial glare. Also, certain exposed lamps (e.g., vintage-style Edison bulbs) can dazzle if positioned at eye level. How to avoid it?

Opal or frosted diffusers: Choosing lamps with diffusing screens helps reduce direct reflections.
Strategic light positioning: Aim spots so they do not hit highly reflective surfaces directly. If you have a stainless-steel fridge, avoid pointing the beam frontally—slant it slightly.
Shades and reflectors: Some fixtures have internal reflectors that direct light downwards, avoiding horizontal spill. Perfect above a table or island.
Adequate brightness: Sometimes glare problems stem from bulbs that are too powerful in a small room. Adjusting wattage or using a dimmer helps find balance.

An interesting trick is to test lighting at night, with the house lights off, to assess where unwanted reflections occur. Just walk around the kitchen and observe surfaces, perhaps switching on one fixture at a time.

13. Combining Design and Practicality: High-End Lamps in the Kitchen Too

Many people think the kitchen must be solely functional and that design pieces belong in the living room or bedroom. Instead, nothing prevents you from inserting high-value, even iconic, lamps in the kitchen. An example might be a suspension signed by a great designer, placed above the island or dining table—or a set of minimalist wall lamps highlighting fine wooden cabinetry.

Of course you must consider the operational environment: steam, food splashes, heat. If choosing a fabric lamp, ensure it is not too exposed to fumes and smells. If buying a delicate metal piece, clean it carefully and regularly. But with the right attention, designer lamps can coexist with daily use. After all, the kitchen is an increasingly social and gastronomic-passion place: it therefore deserves the same “premium” treatment as other rooms if aligned with our taste.

14. Where to Find Used Designer Lamps

If you are looking for original, prestigious-brand lamps for your kitchen but want to save compared with new prices, you can turn to the used market. Deesup is a marketplace specialising in second-hand design furniture and accessories where you can find iconic pieces at more accessible prices. Every item is carefully checked for authenticity. This approach allows you to enrich your kitchen lighting with lamps signed by renowned designers, cutting costs and promoting sustainability through curated designer resale.

Say you have your eye on an Artemide Tolomeo or a Flos IC lamp: on Deesup you might find them second-hand in excellent condition at an attractive price—or out-of-production models hard to find in regular stores. It is an opportunity to give the kitchen character without foregoing quality. All it takes is a bit of patience and luck, keeping an eye on new listings on the platform.

15. Conclusions: The Kitchen as the Luminous Heart of the Home

We have seen how many variables come into play when asking how to light the kitchen. There is no single answer valid for everyone—rather a set of strategies, products and ideas to choose from according to space, budget, style and habits. For this very reason, the best lighting projects arise from listening to the needs of those who will use the kitchen daily: if you love cooking at night, for example, you might favour warm lights and multiple focal points; if the kitchen also hosts a dining corner, an elegant suspension adds atmosphere.

The most important kitchen-lighting tip is not to overlook the functional aspect: clarity at the worktop and safe movement. But do not stop there: light is also emotion and beauty, so feel free to use designer lamps, dramatic solutions, little LED strips outlining furniture and drawers. LED technology makes experimentation easy, reducing consumption and heat output.

Remember that a bright environment—especially a kitchen—makes you want to spend more time there, experiment with recipes, invite friends to dinner. And if you want a truly special touch, let yourself be tempted by prestigious-brand lamps, perhaps buying them second-hand on Deesup, thus combining savings, design and environmental responsibility.

In conclusion, lighting a kitchen is not merely switching on a light: it means creating a comfortable, efficient place consistent with your way of living the home. With the right care, the kitchen will indeed become the “luminous heart” of your domestic hearth, uniting functionality and style in harmonious unity.

Happy planning and bon appétit—by lamp light!