Kitchen Lighting Ideas: 10+ Different Types and Where to Use Them (2024)

Just like you need healthy, balanced meals every day, your kitchen needs a healthy mix of different types of lights to help you work more efficiently. We understand that not everyone is an expert when it comes to small kitchen lighting ideas. Therefore, we have compiled the best kitchen lighting ideas for a small kitchen, for every type of task you perform there. Let’s take a look!

#1: Ambient Kitchen Lighting Ideas

As the name suggests, ambient lights create a conducive and creative ambience in a room. You can add these in addition to the natural lighting or to fill its absence. There are various kinds of ambient kitchen lights available in Singapore market to choose from.

#2: Flush Mount Kitchen Ceiling Lights

The ceiling is where you need ambient lighting the most. Typically dome-shaped, flush mount or semi-flush mount lights sufficiently light up small to medium kitchen ceilings. A single or a couple of flush mount kitchen lights are usually adequate.

Expert tip: You can use either warm or white light bulbs in these flush mount fixtures.

#3: Recessed Kitchen Lights

These are like the holy grail for creating ambient kitchen ceiling lighting ideas, especially if you are not a fan of hanging lights. These are concealed into your ceiling and look very sleek, while providing ample light to the space. In a medium-sized kitchen, you can install about three to six recessed lights. Just make sure to place them in an aesthetic grid.

Expert tip: Always opt for white light bulbs inside recessed lights.

Also Read: 9 Kitchen Interior Design Styles That Work Well in Modern Kitchens

#4: Kitchen Lighting Ideas: Task Lighting

After you have installed ambient lighting, which will help with basic illumination in your kitchen, you should think about the kind of tasks you carry out in this space. Often, ambient lighting will cast a shadow when you stand in front of counters or any other location in your kitchen. Therefore, you need designated task lighting for kitchens. These lights will illuminate specific areas, like the countertop or the kitchen stove.

#5: Kitchen Track Lighting Ideas

These are a strip of lights we arrange in a linear pattern on the ceiling. This is one of the more modern kitchen lighting ideas, where you can place a series of track lights over your island or breakfast counter. People also install them above their kitchen counters sometimes as they are excellent focus lights. But you have to ensure a correct angle so no shadows are cast over your counter.

Expert tip: We prefer warm light bulbs for kitchen track lighting ideas. Make sure you pick up LED bulbs to help you save energy.

#6: Under-Cabinet Kitchen Lights

One of the most useful (and our favourite) task light for kitchen is the under-cabinet light. They are used to create direct focus on the worktop. You can use LED strips and install them under the wall cabinets. This type of kitchen LED light is great for brightening up dull corners and getting rid of the shadows that the cabinets cast on the countertop.

Expert tip: Definitely go for warm light strips if you have a neutral-coloured backsplash. Keep white or cool light strips only if you have other cool-coloured backsplashes.

#7: Kitchen Lighting Ideas: Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is predominantly decorative and are additions to the existing basic kitchen lighting ideas. You can utilise accent lights to create a soft focus on some key elements in the kitchen. There are absolutely no rules when it comes to accent lighting and this makes it one of the most versatile kitchen lighting ideas.

#8: Wall Sconces and Wall-Mounted Kitchen Lights

Similar in style to the flush mount lights, wall sconces or wall-mounted lights differ just in placement. While flush mounts are installed on the ceiling, wall sconces are placed on the wall. If you have space on any wall or next to your breakfast counter, you can mount a wall sconce for extra lighting. It is stylish, it is modern and it helps in lighting up the wall.

Expert tip: As we said, there are no rules, but we personally suggest you use warm lighting for wall sconces. It gives a soft glow to the room.

#9: Pendant Light for Kitchen

So you have a kitchen island or a breakfast counter and it acts like a gathering spot for your family? Then you might want to invest in some pretty kitchen pendant lighting ideas. These kitchen lighting fixtures hang from the ceiling and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. We personally love these bubble lights that add a chic touch to this kitchen and hang low enough to illuminate the counter.

Expert tip: Always go for warm light bulbs in pendant lights. The golden glow will highlight the space and act as a decorative accent. Make sure there’s a distance of at least 30 to 32 inches between the countertop and the bottom of the light.

#10: Try LED Strips as Small Kitchen Lighting Ideas

Your priorities should be style and utility when deciding on the ideal LED strips setup for your kitchen. In addition to using less energy than conventional lighting sources, LED strips have a longer lifespan. They provide instantaneous brightness and are more environmental-friendly.

How to Select the Best Lights for Your Kitchen?

As a rule of thumb, you must have general or ambient lighting in the centre of the kitchen. Do this by installing recessed kitchen ceiling lights or flush mounts. Additionally, if you have an island or a breakfast counter, consider pendant lighting.

We personally recommend having a couple of task lights as well, but it really depends upon the natural lighting in your kitchen and the positioning of your windows or additional lights. If they do not happen to cast shadows on your counter, then you can make do without them. Read on to know a few tips on selecting the best lights for your kitchen.

A. Identify the Areas That Need Proper Kitchen Lighting

It is crucial that your modern kitchen be well-lit—and in all the correct places. In eat-in kitchens, accent lighting must be frequently placed over the kitchen sink or table as well as above an exposed countertop, such as an island or peninsula.

Also Read: 15 Stunning Kitchen Cabinet Designs You Need For A Functional Kitchen

B. Use Task Lights Over the Island

The kitchen above shows off pendant, track and task lighting for a well-rounded cooking and dining experience. Task lighting minimises shadows and provides you with a clear view of your work surface. Task lights over the island guarantee that you have ample light while slicing vegetables or doing any other prep work.

C. Select Proper Light Controls

There are numerous choices for controlling the lights in your kitchen, including manual, pre-set, dimmer switches, motion and occupancy sensors, as well as assisted lighting controls like voice controls. The manual on/off switch found in the majority of households is the most basic type of lighting control. However, assisted light controls and motion sensors are also becoming popular.

D. Mix Up Your Fixtures

Every well-lit room must be built on the principle of layering the lights. These layers enhance your kitchen space’s adaptability and functionality, while providing dimension. Ambient, task, and/or accent lighting are the three types of lighting you should include at a minimum. One lighting fixture, such as a magnificent chandelier or an unusual lamp, might serve as your focal point. However, we advise combining a minimum of two and a maximum of four lighting layers.

E. Choose Light Fitting According to Your Furniture

If you want to integrate your kitchen’s design with the lighting fixtures used to illuminate it, then follow this tip. Instead of trying to match the kitchen lighting to the furnishing and finishes, try to coordinate it. Try to match the shape, colour, materials, styles, and/or other particulars.

F. Choose Vintage Lights to Complement the Design

Fan of vintage lights and decor? Check this kitchen design by Livspace. In this bright and airy kitchen designed for a Singapore home, antique hanging lamps impose Victorian-esque beauty.

G. Add Industrial Accents to Kitchen Lighting Design

This kitchen has plenty of natural light, but the finishing touches are given by industrial pendants. This kitchen by Livspace feels modern and stylish, thanks to the combination of slate grey cabinetry and industrial black pendant lights.

How Can Livspace Help You?

We hope you found our ideas useful! If you want your home to be just as beautiful, then look no further. Book an online consultation with Livspace today. Send in your thoughts and suggestions to editor.sg@livspace.com.