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When you picture your dream kitchen, chances are you imagine more than cabinetry, appliances and worktops. Lighting plays a huge part in how a kitchen looks, feels and functions, yet it’s one of the most overlooked elements in a renovation. As kitchen designers, we’ve seen firsthand how the right lighting can completely change a space, making it more inviting, more practical and far more personalised to the way you live. Kitchen lighting choices can be inspired by different design themes or aesthetics, allowing you to create a unique atmosphere that reflects your personal style.
Discover a range of kitchen lighting ideas for every size, including spacious open-plan layouts to the most compact small kitchen.
If you’re planning a redesign or simply looking for fresh kitchen design ideas, this guide walks you through the different ways you can use kitchen lighting to brighten your room, highlight your favourite features and create a warm, enjoyable atmosphere every day. This guide includes kitchen lighting ideas for different kitchen sizes, including small kitchens. Explore a variety of kitchen ideas as sources of inspiration for your renovation and decorating projects. Inspiration can be drawn from trending styles, curated colour palettes, and real-world projects to help you visualise and achieve your ideal kitchen. Our goal is to inspire you to create your own dream kitchen that perfectly suits your needs and tastes.
Pendant lights remain one of the most popular choices in modern kitchens, and for good reason. They’re decorative, they’re functional, and they help define zones in an open-plan layout, complementing a variety of styles and kitchen styles.
We often recommend pendants over:
kitchen island
Breakfast bars
Dining spaces within the kitchen
Dining area
Peninsulas
A well-placed row of pendants adds personality, structure and a focal point, especially in minimalist kitchens where the lighting becomes a key styling feature. Pendant lighting not only enhances the flow of an open-plan kitchen by clearly defining each zone, but also elevates the overall aesthetic of the space. Choosing chic pendant lights can add a sophisticated touch and make your kitchen stand out.
When we support you with kitchen design ideas, we consider:
The height of your ceilings: Taller ceilings allow for larger statement pendants, while smaller rooms benefit from sleek, compact designs.
Your overall style: Glass pendants suit modern Scandinavian spaces; brass or matt black fittings work beautifully in contemporary kitchens; and softer ceramic shades complement more traditional designs. Pendant lights are also available in a variety of colours to match your kitchen’s palette.
The level of brightness you need: Pendants can look stunning with warm, low-glow bulbs, but if you rely on them for task lighting, we recommend brighter options or layered lighting to support them. We offer a wide range of pendant lighting options to suit different needs.
If you need expert advice on choosing the right pendant lighting for your kitchen, our team is here to help.
For customers wanting something unique, statement pendants are becoming increasingly popular. These might be sculptural metal designs, oversized domes, exposed filament clusters or even contemporary chandeliers that add interest and visual appeal to the kitchen.
Statement lighting brings a touch of luxury to any kitchen and can change the look of the space instantly. With the right fixture, a kitchen can feel completely transformed, making it both stylish and inviting.
If there’s one feature we think every homeowner should consider, it’s under-cabinet LED lighting, a popular form of cabinet lighting. Under-cabinet LEDs are just one of many kitchen lights that can enhance both the functionality and style of your kitchen. These clever strips or spotlights sit discreetly beneath your wall units to illuminate your counters, eliminating shadows and making food prep safer and easier. Under-cabinet lighting also enhances visibility on key surfaces like the chopping board and around the sink, improving both functionality and ambience.
They provide bright, even task lighting: Perfect for chopping, cooking and reading recipes.
They highlight your worktop material: Whether you’ve chosen quartz, marble or wood, lighting brings out the colour and detail beautifully. Popular kitchen colour schemes like blue, green, or grey cabinetry and lighting can further enhance the look of your space.
They add ambience in the evenings: Lowering the main lights and switching on the LEDs can make your kitchen feel warm and calming. LEDs can also be used to illuminate the whole room, ensuring a well-lit and inviting environment.
They’re energy-efficient and long-lasting: LEDs use less electricity than traditional bulbs and outlast them by years.
Some of our favourite projects include integrated LED lighting within:
Open shelving
Plinths
Glass display cabinets
Around extractor housings
These subtle touches bring an elegant glow to the room and elevate even the simplest cabinetry.
A well-planned kitchen always features task lighting and ambient lighting, and often accent lighting too. When planning your lighting, consider your kitchen layout to ensure each area is properly illuminated. The connection between different lighting zones is essential for a cohesive and functional space. In open-plan kitchens, lighting can also help define two spaces, such as separating the kitchen from the dining area. Each type serves a different purpose.
Task lighting is practical and bright. It’s designed to support everyday activities and should be positioned in places where clarity is essential.
This includes:
Over worktops
Inside larders or pantry cupboards
Above the hob
Around sinks
Under cabinets
We tailor your task lighting to how you use your kitchen day to day. For example, if you’re an enthusiastic cook, you may need brighter lighting around your primary prep areas, especially where you rinse and fill pots or prepare ingredients for dinner. If you regularly entertain, we’ll ensure your island is both functional and atmospheric, so you look forward to spending time in your well-lit kitchen.
Ambient lighting creates softness and warmth. It’s the backdrop to the room and helps balance out intense task lighting.
Examples include:
Ceiling lights
Soft pendants
LED strips
Wall lights
Ambient lighting is essential for evenings when you want a relaxed atmosphere rather than bright overheads. It enhances the overall atmosphere of the entire house, making every space feel inviting. By supporting a comfortable lifestyle, ambient lighting helps create a home environment that suits your daily routines and personal preferences.
Accent lighting is all about showcasing your kitchen’s best features. It’s subtle but effective and works beautifully in bespoke kitchens.
We often use accent lighting to illuminate:
Glass cabinets
Shelving displays
Architectural features
Textured walls or splashbacks
Views of the garden or outdoors
This layer of lighting adds depth and dimension, making your kitchen feel more polished and considered.
A beautifully lit kitchen isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about making your daily routine easier. Proper ceiling lighting fixtures should illuminate the whole room, ensuring every corner is well-lit for both function and style. Functional lighting can also add interest to your kitchen by enhancing its visual appeal and creating engaging design elements.
Here’s how good lighting design improves the space:
Lighting directly over your worktops reduces shadows and ensures you’re working safely, particularly when using knives or hot pans.
Soft, warm lighting in the evenings helps create a cosy, inviting space perfect for family time or unwinding after a long day. This welcoming atmosphere also makes it an ideal place to dine with family or friends.
A combination of lighting options means you can adapt the room depending on your mood or the activity.
Lighting helps define different zones, the cooking area, the dining space, and the social area, without needing walls or partitions.
Smart lighting systems are becoming increasingly popular, and we’re seeing more customers request them as part of our kitchen design ideas. They’re ideal if you want convenience, efficiency and control.
With smart lighting, you can:
Adjust brightness with your phone
Change colour temperatures to suit the time of day
Automate lights to come on gradually in the morning
Set the perfect ambience for cooking, dining or relaxing
Our range of smart lighting options offers solutions for every style and need.
Smart LEDs also work particularly well with modern handleless kitchens, where convenience and clean finishes are key priorities.
Explore our kitchen designs collection.
If you’re looking to add personality to your lighting, fixtures and finishes are a great place to start, with a wide variety of colours available for kitchen lighting. Recently we’ve been seeing:
Brass pendant lights for a warm, luxurious feel
Matt black fittings for a bold, contemporary edge
Blue, green, and grey as trending colours for kitchen lighting or cabinetry
Painted finishes as a popular trend for cabinetry and lighting details
Soft natural materials like wood, linen or ceramic
Softly diffused glass shades to create gentle, elegant lighting
Warm LEDs that mimic natural daylight
These small touches make a big difference and can tie your whole kitchen scheme together.
Every kitchen we create begins with understanding how you use the space. Your lighting design is built around your priorities, whether that’s cooking, entertaining, working from home or creating a family-friendly hub.
When you work with us, we:
Assess your current lighting and identify any dark spots or inefficiencies.
Plan lighting around your layout so worktops, islands and appliances are properly illuminated.
Recommend fixtures and finishes that complement your cabinetry and interior style.
Layer different lighting types to ensure flexibility, atmosphere and clarity.
Fit your lighting professionally so everything looks seamless and operates reliably.
We also collaborate with trusted electricians and lighting specialists to deliver a polished, high-quality finish every time. For lighting inspiration, visit our showroom to explore our curated collection of lighting options and receive expert advice on kitchen lighting design. You can also visit our store to experience a range of kitchen designs and products in person, and receive in-store consultations for your project.
If you want personalised kitchen design ideas, we’d be delighted to help you bring your space to life. Get in touch with our team today.