The kitchen plays many roles in modern homes, from food prep to relaxing at the end of the day to entertaining guests on special occasions. And with open concept homes, where the kitchen and living room flow together, the kitchen’s aesthetics takes on more importance, and so does the lighting design. In this multi-purpose room, design, functionality, and purpose blend into one beautiful creation.

Because of all the many tasks and events that take place in the kitchen, it needs many types of lighting. A single lighting source in the middle of the ceiling just won’t do. Kitchen lights have evolved well past a utilitarian fixture placed in the center of the room. They now bring style and grace, adding a touch of opulence where needed, balancing the design of what is increasingly becoming the heart of the home.

Lighting Ideas & Designs for Small Kitchens

Kitchens need all three types of lighting — ambient, task, and accent. In small kitchens, that can be difficult to achieve. No matter the size of a kitchen, statement pendant lights are still the star of this space. Not only do they provide the wow factor, when put on a dimmer they can also provide task, ambient, and accent lighting, depending on what is needed.

Hinkley Lighting Somerset 11 Inch Mini Pendant

This chic, flowing design deemphasizes the cooking space with chameleon-like skill and puts the focus on entertaining. A pair of Hinkley Lighting Somerset 11 Inch Mini Pendants bring a splash of elegant vintage into the modern design with precise sophistication. The etched opal glass shade floats gently inside the streamlined metal yoke and ring, fusing modern and vintage style. The turned metal knobs bring an authentic edge to this glorious, light-filled room.

Illuminating a Large Kitchen Properly

Bigger kitchens need more than just lighting, they also need bigger fixtures to accommodate the square footage of the area. Recessed lighting tucked under the cabinets offers functional task lighting for food preparation, but the star of the show is always the decorative lighting over the kitchen island. The pendants below go from stunningly dramatic to quietly showstopping.

Aerin Sarnen 18 Inch LED Large Pendant by Visual Comfort and Co.

White-on-white kitchens have been hot for quite a while now, but bold contrast black and white ones are coming into style. This pair of Aerin Sarnen 18 Inch LED Large Pendant by Visual Comfort and Co. reflects that trend in the most striking way. The contrast between the black and white on these pendants is sophisticated yet playful. The black accents throughout the kitchen tie the look together.

Tech Lighting Sean Lavin Gunnar 23 Inch Large Pendant

This black-and-white kitchen gets some pizzazz from the black satin gold finish on these Tech Lighting Sean Lavin Gunnar 23 Inch Large Pendants. Elemental geometry on a grand scale creates a dramatic yet functional statement over the kitchen island. The silhouette of the architecturally significant shade levels up what could have easily been a stark, all-white space. It’s these touches that bring the importance of lighting design into focus.

Visual Comfort and Co. Aerin Agnes 18 Inch Large Pendant

Adding just a touch of black is a great way to play with this bold look. The sleek, minimalist shape of the Visual Comfort and Co. Aerin Agnes 18 Inch Large Pendant with matte black and gild interior adds warmth and depth to this kitchen. Two pendants are better than one for lighting and dramatic flair, giving a dazzling reflective display when lit.

Embracing Alternative Kitchen Lighting Designs

Kitchen lighting is a great way to express a unique design style, whether oversized pendants or linear suspension lights. The unique kitchen lighting fixtures below marry decorative art with design, making an artful addition to the kitchen.

Sean Lavin Viaggio 56 Inch 25 Light Linear Suspension Light by Tech Lighting

Lighting as art is the latest lighting design trend to watch in the coming year. The artistic grouping of glass orbs features on Sean Lavin Viaggio 56 Inch 25 Light Linear Suspension Light by Tech Lighting brings a sense of celestial travel into the kitchen. The sleek black body, round opal glass shades, and brass arms echo the colors in the room. A wash of glare-free illumination brightens the space with welcoming light.

Washington 20 Inch Large Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting

Uniquely shaped to show off the smooth cylinders of metal with exposed-filament bulbs, the Washington 20 Inch Large Pendant by Hudson Valley Lighting glistens and glows against the geometric backdrop of this kitchen. The shape of the shade puts a free-form spin on the geometric tiles in the backsplash. The aged brass finish gleams through the round curves and contours of the breathtaking outer layer of glass.

Corbett Lighting Jasmine 28 Inch LED Large Pendant

In a space as gorgeous as this one, a simple lighting statement is all that is needed. Every piece is perfectly placed, including the Corbett Lighting Jasmine 28 Inch LED Large Pendant. The LED-lined, gold-leaf-finished ring illuminates from within, spilling light down onto the centerpiece below. The circular shape draws the eye into the space and makes a big impression.