14 Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas — That Will Illuminate Your Space and Uplift Your Home's Aesthetic

In the design world, lighting is often seen as the make-or-break element of a space. Illuminating different areas with colors, shapes, and textures can set the mood and character of an area — and what better focal point than your kitchen island lighting?

This designer-approved guide will help you incorporate kitchen lighting ideas for your island in the chicest and easiest way. From spotlights to hanging lights, there is an array of sophisticated ways to light up an island and disperse light throughout the room.

Without further ado, here are some stylish kitchen island lighting ideas to elevate and uplift the heart of your home.

1. Hang a Chandelier for a Glamorous Vintage Charm 

A chandelier may sound like a slightly decadent choice for a practical space like a kitchen, but if you pick the right size and hang it right, it can make the perfect focal point in your cooking space. Chandeliers also bring texture and shape to a room with hard surfaces such as marble. Even if your kitchen island has a more contemporary style, adding this mix of old and new can give a space character, as this beautiful modern marble kitchen pictured above proves.

Jo Plismy, founder of Gong says, "My advice is to not be afraid to go big and bold with your kitchen pendant lighting. Large pendant lights make an impressive statement above a dining table or kitchen island. Contrary to popular belief, oversized lights look fabulous in smaller rooms as well as in larger spaces. I often advise my clients to see their lighting choices as pieces of art. Bold designs, tactile textiles, and sculptural shapes will provide interest over an island unit, even when the light is turned off."

The ornate chandelier in this chic, all-white kitchen certainly adds a sense of boldness while also shaping the space. Plus, it brings a different texture to a room that's made up of lots of clean lines and sleek surfaces. Do note, however, that this chandelier is also paired with more practical task lighting, too, which is something to consider if you're opting for form over function — always add in a second light source. Here, smaller pendants (on each side of the chandelier) have been used, but spotlights can work well, too, if you want your statement light to be the only pendant in the room.

2. Keep it Symmetrical 

Avoid making a dull kitchen lighting mistake and scattering lights around. Intention is very important when designing your home — so when planning your kitchen lighting design, take your time with it.

Pendant lights are one of the most popular choices for a kitchen island as they define the area from the rest of the space, making it feel more like its own zone. There's something so chic about being able to create a pool of light around the island, like a glow in the center of the kitchen, that's ideal for when it's used as a social space to welcome friends and family. It creates an inviting atmosphere that transforms the way an area looks and feels.

And it's a practical choice, too, as it will provide all the task lighting you need to prep and work by. You can have even more flexibility and change up the mood if your pendants are on a dimmer switch. And be sure not to hang the pendants too low — as a rule of thumb, they should never come lower than 90cm from the work surface.

3. Choose a Subtle Linear Style

Looking for more subtle kitchen island lighting ideas? A barely-there linear style can almost blend into the background but provide all the lighting your island needs. It's a modern look, but it could easily work in more rustic kitchens if you want to add a contemporary touch.

This design works particularly well with small kitchen islands or if your kitchen has high ceilings and you want to add more light at eye level. Just be sure to add some ambient lighting elsewhere in your kitchen, too.

Linear styles offer a very focused light that's ideal for an island but will need to be combined with other light sources, too (like the downlights used in the kitchen pictured above) for a glow across different parts of the space.

4. Go Oversized With Pendants

When picking your kitchen island lighting, always consider the size of your island, is your island big enough to have the luxury of a statement lighting piece, or do you have a small kitchen that needs a more subtle lighting fixture?

Your lighting should be to scale with the surface space. Of course, there are exceptions, but in general, if you have a larger kitchen island, you don't want a couple of small pendants floating above. Likewise, if your island is on the smaller side, going too big overhead could overwhelm the space.

If you have an extra-large kitchen island that needs oversized lighting to balance the space, be inspired by the modern farmhouse kitchen above and choose large pendants with a simple design that matches the scale but doesn't overwhelm the room or add too much visual bulk.

5. Light Up With Spotlights

In addition to being decorative, kitchen island lighting needs to be practical, as it's a space that sees a lot of use and has many different functions. Spotlights might not sound like the most glamorous element, but they can provide both task and ambient lighting and offer full illumination that pendant lights often don't.

A great way to add spotlights into a space is by layering your lights and combining both pendants and subtle spotlights so you have both style and practicalities covered. "Ensure there is a good amount of task lighting in areas of the kitchen used for food preparation, but also consider how to avoid unnecessary glare or too much in the way of brightness in an open-plan environment," advises Daniel Bowler, Director of Eggersmann.

"Spotlights and lights on dimmable switches can be a good solution here, enabling the lighting levels to be adjusted depending on what time of day or night it is and how the space is being used," Daniel continues.

6. Add a Pop of Color With Kitchen Island Lighting 

Want to test the waters by adding relaxing kitchen colors to your space, while also adding a pop of character? Lighting is a really easy way to add a splash of a bold shade without overly interrupting a neutral scheme.

Since lighting is one of the easiest things in your kitchen to switch up, you don't have to worry too much about committing to a color, but we do love the bold yellow lighting pendants in this dramatic cool black kitchen pictured above.

Adding this pop of color warms up the cooler tones in the dark cabinetry and makes you notice the unusual yellow-toned veining of the splashback and countertops.

7. Create a Cohesive Look With Matching Lighting 

It's likely that your kitchen island lighting will not be the only fixture in your space, so consider how it will look alongside the lighting throughout the rest of the room. For a more cohesive scheme, match it with the lighting used elsewhere.

This will create a balanced feel across the kitchen and bring everything together. But remember, it doesn't have to necessarily be an exact match — just aim to stick with similar shapes and finishes.

In the kitchen above, a globe pendant light sits above the island as a clear focal point. The same brass kitchen style is used in the wall lights that sit behind, mirroring the materials in a more subtle design.

8. Layer a Statement Pendant With Practical Down Lights 

The key to a successful kitchen lighting scheme and an inspiring lighting design tip is to incorporate layers. Combining plenty of different light sources at different levels to create an all-over glow that can be adapted for certain tasks.

Don't just stick with one type of lighting for your kitchen island — opt for multiple sources so you can be flexible with how you illuminate the space. No one can argue that pendant lights aren't perfect for islands, but they can create relatively small pools of light that only illuminate a small section of your island.

While opting for a group of pendant lights can help, you may still find you have a mix of harsh shadows and strong task lighting. Prevent this by adding extra lights at ceiling level in the form of spotlights or simple track lights.

9. Make a Subtle Statement With Exposed Bulbs

The perfect balance between form and function, exposed bulb pendant lights are ideal for hanging over kitchen islands. They don't take up too much room but still make a subtle statement, making them a good option for small kitchens.

They can be used as both task lighting and ambient lighting, adding a strong light above the countertop but still dispersing the light throughout the rest of the room. Choose your bulbs carefully, opting for a warm filament of Edison bulbs that won't cast too harsh a light.

And go for a dimmable switch too. Charlie Bowles, director, Original BTC advises, "a dimmable pendant or, for a dramatic look, a row of pendants, is useful for switching from functional to relaxation mode, whether over your dining table or central island."

10. Choose Something Unexpected 

If your space can handle it, go for something really elaborate and unexpected over an island. Vintage holophane lights have been grouped together in this kitchen to create an oversized fixture that lights up the whole space.

If you're also feeling inspired and want to take on more of a rustic farmhouse kitchen, then these fixtures are the perfect touch within your space.

The mixture of larger and smaller lights, exposed bulbs, and glass lamps and the fact they are all hung at slightly different levels, makes this a versatile and practical solution as well as a beautiful centerpiece.

11. Go for a Simple, Yet Striking Design

"Don’t be set on the three lights over an island combination; try to be less obvious and go for simple, understated, and beautiful," says Kitchen expert and creative director of deVOL. This kitchen island lighting makes a subtle yet elegant statement.

Helen tells us: "A simple chandelier of sorts, made with our translucent porcelain shades, which give off the most captivating glow. This absolutely classic light is perfect for above an island or dining table and has a rare subtlety that has enchanted all who see it."

"The aged brass frame is rigid and can be ordered in three sizes to ensure the height is correct for your requirements, we recommend keeping your gaselier as low as you can to fully benefit from its beauty and ethereal light," explains Helen.

12. Create Bold Contrasts

Contrast is the key to creating a characterful space with plenty of interest and depth. In a kitchen, this can be tricky to achieve as there are often many spaces to add décor. However, lighting is one of the most straightforward ways to add this contrast, be it with colors, shapes, or materials. This dreamy marble kitchen designed by Heju Studio is the perfect example.

"In this project, we wanted to make a nod to the arches and curves that we had multiplied throughout the apartments. The black lines of the pendant light also bring a graphic line and contrast while the rest of the kitchen is softer. It is always very important for us to have consistency even in the selection of lighting and decoration," explains Hélène Pinaud of Heju Studio.

Hélène adds: "It is really important to have a proper light above the countertop. We therefore prefer LED tubes hidden under the wall units in this area, so it is really discreet, or some wall lights if we don’t have any wall units. On the other hand, above a kitchen island, we favor majestic and sculptural lighting in order to highlight it."

13. Balance Bold and Beautiful With Practical

"We are always keeping our eyes open for vintage, unique pieces that we can bring into the kitchen," explains designer Bradley Odom. "It adds a layer of interest while still providing useful lighting. We’ve really turned away from canned lighting or traditional hanging pendant lighting and leaned into a collection of semi-flush mounts, lamps, under cabinet lighting, and exceptional vintage pieces that can hang above an island."

As shown above, this bold and beautiful design has embraced semi-flush mounts on the ceiling in a way that illuminates the space while also drawing attention to the kitchen island, making it the focal point of the space.

"In this kitchen, the materiality of the space was truly the star of the show," adds Bradley. "The oversized waterfall island really highlighted the pattern of the stone. As such, we took a more modern, gridded approach with urban electric semi-flush mounts. It really centers the room and creates a beautiful moment."

14. Follow the Rule of Three

The rule of three is a design trick that's used for everything from color to styling accessories — and it can also be applied to kitchen pendant lighting. The concept is based on the idea that groups of three create a sense of visual balance, but it can be more widely applied to odd numbers, meaning groups of five also benefit from the same pleasing effect.

"Pendants in groups of threes is an interior designer’s trick to break up strict lines," explains Charlie Bowles, director of lighting brand Original BTC, but the same goes for kitchen wall lighting ideas where groups of three create a sense of symmetry.

The spacing you choose will depend on the size of your pendants and the island overall, but aim for between two and three times the size of the pendant as a gap between each light for a pleasing-to-the-eye layout.

FAQs

What is the best lighting for a kitchen island?

The best lighting for an island will depend on style, size, and how the space is used. So, when making a decision, consider what functions the island needs to perform. Think about your prepping space as well as other parts of your space, such as the hob or sink. Then, assess your kitchen island and think about the type of lighting that will fit into your space and its overall look.

"We spend a good deal of our time cooking and entertaining in the evenings; which means we will need sufficient illumination. Make sure you plan your lighting at the start of the process so you can incorporate the light sources with the rest of your scheme," says Ben Burbidge, Managing Director of Kitchen Makers.

Ben continues: "Choosing the right mixture of task and decorative lighting, as well as considering the types of bulb you use, will make a difference to both the functionality and atmosphere of the space. Decorative pendant lights can be used above an island to make a statement; whilst helping zone an open plan space. Include separate dimmers in the dining space to allow your guests to enjoy elegant mood lighting while the kitchen is still well lit for those cooking."

How many lights are needed for a kitchen island?

The number of lights needed for a kitchen island will depend on the size and the tasks you use the space for. There are no set-in-stone rules, but we'd recommend always opting for more than one light source so you have the flexibility to change the lighting for different moods and tasks. For example, if you are hanging lights directly above the island, add in track lights or spotlights, too, for when you want a less focused, strong light.

"When it comes to kitchen island lighting, decorative pendants are very popular as people want to make a statement and feature, but it’s important to be careful not to create shadows over the cooking and prep area," explains Piero de Marchis of Detail Lighting. "To make sure this doesn’t happen, we would normally advocate decorating lighting ‘filled-in’ and supplemented with focused spotlights to eliminate any shadows or dark spots. By opting for this combination, you will then have a ‘cooking mode’ where all the lights are on and then a more relaxed mode where you can turn off the spotlights and dim your decorative lights."

Kitchen island lighting ideas are a great way to add different forms of lighting to a space. Given the importance of the kitchen in every home, it's key to give lighting some time to shine.

"If you’ve opted to have an island in the middle of your kitchen, you’ll know that it’s quite possibly the most important area of your whole house — the kitchen island has evolved into the central hub around which daily life operates," says Rohan Blacker, founder of lighting specialists Pooky.

Rohan says to ensure "that lighting is part of the plan from the very start as retrospective planning can sometimes lead to compromise. If you want beautiful designer pendants hanging over your island or more functional LED lights built into recesses of cabinets, these options all need to be considered so you can make sure the installation is feasible, as well as light levels balanced right from the outset."

"The lighting design can also affect your decisions on kitchen units. For example, if you have a strong directed light over a countertop, you might want to choose a non-reflective material for its surface to avoid glare," Rohan adds.

So, choose your kitchen island lighting ideas wisely and, most importantly, enjoy the process!