Lighting can make or break a kitchen design. The right lighting plan makes your kitchen more functional, more inviting, and more beautiful. Here's how to layer lighting for the best result.
The Three Layers of Kitchen Lighting
Ambient lighting provides overall illumination - typically recessed pot lights evenly spaced across the ceiling. This is your base layer. In a standard kitchen, pot lights are placed on a 4-5 foot grid pattern.
Task lighting illuminates work surfaces where you need focused light. Under-cabinet lighting is the most important task lighting in a kitchen - it lights the countertop where you prep, cook, and read recipes without casting shadows from above.
Accent/decorative lighting adds personality and atmosphere. Pendant lights over an island, a statement chandelier over a dining nook, or glass-front cabinet lighting all fall into this category.
Under-Cabinet Lighting
This is the single most impactful lighting upgrade you can make in a kitchen. LED strip lighting installed under upper cabinets bathes your countertop in even, shadow-free light. We integrate wire channels and outlets into our cabinetry so the lighting installation is clean and concealed - no visible wires or bulky fixtures.
Brands and Fixtures to Consider
For pendant lighting over kitchen islands, brands like Hudson Valley Lighting and Visual Comfort offer high-quality fixtures in styles ranging from industrial to contemporary. Under-cabinet LED strips from Legrand or WAC Lighting provide excellent task illumination without visible hardware.
Lighting works hand-in-hand with your island design and overall kitchen style. For a cohesive look, choose fixtures that complement your cabinet hardware finish - matte black, brushed brass, or polished nickel.
Pendant Lights Over the Island
Pendants are functional and decorative. As a general rule, hang pendants 30-36 inches above the countertop surface. For a standard 8-foot island, two or three pendants provide balanced coverage. Odd numbers (three pendants) tend to look more balanced than even numbers over longer islands.
In-Cabinet Lighting
Glass-front cabinets, open shelving, and display cases come alive with interior lighting. Small LED puck lights or strip lighting inside cabinets creates depth and warmth, especially in the evening when ambient lighting is lower. We wire these directly into the cabinetry during fabrication so there are no visible plugs or cords.
Colour Temperature Matters
For kitchens, we recommend warm white LED lighting (2700K-3000K). This temperature flatters food, skin tones, and natural materials. Avoid cool white (4000K+) in residential kitchens - it creates a clinical, institutional feel.
Ready to start your project? Book a free consultation with our design team, or call us at (705) 726-1711 to discuss your vision.