Whether you’re redesigning your kitchen or looking for a little spruce, these 21 modern kitchen lighting ideas will help inspire you on your journey.
1. Bring grandeur with a chandelier
Who said chandeliers are only for living room light ideas? Bring some grandeur into your kitchen too by adding a stunning centrepiece for the ultimate kitchen ceiling lighting idea! And the chandelier you choose doesn’t just need to be an expensive crystal one, you can in fact find several minimal, modern chandeliers that fit perfectly in a kitchen space, even if it's a small one.
2. Set the mood with dimmers
A modern contemporary kitchen design nowadays is preferred as kitchen space is not just used for cooking but for entertaining too. As we all shift towards an open kitchen concept, you can expect your kitchen to also serve as a dining space and in that case, harsh task lighting might not be your best choice. To help with this duality, a great kitchen ceiling lighting idea that we recommend is fitting your ceiling lights with dimmers so you can set the mood while entertaining and still have the flexibility when you want to focus on cooking and prepping.
3. Illuminate your cabinets
Cabinet lighting is not something that can be ignored in any modern kitchen lighting design as this simple kitchen cabinet lighting idea highly improves the functionality of the space and the environment. It allows you to reach products that are at the back of cupboards, expands the usable space and ensures nothing gets hidden in the shadows. Cabinet lighting can be easily installed, is affordable and can be added on even if you aren’t looking for a big kitchen lighting transformation.
4. Match your lighting to your furniture
A great tip for any contemporary kitchen design is to match your lighting fixtures, size and style with the furniture and tiles surrounding it. If your kitchen has a marble island kitchen layout with gold fittings, then you can consider gold light fittings so that there is harmony in your kitchen design.
5. Add a matching set of pendant lights
Pendant lights are great for any modern kitchen design ideas because they add a beautiful, decorative element while also providing you with useful task lighting. One of the best modern kitchen ceiling lighting ideas is to add a set of matching pendant lights right above the island for a balanced, beautiful yet functional design.
6. Go traditional with lanterns
If your home follows a specific theme like rustic or traditional Indian, you must consider traditional hanging lamps in your kitchen. These types of lighting fixtures add a delicate, decorative touch without being too flashy and add a beautiful touch to an otherwise utilitarian area.
7. Make a statement with colour
Whoever said colour is only meant for walls needs to take a look at some bright lighting fixtures, and we guarantee they’ll change their mind! Colourful fixtures are a wonderful addition to a modern contemporary kitchen that is meant to entertain as they make an impact while brightening up your room in more than just one way.
8. Go industrial with exposed lighting
Industrial interiors are a trend that’s on the rise and if you want your home to resemble this style, then we recommend opting for lighting fixtures that follow this theme as well. Industrial style interior design is a unique style that utilises exposed materials in the house, combined with neutral colours to create a minimalist, bare and rustic look. With the help of lighting fixtures like exposed bulbs and track lights, you can commit to the industrial style with your lighting as well.
9. Don’t miss out on under-cabinet lighting
Just like the previously mentioned kitchen cabinet lighting idea, under cabinet lights help enhance your space and increase functionality. A simple kitchen strip lighting idea can do wonders for your kitchen while adding a delicate accent lighting touch for a warm glow. Under-cabinet lights are also great to leave on through the night to improve the safety of the space when you want to grab a glass of water but don’t want to turn all the lights on.
10. Enhance the space with flush-mounted ceiling lights
Flush mounted ceiling lights, particularly decorative ones, are great additions to modern small kitchen ideas because they provide ambient light while also providing a decorative touch to your room. Often shaped like a dome, a single flush-mounted ceiling light is all you will need for ambient lighting and they make great choices for those on a budget for their kitchen lighting design.
11. Go simple with spotlights
Alt Text: For a minimalist kitchen lighting design in India, opt for simple recessed spotlights
If a minimalist kitchen lighting design guideline is what you want to follow, then spotlights or recessed ceiling lights are the way to go to cast a beautiful ambient light throughout the room. These types of lighting fixtures take up minimal space and are excellent if you are looking for kitchen light ideas for small kitchens.
12. Be flexible with track lights
Track lights are some of the best modern kitchen lighting ideas because they provide flexibility and provide task lighting wherever you need it. They are also great for commercial purposes and are the perfect choice if you are looking for restaurant lighting ideas as they are highly utilitarian and will last you a long time. Track lights are also great kitchen light ideas for small kitchens because they can be moved around, making every space usable. You can learn more about how perfect lighting can impact your restaurant's appeal in this article.
Check out Jaquar’s magnetic track lights and why you should buy them in the video below!
13. Decorate with wall sconces
Some people may consider wall sconces old-fashioned but as lighting experts, we believe they are making a comeback as we are starting to see them in more modern kitchen design ideas nowadays. Wall sconces are some of the best ways to add a decorative touch without taking up too much space and because of this, they are excellent for modern small kitchen ideas. Wall sconces are also great at tying your interior design together with your lighting as you can find an abundance of styles to match any kitchen style. You can learn more about decorative elements with these 5 Tips to master modern kitchen lighting.
14. Focus on the island
Most modern contemporary kitchens nowadays come with an island and these features completely transform the look and function of your kitchen. An island kitchen layout forms the focal point of your space and because of this, it requires ample lighting. While developing your kitchen lighting design guidelines, ensure to illuminate your island well as this unique feature often also serves as a dining area or a space to entertain. Some great ways to light this space up is to install a light under the island stone itself for a soft glow. You can also add your centrepiece chandelier or pendant lights right above the island to illuminate it further.
15. Mix colour temperatures for balance
Colour temperature has an important role to play when it comes to setting the mood of a space, improving productivity, visibility and safety. You must often hear that warm lighting is preferred for bedrooms and living rooms while cool lights are best for office lighting design, but what about the kitchen? The kitchen is one of the few places in a home that has plenty of focussed tasks performed but also serves as a space to entertain, dine and host. Because of this, modern kitchen design ideas combine warm and cool lights to create a beautiful balance that keeps your kitchen safe, functional and at the same time- warm and homely.
Now that you have some inspiration for your next kitchen renovation, it's time to part ways but before we do, we want to share some final tips of wisdom. All interior lighting plans for homes are based on blending three types of lighting- ambient, task and accent. These lighting styles serve different purposes and combined together, form a well-lit, aesthetically pleasing kitchen space.
16. Ambient Lighting
Also known as general lighting, this type of lighting illuminates the entire space and ensures clear visibility to all that are present in the room. Ambient lighting can be in the form of chandeliers, flush-mounted ceiling lights, pendant lights and more and help form the main form of illumination in any kitchen lighting design. Because of its importance, it is crucial to invest in high-quality, long-lasting ambient lighting for your kitchen.
17. Task Lighting
The kitchen is one of the few areas in any house where the most amount of focussed tasks are performed and because of this, we need proper lighting to maximise safety and ability. While ambient lighting helps provide overall illumination, it still can leave shadows in areas that need more brightness. This is where task light kicks in, in the form of spotlights, strip lights and lamps and helps us illuminate a specific area to help us perform tasks like reading recipes, picking things out from cabinets and keeping an eye on the cooking pot.
18. Accent Lighting
This type of lighting is used to accentuate certain architectural features without casting too much light on them. While accent lighting isn’t always used in task-focused areas, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any place in the kitchen. In fact, they can also cross over into ambient and task lighting and this way, you don’t have to invest in too many new lighting fixtures. Some accent lighting fixtures in a contemporary kitchen design include cabinet lights, strip lights and cove lights.
Now, Before beginning your journey of kitchen lighting design, let’s discuss a few key areas that you need to light up, based on the tasks you perform and the utility it serves.
