How many lights should be on a kitchen island?

The best approach is to follow the rule of three. This rule creates a better balance than what you can achieve with two or four lights. In addition, the odd number makes it easier to space them out for a visually appealing design.

How high should lights be above the island?

As a general rule, the pendant lights over your island should be 30 to 36 inches over the countertop. However, you also need to consider the height of your ceiling. You need to be able to stand at the kitchen island and see across it without having a pendant light blocking the view. Because of this, a low ceiling means pendant lights may not be the best option.

How bright should island lights be?

Lights that are over your kitchen island are typically task lights. Because of this, they should be sufficiently bright enough to work at the countertop safely. Typically, this is between 35 and 50 lumens per square foot of kitchen island countertop. This means a larger kitchen island and kitchen space require brighter lights. However, you should also consider the number and brightness of the other lights in the kitchen space. If they aren’t very bright, then you’ll want to compensate with brighter lights. If they are already bright, then you could get away with less bright lights.

11 Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas to Illuminate Your Space

Kitchen islands are more popular than ever, with more homeowners adding these separate countertop spaces to their kitchens. Once you have the kitchen island, you need to figure out the rest of it. This includes adding the right amount of lighting. The lighting over your kitchen island is necessary for illuminating your kitchen and adding enough illumination to create a functional workspace. Check out these creative kitchen island lighting ideas for your kitchen.

1. Balancing Your Kitchen’s Aesthetic with Three Light Fixtures

Adding three light fixtures over your kitchen island follows a classic design rule. Kitchen islands are located in the center of your kitchen, so your island lighting is going to be a focal point in the room. Because of this, having the wrong number of lights or lights that are incorrectly spaced will throw off the entire kitchen’s balance.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, black island, and wooden stools; pendant lights hang above, and tulips decorate the countertop — Source: @home_at_edale via Instagram

Modern kitchen with a marble island, four white bar stools, pendant lights, wooden cabinets, and black storage units — Source: @kanemanera via Instagram

Modern kitchen with a white island, wood stools, pendant lights, and stainless steel appliances against white cabinetry and walls — Source: @sandstone_and_sawdust via Instagram

Three lights is an odd number that helps to break up the space. When you choose two or four lights, any slight mismeasurement will be glaringly obvious.

2. Optimizing Lighting for Low Ceilings

You need to consider a lighting option other than pendant lights if you have a low ceiling. However, you can’t just have a general flush mount fixture that creates ambient lighting. You need directed task lighting. Recessed lighting is installed into the ceiling, so the lights are sunk into holes and then shine a light directly below.

Modern kitchen with sleek white cabinets, a large island, skylight, and vase of white lilies on the countertop — Source: @_the_meadows via Instagram

Modern kitchen with green cabinets, island, stainless steel appliances, wall clock, floating shelves, and wooden flooring — Source: @atcarolineshouse via Instagram

Spacious modern kitchen with white cabinets, center island, farmhouse sink, and open view to living room with brick fireplace — Source: @dardelproperties via Instagram

Modern kitchen with a large marble island, yellow velvet bar stools, pendant lights, and gray tiled floor, near a window — Source: @renovating_wisteria_way via Instagram

Modern kitchen featuring dark cabinets, white countertops, and light wood flooring with an island equipped with bar stools and built-in appliances — Source: @the__greyhome via Instagram

Another popular kitchen lighting idea is to use track lighting. This style of ceiling lights works well as island lighting because you can move the lights around and direct them to where you need them. Be careful when choosing your light fixture, as track lights can look dated.

3. Elevating Traditional Kitchens with Chandelier Lighting

Consider hanging a chandelier or two over your kitchen island if your kitchen design is more traditional. Look at decorating ideas that show you how to successfully use a chandelier in your kitchen.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, large island with white countertop, and stylish pendant lights — Source: @bluemountainkitchens via Instagram

Spacious white kitchen with a large island, elegant chandeliers, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and dark wood flooring — Source: @akconstructionent via Instagram

If you can readily see the dining room from the kitchen, then consider mounting a more elegant design that coordinates with the chandelier in your dining room. However, not all chandeliers are traditional or ornate. If you have simple and modern wall decor, you could add a chandelier to match.

4. Choosing Glass Pendant Lights

Glass pendants give your kitchen island an elegant look. Depending on the style of the glass shade, your pendant lights could complement the rest of the design in the kitchen. Clear glass in a simple geometric shape will look modern.

Modern kitchen with wood cabinets, white countertops, globe pendant lights, and a sleek faucet, bowl of fruit and vase on the counter — Source: @devcohomes via Instagram

Modern kitchen with a large island, pendant lights, stainless steel appliances, and sliding glass doors leading to an outdoor area — Source: @ourvictorianhome_66 via Instagram

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, marble island, and stools. Two pendant lights hang above. Large windows let in natural light — Source: @parklanedecor_ via Instagram

Bright kitchen with a marble island, bar stools, pendant lights, and flowers in vases, stainless steel appliances in the background — Source: @sabina.ryden via Instagram

Modern kitchen with blue island, white countertops, light gray cabinets, hanging pendant lights, and plants in a vase — Source: @the_hayloft_dutch_barn via Instagram

Glass that’s a blue or green shade can mimic sea glass, giving your kitchen a coastal feel. Hand-blown glass shades will provide your kitchen with a bohemian feel. Stained glass shades will have a traditional feel. Consider the amount of light that your glass shade will diffuse. Colored and opaque glass will block more light than clear glass.

5. The Classic Appeal of Pendant Lighting

Pendant lighting is the classic hanging light solution. What is nice about these lights is that they create a strong directed light right where you need it. Because they hang down lower than ceiling height, they create a stronger light on the countertop. They also add a focal point to the kitchen because they typically hang out in front in the middle of the kitchen.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a large marble island with white chairs and pendant lights above — Source: @hulovesdecor via Instagram

Modern white kitchen with an island, pendant lights, built-in ovens, wine cooler, and marble floor, creating a sleek and bright space — Source: @livingmybesthome via Instagram

When choosing your pendants, consider size and scale. You don’t want oversized pendants that will overpower the kitchen. You also don’t want small pendants that get lost in an oversized kitchen.

6. Authentic Industrial Style with Salvaged Lighting Options

If you have an industrial kitchen, then you need lighting to match. Not only will you add overhead lighting, but you can also add decorative cabinet lighting. Just like the other cabinets in your kitchen, you can add cabinet lighting to your kitchen island. Add LED strip lights to the cabinet’s underside to illuminate the kick plate. Or add lighting along the countertop edge for a soft glow that will illuminate the kitchen when you need a late-night snack.

Bright kitchen with gray cabinets, wooden island, and bar stools. Large windows overlook a garden. Pendant lights and tulips on the table — Source: @renovate_restore_adore via Instagram

Consider also having lighting that looks commercial. It could have a metal cage over the light bulbs. For a curated and authentic look, you could use salvaged or reclaimed lights that are pulled from a commercial building.

7. Modern Lighting for Your Kitchen

Complete the look in your modern kitchen by replacing old and tired lights with innovative tech lighting. It should have modern LED light bulbs that produce a bright white natural light. For the fixture, look for a clean and simple design with minimal ornamentation. Typically, the lights are black, but you can also find modern lights that are brush gold or silver.

Modern kitchen with a black marble island, green cabinets, white backsplash, and pendant light featuring stools and a fruit bowl — Source: @jstudios.interiors via Instagram

Modern kitchen with large white island, three brown stools, wicker pendant lights, and wooden cabinetry; stainless steel appliances visible — Source: @rnhinteriors via Instagram

Modern lights can also use a mixture of materials. They could have smooth, polished wood elements that are paired with sleek metal elements. You’ll find options that feature long straight lines and sharp 90-degree corners and others that feature curved lines.

8. Embracing the Farmhouse Aesthetic with Rustic Lighting Fixtures

Rustic lights may look like rough and tumble kitchen lighting fixtures, but they have all of the modern technology to make them safe for installation in a modern kitchen. Wooden box lights are popular for a rustic or farmhouse look. Another option is to hang black metal fixtures that mimic the look of cast iron.

Warm-toned kitchen with wooden cabinets, marble island, hanging lights, a potted plant, and a vase with flowers — Source: @durasupreme via Instagram

A third popular option is to hang a log from chains with lighting cables that each supports a single bulb. Look for fixtures that are imperfect. They could be handmade or just look handmade. Perhaps they have a weathered look as if they are aged.

9. Combining Classic and Modern with Traditional Wall Lighting

If you love the traditional look, then consider adding wall lights. These lighting fixtures get mounted on the wall instead of from the ceiling. They tend to be smaller, with only one or two bulbs. They don’t typically produce a lot of light but are perfect for creating a traditional style.

Elegant kitchen with white cabinets, dark island, chandelier, and glassware on shelves; wood floor and arch ceiling create a cozy look — Source: @debbietoombs via Instagram

Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, large island, pendant lights, and barstools, open-plan with a living area visible in the background — Source: @orchardhomeinteriors via Instagram

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, wood countertops, a kitchen island with two stools, pendant lights, and a wall clock — Source: @our.1930s.semi via Instagram

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a central island with two decorative chairs and pendant lights above — Source: @scarlettsrose via Instagram

It’s helpful to use traditional lighting styles in addition to modern ones. This gives you more flexibility in how you use your kitchen lights, such as turning on additional lights when you need a bit more light or turning them off when you don’t.

10. Personalizing Your Kitchen with Unique Lighting Choices

If you have a new kitchen or are remodeling your old kitchen, this is your chance to choose unique lighting that reflects your taste and personality. While you could follow lighting trends, this may not suit your style.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, island with wooden stools, decorative lights, and a plant centerpiece. Light-filled and welcoming — Source: @acdesigntexas via Instagram

Modern kitchen with gold accents, a white island, blue bar stools, and starburst pendant lights; dining area with a large chandelier — Source: @mldesignskc via Instagram

Modern kitchen with a large island, pendant lights, gray cabinets, and stainless steel appliances — Source: @rawa_home_decor via Instagram

Perhaps you’d like to have a ceiling fan that can circulate air and also has a light on it. You could choose a light fixture that matches the rest of your kitchen and home decor. This is also your chance to add accent lighting. This is lighting that highlights the unique features of your kitchen.

11. Choosing Easy-to-Clean White Lighting for Practical Kitchens

White lights are good because you can install them in almost any kitchen, no matter their size or ceiling height. This ensures you have adequate light in a large or small kitchen. Choose a light fixture that is bright white.

Modern kitchen with a central island, three bar stools, hanging lights, skylights, and plants; black cabinets and wood flooring — Source: @deco.dwelling via Instagram

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, island with barstools, pendant lights, and open doors to patio. Bright and minimalistic design — Source: @the_strawberry_house_london via Instagram

Modern kitchen with a white island, three brown bar stools, pendant lights, and plants; bright and minimalistic design — Source: @thehillsdesigncompany via Instagram

Pay attention to the finish, as it needs to be easy to clean. A kitchen is a messy place, where grease can become airborne and will settle on the surfaces in your kitchen. White gets dirty quickly, so you need to be able to quickly and easily clean them.

11 Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas