Kitchen Island Lighting: Ideas and Tips

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Spacious kitchen islands are the stars of modern, open-plan kitchens right now. The kitchen island not only offers plenty of storage space and room for cooking and chopping, it is also a stylish eye-catcher and room divider at the same time, which creative minds know how to stage with the right accessories. With casual bar stools and a few treats, the kitchen island can be transformed into the perfect setting for a small breakfast buffet in the morning. There are no limits to the imagination.

As experts in lighting and lamps, we would like to give you some tips for kitchen island lighting and show you how to impressively stage this special spot in the kitchen with light.

This is what your kitchen island lighting could look like © jodiejohnson/Getty Images

Lighting Around Cooker Hoods

A common problem that arises in connection with kitchen island lighting: If the hob is located on the kitchen island itself, the cooker extractor hood and lighting may get in the way. One solution to this problem would be to have a Downdraft extractor hood on the inside of the island. In this case, the fumes are extracted downwards directly at the hob. Above the hob, there is then open space for beautiful lighting ideas such as multi-flame pendant luminaires. If such a cooker hood cannot be installed, special lighting solutions such as luminaires with swivelling arms are needed.

Using Pendant Lights for Kitchen Island Lighting

The simplest and probably most elegant kitchen island lighting can be achieved with multi-lamp pendant lights and hanging lamps. When choosing a pendant light to hang above the cooking island, you should make sure that it is the right length. The distance between the lower edge of the light and the worktop should be between 65 and 85 cm so that you don't bump your head against the light or have the lighting interfere with your kitchen work.

Two-bulb Lighting for the Kitchen

In large, open kitchens, the lights should also be somewhat larger. Otherwise, lamps with small lampshades tend to get lost in the room.

Three-lamp Kitchen Island lighting

Harderhaven pendant lamp

Verasara pendant lamp

Four-lamp Pendant Lamps for Kitchen Islands

Wildervanksterdallen Pendant Lamp

Pretoria pendant lamp

Ceiling Lights with Swivel Arms

In the kitchen, lights should not blind or cast shadows on the worktop. You are most flexible with lighting that have a swivelling arm and lamp head. If these elements are adjustable, you can direct the light precisely according to requirements - probably the most functional variant of kitchen island lighting. And combined appropriately, the swivelling lamps with long arms can also look cool:

By Rydens Bazar pendant lamp black

By Rydens Bazar Suspended Lamp White

Ceiling spotlights with Swivelling Head

Swivelling ceiling spotlights without a longer arm can also be used well as kitchen island lighting. The overall picture is particularly harmonious if colours or shapes are found somewhere in the kitchen, for example, if a wooden element on the lamp matches the chairs. On the other hand, strong contrasts can also be impressive, for example when a vintage kitchen lamp is combined with a high-gloss worktop.

Accordion Lamps for Kitchen Peninsulas

Even with a smaller kitchen, the dream of a kitchen island doesn't have to be dashed. If you move the island with one side against the wall, you save a little space right away. This also offers the option of fitting the peninsula with a wall lamp. Wall lamps with an accordion not only look modern, they are also totally practical: they can be pulled over the worktop if necessary and then returned to their space-saving original position.