A modernised approached to illuminating kitchen spaces 

 

Kitchen islands are the new kitchens must haves in all homes. They are useful for storage, extra worktops and even seating, however they do take up a lot of space in the kitchen so how do you make them homely? 

Whether your kitchen island sits centre, to the left or to the right adding the right lighting can create a sense of purpose and homeliness to any island. 

Here's my top tips of how to light a kitchen island: 

If you have a rectangular island the most popular choice of kitchen island lighting is a row of pendants - you will need an electrical point for each pendant. Or a ceiling pendant bar which will only need one electrical socket.  

Having pendant lights installed enables direct lighting to the island this will be beneficial will food preparation as the lighting can be focused on the task at hand. 

Pendants also come in various styles, shapes, and sizes therefore they are aesthetically pleasing and can add a homely touch t your kitchen and bring the whole aesthetic together. 

The visuals of the pendant light allow allow the kitchen island to be a focal point which enhances the highly thought through kitchen layout for others to enjoy. 

Overall, pendant lights above a kitchen island offer a blend of functionality, style, and customization that make them a popular choice for homeowners looking to enhance both the lighting and aesthetics of their kitchen space.

GENERAL RULE: pendant lights should hang around 30-36 inches from the top of a kitchen island, and should be spaced around two feet apart.

If you have a square island there is a range of popular lighting choices you could choose, starting with a statement chandelier. You may be wondering why would I want a chandelier in the kitchen. The real question is why wouldn't you want a chandelier in the kitchen, it will add elegance and sophistication to the kitchen elevating its overall aesthetic appeal. 

You could choose a large pendant light, if you have a larger kitchen a large pendant could create a sense of proportion and draw the kitchen together enhancing a homely feel which is sometimes a struggle with larger spaces. 

You could choose to have a cluster pendant light on a round ceiling chassis, as they add a unique and eye-catching visual display to a kitchen, they are also perfect for customisation as they allow space for creativity providing flexibility to mix and match different styles and colours. 

However, proper arrangement and balance are crucial to avoid overwhelming the area with an excessive number of pendants or creating an unbalanced visual effect.

If you have a breakfast bar island the most popular lighting choice would be to have one single pendant light, the singular light creates a clean and uncluttered look above the breakfast bar whilst adding elegance and simplicity. Single pendants are minimalistic therefore allows them to blend in seamlessly with the style of the kitchen without overpowering the smaller space. 

You could choose to have a compact ceiling pendant, this could add to the ambiance of the kitchen along with its style, whilst providing adequate lighting without dominating visual space. They can be used in multiples if desired, allowing for a series of compact pendants to be installed in a row above a longer breakfast bar, providing even and consistent lighting.

 

Okay so we have our lighting sorted, how do we then make it homely?

To make a kitchen or kitchen island homely you could add in a warm colour palette this always creates a sense of comfort, add in a natural element plants and fresh flowers can also bring life and a sense of tranquility to the space.