Shop Lighting
When it comes to designing a functional and stylish kitchen,
lighting plays a crucial role. This is especially true over the kitchen island,
where form meets function daily. It’s a space for preparing meals, hosting
friends, or helping with homework. But no matter how stylish or functional your
island is, it won’t shine without the right lighting. The perfect kitchen
island lights can elevate the look of your space while also making it more
practical and inviting.
Choosing the perfect light for your kitchen island may seem
daunting. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which
light is the best for your kitchen. It’s always worth considering exactly what
your requirements are, whether you’re focusing on function, ambiance, style, or
something that combines all three.
Types of Lighting Output for Kitchen Islands
Functional Task Lighting
If you’re looking to bathe your kitchen island in a bright, functional light, it’s worth focusing on lighting solutions that offer effective task lighting. This is perfect if you primarily use the space for prepping food, cooking, or even homework.
Ambient Lighting
If you are looking to add a softer glow to your kitchen, consider lights designed to provide ambient lighting. These lights often include diffusers to create glare-free illumination, adding a welcoming and cosy glow to the room. This option is perfect if your kitchen serves as a hub of activity, used for hosting friends.
Cosmetic Lights
A kitchen island is the centrepiece of any kitchen, so you may want to enhance your island by adding stylish lights that are perfectly tailored to your space. Aesthetics such as colour, style, and the size of your installation are essential when seeking a lighting solution that suits your interior and personal taste. Hanging clusters of pendants are an excellent way to create an installation that perfectly fits the space while delivering a showstopping display that is sure to leave an impression.
Types of Kitchen Island Lights
Pendants
Pendants are a versatile lighting solution for above a
kitchen island. The wide range of options means that whether you’re looking for
a bright, functional task light or a softer glow that adds ambiance to your kitchen,
there’s a pendant to suit your requirements.
Consider the finishes that the pendant is available in, to
choose the perfect colour that will complement your kitchen.
Larger pendants can create an eye-catching display that enhances your kitchen island, but this is suited to kitchens with high ceilings, so they don’t cause any obstructions.
Foscarini Aplomb Large LED Pendant
Muuto Unfold Pendant
Bert Frank Riddle Pendant
Lodes Kelly Dome Pendant
Linear Suspension Lights
Linear suspension lights are light fixtures that hang from the ceiling, usually in a straight line. There are many types of linear suspensions, some composed of several light fixtures attached to the frame, while others may be a single integrated LED. These are an excellent option for adding uniform task lighting that highlights the space below.
If you require downward lighting, a linear suspension with pendant lights is an excellent option, as the shades guide light into a functional glow onto the space below. Alternatively, a frame that features adjustable light fittings will provide you with the option to adjust your lighting to suit your requirements. Adjustable spotlights give you the freedom to highlight specific areas, whether you are looking for direct functional lighting or an indirect, more dispersed glow.
For a contemporary aesthetic that provides uniform light, an LED linear suspension is an excellent lighting solution. The sleek, uncluttered profile of an LED linear adds a touch of sophistication to any space, while providing effective and even task lighting to your kitchen island.
Zero Silo Trio Suspension
Northern Blush Rail LED Pendant
Muuto Linear LED Suspension
Muuto Fine LED Suspension
How to Position Kitchen Island Lights
Before purchasing your kitchen island lights, it’s worth noting the position they will hang above your island. Consider the height each pendant will hang above the island, making sure to install your pendant at least 7 ft from the floor. This will allow for sufficient head clearance. If you are using your kitchen island for cooking and work, ensure that your lights hang high enough above the surface that they don’t obstruct you in any way.
You will need to determine how many lights you’ll require as
well as the aesthetic that you are looking for. For a smaller island, two
pendants or a single rail light are sufficient for providing an even glow to
the surface below. Hang each pendant at an equal distance from the centre of
the island to create a balanced display. For longer islands, three or more
pendants may be required. If you have an odd number of pendants, install one
directly above the centre of the island, with an equal distance between the others
to create even lighting and a uniform display.
5 Best Kitchen Island Lights
We’ve created a shortlist of the 5 best kitchen island lights, carefully chosen for their design, performance, and versatility. Whether your kitchen is modern, traditional, or somewhere in between, there's an option here to elevate your island and brighten your everyday routine.
Foscarini Aplomb Pendant
The Aplomb Pendant is created using a special, exclusively formulated concrete. Designers Paolo Lucidi & Luca Pevere explored the idea of contrasts for the pendant, transforming a hard, rough, and poorly pliable material into a lamp with minimal thickness. The resulting pendant creates the feeling of the impossible made possible as opacity gives rise to light.
Why it’s the best: The Aplomb Pendant is perfect as a kitchen island pendant, adding a touch of sophistication to any interior. Its compact design, elegance, and clean-cut shapes create a contemporary profile that blends seamlessly with modern interiors. The moulded concrete shade emits a direct downward lighting, perfect for use as a task light for prepping dinner and cooking. Install multiples in a row, lining a long kitchen island to create bright and even illumination. The Aplomb Pendant is available in a range of muted tones, giving you the freedom to create a distinctive ambience that perfectly matches your interior.
Lodes Random Stick Linear
The Random Stick Linear is a highly decorative design created by Chia-Ying Lee. Mouth-blown glass diffusers give the appearance of fragile soap bubbles, delicately balanced on the hexagonal frame. These diffusers are available in a choice of seven finishes, while the frame is available in a choice of black, white, or gold. The Random is available in two sizes, 100 cm with four spheres and two LEDs, and 150 cm with six spheres and three LEDs.
Why it’s the best: The Random Stick Linear works as both a decorative and functional kitchen island light. While the glass diffusers create ambient lighting with an ornamental touch, LEDs on the underside of the bar emit a uniform downward glow, perfect for illuminating surfaces. The freedom to combine different finishes enhances the concept of randomness and allows you to create a display that perfectly suits your taste. The Random Stick can be installed individually or in a row to illuminate long surfaces. With a strong focus on diffused, ambient lighting, the Random Stick is excellent for adding a welcoming light to your space, perfect for kitchens that are a hub of activity where family and friends gather.
Marset Dipping Pendant
The Marset Dipping Light started as an experiment. Designer Jordi Canudas dipped an illuminated lightbulb into paint, playing with the different effects he could create using hues of colour. The resulting lamp is a celebration of colour: a pendant that looks as eye-catching off as it does when switched on. A black cable suspends the Dipping mid-air, giving the pendant a delicate and weightless appearance.
Why it’s the best: If you’re not looking for strong task lighting over your kitchen island, the Marset Dipping Light is perfect for adding ambience to the space. The hues of colour on each shade diffuse light in various degrees, creating a soft glow with a decorative element. The Marset Dipping Light is available in a range of finishes, giving you the freedom to customise your display to suit your home. Install individually to create a touch of elegance in your kitchen, or in multiples in varying colours to create a mesmerising visual effect. The wide customisation options make the Marset Dipping Light a perfect lighting solution if you are focused on style and are looking to create a display that is perfectly tailored to your space and personal taste.
Muuto Ambit Rail
The Muuto Ambit Rail is a three-shade linear suspension that is characterised by its simple lines and elegant shapes. Each shade is made from hand-spun, hand-painted aluminium, which is mounted onto a metal rail. The uncluttered design creates a timeless look, well-suited to contemporary interiors with minimalistic décor.
Why it’s the best: The Ambit Rail is a robust and durable suspension with a bright and airy aesthetic that brings a refined light to any space. The interior of each shade is painted white, providing a contrast to the outside of the shade while enhancing the light emitted. This bright, downward lighting illuminates your kitchen island below, perfect for use as a task light. The five natural, muted finishes available create a sophisticated and timeless appearance, well-suited to a wide range of interiors. The Ambit Rail is an ideal lighting solution for those looking to illuminate their kitchen island in bright, functional lighting, perfect for food prep and cooking.
Le Klint Facet Pendant
The Le Klint Facet Pendant is a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. A departure from Le Klint’s paper shades, French designer Aurélien Barbry references the iconic folded shades through the soft angles of the conical shade. This sophisticated form is crafted from aluminium, with a minimalistic profile that is free from any unnecessary clutter.
Why it’s the best: The Facet is perfectly suited as a kitchen island pendant. The wide, conical shade distributes light downward, providing bright and functional illumination to the surface below. The inside of each pendant is finished in white to enhance the light emitted. Available in black or white, the Facet creates a versatile and timeless appearance that suits a range of kitchens. The Facet Pendant seamlessly blends style and function. The downward directional light is perfect for cooking and working under, while its striking design is influenced by some of the most iconic lighting designers in history.
Choosing the perfect lighting for your kitchen island can significantly enhance your space. Consider whether you need task lighting for food preparation, ambient lighting for hosting friends, or stylish options for a display that is perfectly tailored to your kitchen. For more suggestions or to speak with a dedicated member of our team, contact us today.
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