Kitchen island Lighting Design

Expert tips on the best lighting fixtures for kitchen island modern lighting and where to place them.

The kitchen island is one of the hardest-working and most versatile spots in a home, employed for food prep, cooking, and family time. For advice on picking the right lighting for this area—as well as how and where to hang them—we turned to Shelley Wald, President of WAC Lighting, a leader in LED technology and creator of a vast range of modern lighting designs. Read on for her tips on bringing sparkle into your kitchen, and why layering lighting is key.

What should you keep in mind when you’re coming up with a lighting plan for your kitchen island?
Shelley Wald: You want to select lighting that will complement the range of functions performed here, from chopping vegetables, to reading recipes, to entertaining and family time. An optimal lighting plan provides the ability to control brightness for these various tasks, while enhancing the overall design and providing visual cues about the central importance of this space in the kitchen. Also, make sure you have dimmers so you can adjust the mood.

What lighting works best for illuminating kitchen islands?
SW: Pendants fit the bill for task and decorative needs, but people often go too small with them. Consider using two of these rather than one, and also think about a larger size to achieve a more upscale style. Clusters of smaller pendants—arranged in either a traditional line or clustered at various hanging heights—can create an impressive display perfectly scaled for the island. WAC’s Genesis 12 Light Mirrored Canopy Pendant is great for this application, and introduces a piece of art in your kitchen.

Pendants are clearly popular here, but what other design options should people consider?
SW: For longer and deeper counters, you can try one or more large and linear chandeliers, such as the Davos 45in Linear Suspension. Another approach is a cluster of LED Beauty Spots, which offer a low profile and a pop of glamour without interrupting the view.

What about recessed lighting?
SW: If you don’t want anything hanging over your island, recessed lighting works perfectly. It offers a more concealed light source, while maintaining the appropriate illumination for all tasks. I recommend the Tesla High Output recessed down lights in 2- or 3.5-inch sizes.
However, it’s good to think of your lighting plan three-dimensionally, and ways to layer it. Recessed lighting will provide continuous illumination across the kitchen while helping to highlight any decorative fixtures over the island. If the pendants are shiny—such as the Roxy pendant, which creates sparkles with no glare—recessed lighting shows them at their best.

What about LEDs for kitchen island lighting?
SW: I’m partial to LEDs, and with the technology providing directional illumination and higher lumen output decorative chandeliers and pendants can now be utilized over the kitchen island for task lighting. A favorite of mine from Modern Forms is the Soleil pendant.