Transform Your Kitchen with Stylish Island Lights | Homary (2024)

FAQs

How many lights should I put over my kitchen island? ›

Example: For a 15-square-foot island, you need between 535 - 750 lumens. A 60-watt bulb produces about 800 lumens. This means that one 60-watt bulb—or two for brighter light—above your island will give you enough light, or you could use three to four smaller lights with lower wattage bulbs.

Generally speaking, it's best to follow the “rule of three,” which is a design guideline that says things arranged in odd numbers are more appealing and memorable than things arranged in even numbers. This “rule” can be applied to most kitchen islands, therefore three pendant lights are ideal.

The general rule of thumb for kitchen island lighting is to give 30 inches of clearance between the bottom of the fixture and the countertop. There are, of course, exceptions and other factors that can influence the hanging height.

For a typical kitchen, you would go with a warmer color temperature such as 2700K to 3500K, as this will create a more welcoming feel. If you have warm wood tones in your kitchen, go lower; for cooler colors, pick a bulb that's higher in that range.

Pendant lighting is a popular choice for kitchen islands, providing a versatile and stylish option that can match any kitchen décor. Pendant lights come in various shapes, sizes, and styles, from modern to traditional. They are typically hung from a rod or chain and provide focused light to the area below.

As a general rule, you should install one pendant light for every 2 feet of island length.

Measure the width of your island and subtract the number 12 from the measurement. This will be the maximum width your kitchen island pendant lighting should be. You'll want to space your pendant lights 24-inches to 30-inches apart.

A good rule of thumb is to use two pendant lights for islands shorter than 6 feet and three for islands longer than 6 feet.

The size of a pendant light over an island depends on various factors such as the size and shape of the island, the height of the ceiling, and the desired aesthetic. However, a common guideline is to choose a pendant light that is approximately one-third to one-half the width of the island.

That's a little easier – obviously you want to hang one of them in the center of the island. Then space out the two on the ends so that they're at least 24″ apart. The exact distance apart is going to depend on your island length and size of your pendants but 30-32″ apart works well for most spaces.

How bright should kitchen island lights be? ›

To help, a rule of thumb when planning the lights for your kitchen island is to provide anywhere from 35-50 lumens per square foot.

An island absolutely does not need to match kitchen cabinets, though keeping it in a similar style or toning color can help your space to feel more cohesive, and therefore larger and more streamlined.

When it comes to kitchens, white, gray, blue, red, yellow, and green really shine. Each of these shades can do something different for the room, but they all help create a warm and welcoming space. Warmer colors such as red are believed to stimulate the appetite and are an excellent option for kitchens.

Warm white lights (with wavelengths between yellow and white light) are probably best for the kitchen.

A good general guideline is pendants should be placed 30” apart or double the width of each pendant. For example, if you have a 15" pendant, you would leave 30" between the pendants. This will ensure plenty of light covering the whole island while providing visual interest.

A: Kitchen island pendants can be placed at whatever height accommodates you and the island itself. As a general rule, you'll want to hang the pendants 28-36 inches above the island countertop. This range is high enough so that the tallest members of your household won't hit their heads on the pendant.