The Complete Kitchen Lighting Guide

The humble kitchen. A room of perhaps the most significant in our lives. Every day it provides food for you and the people you love. It is the setting of countless memories of late nights with friends and family over great food. At Gantri we want to help your kitchen become as beautiful as can be. This guide will offer kitchen lighting advice and products tailored to bring out the best in this important room.

Lighting your kitchen in layers

The key to any well-lit room is layers of lighting. This allows you to have different levels of lighting at any moment. Whether it’s a sunny day or a dark and stormy night, multiple lighting features help give total control over the comfort and utility of the lighting in your kitchen. Below are the three main types of lighting layers and their functions.

Ambient lights to fill the room

Ambient lighting has a wide throw and fills the kitchen with a base, bright level of lighting for all environments and conditions. This kind of general lighting is great for regular use or when your kitchen area is hosting a lot of people who all need to see (see just how amazing your kitchen looks in full lighting!).

Light your work with task lighting

Task lighting has a narrow, often directional, throw that usually isn’t suitable for lighting an entire kitchen. This lighting is best for lighting specialized areas such as the stove, countertop, or shelves. They are designed to facilitate work even if ambient lighting is dimmed. It’s helpful when you want to prepare an amazing midnight quesadilla without worrying about cutting yourself with a sharp blade in the dark.

A finishing touch of accent lights

Accent lights also have a narrow throw, but are designed to be a softer level of light to help darker conditions still feel livable and comfortable. These lights are perfect for when you just need to navigate and pour yourself a glass of water at night without stubbing your toe on the counter. They also help highlight features (i.e. artwork, architectural pieces, etc.) and the different fixtures of your kitchen.

Kitchen lighting design layout

This section of the guide will be an overview of best practices and great products to turn your kitchen into a wonderful, lively space. All of Gantri’s finest lighting solutions are created by unique independent designers from across the globe and are manufactured with our plant-polymer material for eco-friendly sustainability.

Focus on work areas

Cooking requires special attention and adequate lighting because no one wants to cut carrots in the dark. When considering the lighting layout in your kitchen keep visibility in mind. You want to create the right level of ambient and task lighting for working on the stovetop, in the sink, on an island, or peering through cabinets. A bright pendant light is great for this and can be a dynamic centerpiece in your kitchen.

We recommend the Soave Pendant Light designed by Filippo Mambretti of Chiasso, Switzerland. This wide-reaching pendant light emulates the classic simplicity of antique lighting solutions for a modern area. Combined with Gantri’s standard 2700k dimmable LED bulb this pendant can create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for any occasion. Plus its simple mounting bracket system makes installation easy!

For tougher-to-light spaces such as under cabinet countertops, LED strip lights or attachable light boxes help as task lighting or a nightlight in dark conditions. This way, you’ll always be able to see the ingredients you’re cutting and prepping.

Consider spacing and placement

The placement and spacing of lighting fixtures are especially important in the kitchen. If you’re hanging a light above a kitchen island or kitchen table, you should aim for a distance of 30-36” between the light fixture and the surface. This allows for ample room to work without hitting your head. All Gantri pendant lights can be ordered with different cord lengths to make sure you’re buying the right one tailored to your space.

Other things to keep in mind are the distance between lights and cabinets or pantry doors. Downlights should be spaced far enough away from cabinets and countertops to light them and without their paths being interfered with or blocked. 

Setting the mood with dimmers and bulbs

An extra special touch to your lighting design is the inclusion of the right bulb and some dimmer switches. Whether you need it bright when hosting friends and family, or darker while enjoying a quiet meal with your partner, a warm bulb on a dimmer can be your best ally. 

Gantri’s standard 2700k LED bulbs included in our lights feature a livable, slightly warm color temperature as well as dimming capability. This means you can easily set the right mood no matter the time of day as soon as you install it. With layered lighting solutions and our advanced bulbs tied to a dimmer, you will always have full control of your kitchen space for years of memories.

Bring family to the kitchen

The kitchen is a place of immense joy and amazing memories, so it’s only fitting that it be as beautiful as possible. The lighting you pick plays a big part in that beauty. The right layout and thoughtfully selected fixtures can bring any kitchen to life. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide and learned a little bit to transform your kitchen! Make sure to check out Gantri’s selection of made-to-order pendant lights and wall-mounted lights for your kitchen revamp. You can also check out dozens of more amazing products from Gantri and guides just like this on our website!