5 Kitchen Sink Pendant Lighting Ideas for Style and Function

For months, you’ve been imagining your dream kitchen - the granite countertops, the stainless steel appliances, and of course, the spacious sink. But no matter how hard you try, you can’t think of the right kitchen sink lighting idea. As the illumination for one of your central preparation areas, your choice must be functional and stylish. And, of course, it must complement the rest of your decor. 

This blog will detail the considerations of arranging pendant lighting above the kitchen sink and offer a few examples of kitchen sink pendant lighting ideas that could make your dream kitchen a reality. 

Considerations for pendant lighting over the kitchen sink

Wherever it’s placed in the house, the kitchen sink will be one of the central parts of your home - a place where you will prepare food and talk with others while cooking or entertaining. It’s also a prime problem area as the improper size, placement, and style of an over-kitchen sink pendant light can lead to unintended shadows, glares, or a nasty bump on your head. The right hanging pendant light over the kitchen sink will ensure that the below surface will be properly lit for anything you need to do and tie the room together.

Why pendant lights work well above the kitchen sink

Barring a few necessary considerations, a hanging pendant light over a kitchen sink is an ideal lighting possibility. Its moldable shape and function offer a concentrated source of light that’s more than sufficient for task lighting while also encouraging customization with height and style. Lighting plays a crucial role in both ambiance and purpose, and the right lighting can make all the difference.  

With a kitchen sink pendant light, you have the potential to present your home in disparate ways. A sculptural pendant light centerpiece could be the focal point of the room, or a trio of sleek teardrop pendant lights over the kitchen sink could be the perfect accompaniment to the modern, clean aesthetic of the rest of the house.

Choosing the right size and number of pendant lights for the kitchen sink

In order to pick the right pendant light, you need to ask yourself two questions based on the size of the kitchen sink you’re working with: “What size pendant light over the kitchen sink would be appropriate?” and “Do I want a single pendant light over the kitchen sink or multiple lights?” After you answer these two questions, here are some basic rules you should consider:

• When determining the proper height for your kitchen sink pendant light, you should allot about 30” to 40” between the countertop of the kitchen sink (not the bottom of the sink) and the bottom of your pendant light.
• With that figure in mind, pendant lights should conversely hang about 12” to 20” below an 8’ ceiling. If you have a higher ceiling, you should add 3” per foot of additional ceiling height. For example, a 9’ ceiling should have between 15” and “23 inches of clearance.
• The right size of the pendant light(s) will fluctuate based on the dimensions of your sink, but you should aim for a lighting fixture that will cover at least 6” for a standard-sized sink and up to 12” if you have a long farmhouse sink. 
• When arranging multiple pendant lights, ensure that the space between each fixture is the same as the width of each fixture.

Tips for installing pendant lights above the kitchen sink

After you’ve figured out the right size for your pendant light, there are a few other things to consider when choosing a good option for one above your kitchen sink. Here are some tips to help you get the best result when installing pendant lights in this spot.

1. Consider Tall People: The pendant light should be high enough for taller people who might need to help with dishes or use nearby cabinets. You don’t want the light to get in the way.
2. Avoid Blocking Natural Light: When you place the pendant light above the sink, ensure it doesn’t block your view while talking to others. Also, check that it doesn’t block any windows or natural light.
3. Center the Light: Be sure to place the pendant light directly above the sink. Even if it’s off by a couple of inches, it can make everything else in the room look unbalanced.
4. Choose the Right Finish: Pick a color for the pendant light that is different from the rest of the lights in the kitchen but not so bold that it becomes the main focus of the room.
5. Coordinate the Lighting: The rest of the kitchen lights should work well together, but they don’t have to match exactly. For more control over the brightness, you can add a dimmer switch to adjust the lighting as needed.

Style & design kitchen sink pendant lighting ideas 

You now have some of the main information necessary to start selecting a pendant light to place above your kitchen sink, but there are still so many questions about how you will coordinate and arrange every part of your kitchen. Here are five kinds of kitchen sink pendant lights and how they can be conceptualized to fit with various decorating styles.

1. Sleek and simple mini pendants

If you’re working with a smaller kitchen or area with limited ceiling space, sleek and simple mini-pendants may be the best choice as they won’t overwhelm the space, and they pair well with modern kitchen styles that emphasize clean lines. In particular, the modular Bamboo Small Pendant Light is an excellent, versatile option that can mesh with various styles from industrial to farmhouse. As a bonus benefit, mini pendants also have the benefit of being more energy-efficient and can help combat climate change.  

2. Add a statement pendant light

As a complete counter to the mini pendants, you could also opt for a statement kitchen sink pendant light inviting viewers to examine its form. This single pendant light over the kitchen sink could be a single sculptural piece that adds a contemporary flourish above the kitchen sink. A corkscrew-shaped fixture like the Croissant Pendant Light could bring a cosmopolitan aura to your kitchen.  

3. Use a pendant light with a matte finish

Another alternative would be finding a more simplistic (but no less elegant) pendant light over the kitchen sink with a matte finish. A matte finish refers to a low-level gloss paint that takes on a smooth, almost powdery appearance. Because of this chalkiness and its visual tactility, it can soften the brighter colors around the kitchen while also making a room feel lived-in. 

Boasting an understated, modern look that adds texture, matte finishes are timeless and can complement various materials, including wood, stone, and leather. It’s also surprisingly healthier as the matte finish has a slightly textured surface that reduces glare, which can cause a number of physical symptoms, including headaches, weakened short or long-distance vision, increased light sensitivity, and burning in the eyes.

If you want a fixture with a matte finish, an example could be the Vessel Medium Pendant Light. This pendant light with a matte finish is meant to evoke Korea’s Onggi pottery with its rough-hewn rounding and textured form. Placed above a kitchen sink, this pendant light could be easily coordinated with wood floors or stone backsplashes. 

4. Choose a globe pendant light

Another lighting option above the kitchen sink could be globe-shaped pendant lights. A staple of interior decorating since the 1940s, these spherical fixtures not only provide balanced lighting but also mesh seamlessly into various kitchen styles thanks to their natural symmetry. Whether you’re designing a kitchen with an industrial or minimalist style, the globe pendant lights can act as purposeful task lighting and a burst of ambiance.

For example, the Cora Pendant Light splits the difference between a traditional globe pendant light and something more abstractly beautiful with its matte-finish rounded top and ribbed half-sphere underbelly. 

5. Add some flair with a teardrop-shaped pendant light

A more artistic variation of the sleek and simple pendant light, a teardrop-shaped pendant light adds a sleek, contemporary touch to your kitchen sink. The Gota Pendant Light could serve as a dynamic play on the light above the sink while spreading light evenly and imbuing the kitchen with a warm atmosphere. Teardrop-shaped pendant lights are especially appealing as they can be more readily adapted to different ceiling heights and configurations than other pendant light options.

Find the perfect pendant lights for your kitchen sink

It can be overwhelming to make a decision about the right pendant lighting above the kitchen sink, but it can also be a thrilling process. What’s the right choice for you? Do you want something small and to the point, like mini pendants or the brightest light in the room in every sense of the word, with something sculptural and bold? 

Either way, you now have a number of options that can enhance the functionality and aesthetic of your kitchen space, especially above the sink. And if you’re looking to outfit other rooms of your home with pendant lights, look into the many bespoke, luxury lighting solutions from Gantri.