Top 5 Trends in Kitchen Lighting

Kitchens are the heart of the home and are increasingly called upon to accommodate a multitude of uses. More than any other room in the home, kitchens require appropriate lighting to handle uses such as food preparation, entertaining, and ambience. Today’s lighting options are more varied and more unique than ever before. Take the time to select fresh lighting options for your kitchen while ensuring warmth and functionality well into the future.

1) Pendant Lighting

Unique and creative pendant lighting using a wide array of materials can be seen in custom homes everywhere. Pendants are a great option for use in isolation or in groups to light a kitchen island. Styles range from simple, clean bell shapes to unique, rustic designs and orb shapes. Materials include natural finishes like ropes or wood, but can also incorporate industrial finishes as well. Notice the variety of materials, sizes, and shapes comprising these pendants.

2) Oversized Fixtures

Whether opting for a traditional chandelier or a statement piece, don’t be afraid to explore the endless variety in the marketplace. Unleash your creativity! Lighting trends are becoming bolder with unique fixtures which cast geometric patterns of light throughout the room. The use of crystal lighting is still fashionable and adds sparkle and interest to the room.

3) Zones

By differentiating lighting zones in a kitchen with independent controls, the lighting environment becomes flexible enough to suit the purpose of the activity taking place at the time. Be sure to allow for well-lit work areas with options for accent lighting to feature focal points within the kitchen. Ambient lighting is great for those informal gatherings which so often seem to center within the kitchen area.

4) Cabinet Lighting

Upper cabinets in kitchens are taking on a less prominent role in contemporary design which tends to open up the kitchen. However, upper cabinets still play an important functional and aesthetic role, and are increasingly being used as a featured focal point. This is accomplished by incorporating glass doors in the cabinets with accent lighting on the inside to showcase the contents.

5) Under Cabinet Lighting

Under cabinet lighting is not new, but their tremendous versatility has homeowners clamoring to have them installed. Not only do under cabinet lights provide functional value for countertop task work, but they also provide a warm ambience to the kitchen.