Kitchen lighting design: task, island and ambient light in numbers
How to light a villa kitchen: lux levels for worktops, under-cabinet light, pendant heights over islands, colour temperature, CRI, glare and lighting scenes.
Kitchen lighting has to do more than any other room's. It must be bright and shadow-free for cooking, pleasant for breakfast, flattering for dinner and calm when the kitchen is part of an open living space in the evening. The solution is layers: separate lights for different jobs, each on its own circuit, combined into simple scenes.
The three layers
- Task light: on worktops, the hob, the sink and the island.
- Ambient light: general, even light for the whole room.
- Accent light: inside glass cabinets, on shelves, on a splashback or under a floating island.
Recommended light levels
| Area | Target illuminance |
|---|---|
| Worktops and preparation | 500 lux |
| Hob and sink | 500 lux |
| Island | 300 – 500 lux |
| General kitchen | 200 – 300 lux |
| Dining table | 200 – 300 lux, dimmable |
These are working levels; with dimming, the same fittings can create a much softer mood in the evening.
Task lighting
Under-cabinet linear LEDs are the most effective task light. Mount them towards the front of the cabinet, not against the wall, so the light falls on the worktop rather than creating hot spots on the splashback. With no wall cabinets, use linear ceiling lights or adjustable spotlights positioned above the front edge of the worktop, not behind the person working.
Island pendants
- Height: 70–80 cm above the worktop.
- Spacing: pendants roughly 60–80 cm apart, with at least 30 cm to the island's ends.
- Number: odd numbers (one long linear, two or three pendants) usually look balanced.
- Diffusion: opal or shielded fittings prevent glare for people seated at the island.
In double-height spaces, pendants can hang from a greater height but should still relate to the island.
Colour temperature and quality
- Colour temperature: 2700–3000 K for a warm, open-plan feel; up to 4000 K for task lights if preferred.
- Colour rendering (CRI): at least 90, so food, wood and stone look natural.
- Glare: deep-set or low-glare downlights, and no bare LED strips visible from the dining or living area.
Accent light
Lighting inside glass-fronted cabinets, as in many villa kitchens, turns glassware and ceramics into a display. Linear lights under a floating island or plinth create a light, floating effect. A lit niche or open shelf gives depth. Keep accent lights dimmable and on a separate circuit.
Lighting scenes
With a simple control system or smart switches, group the layers into scenes:
- Cooking: all task lights and general light at full.
- Dining: pendants and accents dimmed, task lights off.
- Evening: only accent lights and a low glow on the island.
- Night: a low plinth light for a glass of water.
Practical details
- Separate circuits for each layer
- Dimmers compatible with the LED drivers
- Accessible drivers inside cabinets
- Sockets on the island and in the pantry
- Switches at every entrance to the kitchen
For the kitchen layout itself, see villa kitchen design. Scene control across the whole house is covered in lighting control and smart home, and pendants in tall spaces in lighting high ceilings.
Frequently asked questions
How high should pendants hang above a kitchen island?
Typically 70-80 cm above the worktop, so they light the surface without blocking views across the island. In rooms with high ceilings or large pendants, the bottom of the fitting can be slightly higher, but it should still read as part of the island, not the ceiling.
What colour temperature is best for a kitchen?
Around 3000 K works well in open-plan villa kitchens, blending with living and dining areas. Some owners prefer 3500-4000 K for task lighting on worktops; keep it consistent within each view to avoid a patchy look.
Are downlights enough for a kitchen?
Not on their own. Ceiling downlights placed behind you cast your shadow on the worktop. Under-cabinet lights or linear lights above the worktop are needed for good task lighting, with downlights and pendants for general and accent light.
