12 Kitchens With Lighting Ideas You'd Never Think To Try — Until Now

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Kitchen remodels tend to leave lighting as a mere afterthought. Don't let this happen to you: Creative lights can take your room from nice-looking yet predictable to stunning enough to star on an interior design show. While simple ceiling bulbs with a neutral tint are an easy solution, they don't really add anything, either — and if you want your kitchen to have a "wow" effect, that's a big problem. 

Imagine a cozy, rustic kitchen with an overly large and ornate ceiling lamp, or a modern space lit by harsh and outdated fluorescent lighting – the right lighting doesn't just ensure a room is well-illuminated and functional; it also cultivates a specific ambience and defines the space, all while making your kitchen look bougie on a budget. To prove it, we've found several unconventional yet gorgeous lighting fixtures that will tie your kitchen together like a big, bright bow.

Some of the stylish lighting choices listed below are inventive, yet still suit more traditional kitchens, while others are cutting-edge choices for homeowners who want the most unique look possible. By the end of it, you'll understand why your kitchen needs statement lighting, no matter the overall aesthetic.

While ornate crystal chandeliers can still work for Baroque-inspired kitchens, many designers say they're now an outdated kitchen lighting trend to avoid. An iron chandelier is a modern alternative that is just as elegant without stealing attention from the rest of the room. Models with classy curved arms and intricate scrollwork suit modern farmhouse or Tuscan-style kitchens; meanwhile, iron chandeliers with straight angles and rough, distressed finishes bring edgy industrial flair.

For natural, bohemian, or coastal-style kitchens, lamps with woven rattan or bamboo exteriors are a must. Unlike exposed lightbulbs or modern lamps, these items blend right in with nature-inspired aesthetics, pairing perfectly with houseplants, light woods, and gauzy linens. Woven shades also diffuse the brightness of the bulbs within, creating a gentle and refreshing glow. Try searching for chairs or stools with woven elements to spread the intriguing textures around the room.

Slick and ultra-modern kitchens can't be complete without cutting-edge lighting. Abstract LED lamps in clustered ring shapes are a rising trend that puts an artistic twist on your overhead illumination. You can choose models with thinner frames and wooden elements for a softer effect, or go bold and futuristic with thick, dramatic black and white rings. Even better, most of these high-tech lights are fully adjustable, allowing you to control the brightness and tint.

Do you need lights that effortlessly bridge the gap between past and present? Bell or globe shaped pendant lights with brass or copper elements are a wonderful choice for modernized mid-century or Victorian kitchens. Bright but not harsh, they balance modern functionality with a touch of antique charm, especially when paired with warm-tinted bulbs. Just remember the rule to follow before installing pendant lighting: measure, measure, and measure again to ensure they're spaced out correctly.

Colorful and classy with an old-world loveliness, stained glass lamps double as lighting and artwork – ideal for retro or quirky artistic kitchens. From simple geometric mosaics to ornate nature patterns and even lamps shaped like animals and flowers, these items cast subtle colors and patterns that beautify any surface. Whether it's one stained glass piece or three, this style offers stunning visual impact for your kitchen, and many of them carry surprisingly affordable prices to boot.

Whether you want a futuristic room or a quirky '80s kitchen, installing vivid LED strips along your cabinets or counters adds a uniquely groovy touch. Use them to incorporate a burst of color into black, white, or stainless steel kitchens, or go with vintage combos like teal lights and pink surfaces. Consider buying strips with adjustable color and brightness settings so you can also use them for task lighting — because forgetting that is another kitchen lighting mistake to avoid.

An attractive shape can instantly take lighting from boring to brilliant. Stylish flute-shaped pendant lamps are minimalist without being "blah," and often come with adjustable cables to make installation easy and customizable. Arrange them in the straight row, or put each lamp at a different height for a gorgeous look reminiscent of wind chimes. They're particularly stunning when hung over a central island, providing all the light you need for food prep or casual dining.

Walls are a majorly underrated space for lighting, and sconces with rich brassy elements are posh, timeless, and useful in small, dark rooms. Not only do these fanciful fixtures help your kitchen nail the "old money" aesthetic, but they act as a perfect accent or as task lights for layer lighting, giving kitchens an elegant look with almost no effort. Choose from sconces with attached lamp shades or ones made of only metal and place them wherever the kitchen needs extra illumination and warmth.

To make lighting the main spectacle of your kitchen, bold and sharp geometric fixtures will earn gasps of amazement from your guests. Hexagons, diamonds, cubes, or abstract shapes all add editorial drama for a room straight out of a magazine, though they must be balanced out to avoid overwhelming the eye. Keep walls and other surfaces near the light fairly plain, allow for plenty of space around it, and try using curved furniture and decor to soften the sharpness.

Spacious kitchens need extra illuminating power to ensure you can work efficiently in every area, and few solutions are better than track lighting, or overhead fixtures with multiple pivoting lights attached to a rack or rail. You can aim the individual bulbs wherever you please for fully adjustable shade or shine. Simple models with spotlight-shaped lamps are ideal for minimalist or industrial kitchens, but you can also find track lights with pretty lampshades, farmhouse glass bulbs, and more.

If minimalist kitchens make you yawn, lamps in cheerful pastel hues like blue, pink, mint, or purple provide a fresh, playful feel to tickle your fancy. Seek out matte finishes for items that look more chic and less like a glossy plastic toy, and try spreading the pastels around the room, such as by pairing ceiling pendants with a matching table lamp. Multiple sources of light with extra pops of color will instantly make a dark kitchen feel brighter.

Metal sconce lights can look too dramatic for some kitchens, which is where simple glass sconces come in. Since their bulbs are more exposed, these space-saving lights bring even more brightness to kitchen workspaces or dark corners, without taking attention away from the rest of your decor. That doesn't mean they have to be plain and boring, however. Shop around for simple yet beautiful sconces featuring textured or tinted glass, or unique shapes like globes and fluted columns.