Kitchen

How to choose kitchen lighting

Start with the three surfaces that need it. Pendants drop light onto the island where hands work. The sink takes a single pendant or a recessed can directly overhead, because anyone standing at it blocks light coming from behind. The table takes a chandelier or a wide pendant, hung to be looked at as much as to light plates.

General light goes on top of that. A flush or semi flush fixture, or a run of recessed cans, fills the room so the perimeter counters are not lit by whatever leaks off the island. Under cabinet strips finish the back counter, since a wall cabinet shadows the surface beneath it.

Finish ties it together. The pendant, the cabinet hardware and the faucet share one sightline, so hold the room to two metals. Brass and gold warm stone and walnut. Matte black draws a clean outline against white cabinetry. Brushed nickel sits quietly beside a stainless range and a stainless sink.

Heights and hole spacing for kitchen lighting and faucets

The numbers below assume an eight foot ceiling and counters at the standard 36 inches.

Island pendants: 30 to 36 inches from the countertop to the bottom of the shade, with 24 to 30 inches between centers.
Table fixture: 30 to 34 inches above the tabletop, at a diameter around half the table width.
Ceiling fixtures: flush or semi flush under 8 feet, keeping 7 feet of clearance anywhere people walk.
Faucet deck: a single hole sink takes a 1 3/8 inch opening, a three hole deck is 8 inches on center, and a fourth hole takes a sprayer or soap pump.

Two of those repay measuring twice. Pendants hung low block the view across an open plan room, which people notice after installation rather than before. A tall gooseneck spout that clears a stock pot may not clear the sash of a window behind the sink, so check that opening first.

What this kitchen page covers

Group	Best in	What it does	Price here
Pendant lights	Over an island, over a sink	A defined pool of light on the work surface	$117 to $820
Ceiling lights	A kitchen with a low ceiling	General light with nothing hanging in the way	$180 to $950
Kitchen faucets	A sink being replaced or refitted	A swivel spout and a finish to match the hardware	$84 to $260
Knives and sharpeners	A counter used for prep every day	Blades, racks and the stones that keep them sharp	$88 to $180
Cooking tools	A drawer or a crock beside the stove	Utensils, mats and sets for daily cooking	$61 to $200
Serving and barware	A table, a bar cart	Glass pieces for pouring and serving	$100

Terms on this page

Stainless steel: The material behind most of the tools here. It resists rust, takes a wipe and keeps an edge longer than a soft alloy. Some product pages name the grade, which matters near a sink, since a higher grade holds up better against salt and standing water.
Cord pendant: A hanging fixture suspended on a flexible cable. It is the common form among the lights on this page. The cable can be shortened at installation, which is useful over an island where the right drop depends on the counter height and the stools.
E27 socket: The large screw fitting used by most of the lighting here. The bulb is replaceable, so you choose the warmth and the brightness. Over a counter a brighter bulb helps with prep work, while a warmer one suits a kitchen that doubles as an eating area.
Hardwired: A fixture joined straight to the house wiring with no plug. Part of the lighting on this page installs this way. It leaves no cable showing, and the position has to be set before the ceiling is closed, so measure the island first.
IP20: A dry indoor rating carried by the lighting here. It is right for a ceiling above a kitchen but not for a spot that takes direct spray. Keep a fixture with this rating well clear of a sink and away from a steam path.

Questions about the kitchen fixtures on this page

How many pendants go over an island?

Two suit an island up to roughly seven feet, three from eight feet up. Past eleven feet a single linear fixture often reads better than a row of four. Center the group on the island itself rather than on the room, and hold the outer shades inside the counter edge.

Is an island pendant enough on its own?

No. Pendants light the island and leave the perimeter counters dark, so pair them with a ceiling fixture or recessed cans and add under cabinet strips where wall cabinets shadow the work surface. A room lit only from the middle has a bright island and dark corners.

How do I know a faucet fits my sink?

Count the holes in the deck. One hole takes a single lever, three holes at 8 inches on center take a widespread or a bridge, and four holes leave a space for a sprayer. Then check that the spout reach lands near the drain.

Browse by category: Kitchen Island Pendant Lights, Kitchen Ceiling Lights, Kitchen Chandeliers and Kitchen Faucets. See also Pendant Lights.

How do you plan lighting and faucets for a kitchen together?

Settle three things in order and the rest follows. Where the water goes, since the sink position fixes the faucet type and the hole count, and a sink under a window rules out a tall spout. Where people work, which decides the task lighting: pendants or a linear fixture over an island, under cabinet light along the counters. And what finish repeats, because a kitchen shows metal in three places at once, the faucet, the cabinet hardware and the light fixtures, and choosing one warm or one cool family for all three is what makes the room read as planned.

How much do the fixtures on this kitchen page cost?

The 133 items here, lighting and faucets together, run from $61 to $950. The middle sits near $150 and nine in ten cost under $350. Shipping is free and installation is not included.

Which color temperature suits a kitchen?

3000K is the value stated across this range and it is the sensible default. A kitchen is a work surface and a living space at once, so a warm yellow 2700K flattens contrast on a cutting board while a neutral 4000K reads clinical in the evening. 3000K does both acceptably. What matters more is using one figure everywhere in the room, since a mismatch between the under cabinet strip and the pendants over the island is visible from the doorway.

Buying guide reviewed October 2026 by the OroDwell editorial team.