6 kitchen lighting suggestions to brighten your cooking space

15 July 2024

Whether you're passing along a family recipe or you're just passing the butter, your kitchen is a place of interaction, not just cooking. So it makes sense that when people look to transform their home, they often start inside the kitchen.

Updating your lighting is a smart, economical way to reinvent this all important room. And it’s much simpler than replacing the splashback or cabinets. Open concept, large kitchens are as popular as ever, and that means brightness is the goal.

Here are six ways you can brighten things up with simple, inspiring kitchen lighting ideas.

The kitchen island is often the centrepiece of the room – the place to spark spur-of-the-moment conversations and grab on-the-go snacks. Since it’s a multifunctional space, smart lighting is the way to go.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to choosing your kitchen island lighting, one approach is to decide whether to go modern or contemporary based on your personal aesthetics.

• Modern smart lights

The focus here is on functionality. A modern approach is all about keeping things simple and emphasizing geometric shapes.

• Contemporary smart lights

The focus here is on style. A contemporary approach knows no bounds – whether it's adopting a new look or reinventing an old one.

Our kitchen island lighting guide provides more guidance on how to get the most out of your lighting.

Pendants or suspension lights benefit all types of kitchens, from modern to contemporary and everything in between. As task lighting, they should be centered over kitchen islands or dining areas in a line, all hanging down at the same height.

Bright idea: Add a dimmer switch to control the brightness and temperature of your pendant light. See the Philips Hue range of pendants and suspension lights that come with an included dimmer switch.

If you're looking for simple yet elegant lighting ideas for your kitchen table, you can explore a variety of hanging light options. Consider Edison-style LED bulbs for a vintage-look or go for an array of modern suspension lights with minimalist design.

Love hanging string lights? Spark your creativity by reinventing antique pieces or flea market finds to recreate a farmhouse kitchen feel. Need help? Hire a handyman to do the tricky electrical parts.

Go one step further and install colour-changing smart bulbs to personalise the ambience for every occasion. See how to create the perfect mood lighting with Philips Hue.

Bright idea: Keep a minimum distance of 76 to 89 cm between the table surface and the bottom of the fixture. For optimal lighting, go for an even number of hanging lights depending on the length of your kitchen table or island.

When you're not doing food prep on your counter, you still need enough light to find that serving spoon you're looking for. Keeping your kitchen lighting low with hidden, under-cabinet lights can be a more subtle, yet effective alternative to kitchen track lighting.

By installing a portable motion sensor, you can also make your way through the kitchen at night without having to manually switch on your lights.

LED strip lights are a simple way to go seamlessly from task lighting to mood lighting. They allow you to ensure that you're ready for anything – with bright white light for prepping meals and softer tones to create an inviting ambience for your guests.

Bright idea: If your kitchen cabinets are above your kitchen sink, then install a Philips Hue smart LED lightstrip under the cabinets to create evenly distributed task light while doing the dishes.

The perfect al fresco dining experience is all about creating the right ambience for seating areas and achieving the right functionality for cooking areas. The mood is important, but not as vital as being able to comfortably see what you're cooking and eating.

Multiple light sources are key. Wall lights provide reliable uniform light, while spotlights (such as Lily spotlights) create a wash of light, particularly when directed at trees and trellises. If you have a roof over your outdoor kitchen, consider pendant lights to help direct light to your grill and prep areas so that you can carry your family barbecue into the night.

Explore Philips Hue kitchen lighting to bring these ideas to life.