Updated July 2026.
To light a kitchen, layer three types of lighting: a ceiling light or spotlights for general illumination, under-cabinet lighting for the worktop, and pendant lights above the island. Aim for a neutral white of 3500 to 4000 Kelvin in food preparation areas, with warmer lighting in the dining area.
The three layers of kitchen lighting
A kitchen is both a workspace and a living area, so it needs several types of lighting. We layer three types: general lighting for movement, strong functional lighting for the worktop, and softer lighting for the island or dining area. This is the same principle as in the rest of the house, detailed in our guide on how to light each room effectively.
General lighting: clear visibility everywhere
This provides a uniform base for moving around and opening cupboards without shadows. A central ceiling light is sufficient in a small kitchen; as the area gets larger, distribute several recessed spotlights or an adjustable track light to cover the entire room. Aim for a slightly invigorating white, between 3000 and 4000 Kelvin, neither too yellow nor too clinical.
The worktop: the most important light
This is where you chop and cook, often with your back to the general lighting, thus working in your own shadow. The foolproof solution: a light strip or battens installed under the wall units, which illuminate the worktop directly without glare. Choose a neutral white around 4000 Kelvin to clearly distinguish food colors and work safely.
The island: pendant lights and correct height
Above an island, pendant lights play a dual role: they illuminate the surface and define the kitchen's style. Position their bottom edge 75 to 90 cm above the worktop, as explained in our guide on pendant light height. Depending on the island's length, one to three can be aligned: we detail the exact number in the guide on how many pendant lights to align.
What light temperature for a kitchen?
An open-plan kitchen combines a work area and a dining area, which require different lighting. The right approach: neutral white where you cook, warm white where you eat. This table summarizes the guidelines, further developed in our guide on light temperature for each room:
| Area | Recommended Lighting | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| General Lighting | Ceiling light or recessed spotlights | 3000 to 4000 K |
| Worktop | Strip or battens under wall units | 4000 K |
| Island | 1 to 3 pendant lights 75-90 cm from the surface | 3000 to 4000 K |
| Dining area | Pendant light or ambient lamp | 2700 to 3000 K |
Fenalor's tip: Install a separate switch (or dimmer) for the island and dining area. You can turn off the task lighting after dinner and keep only the soft ambiance, without having to turn everything back on.
How many lumens should you plan for in a kitchen?
A kitchen requires more light than any other room in the house: aim for about 300 lux throughout the room and 500 lux in food preparation areas, which is roughly double that of a living room. In lumens, this translates to 3,000 to 3,500 lumens for a 10 m² kitchen, distributed among the ceiling light, spotlights, and worktop lighting, never concentrated in a single source. An LED strip under wall units generally delivers 400 to 800 lumens per meter: two meters are therefore sufficient to cover a standard worktop. Also, monitor the Color Rendering Index (CRI): below 80, vegetables and meats can appear unappetizingly grayish. Aim for 90 or higher above the worktop. Our ceiling lights cover these power requirements for general lighting.
Lighting mistakes to avoid in a kitchen
Three mistakes are almost systematically made. The first: relying solely on a central ceiling light, which casts your own shadow exactly where you are cutting. The second: placing recessed spotlights in the middle of the ceiling when they should be shifted towards the front of the wall units, about 60 to 70 cm from the wall, to illuminate the worktop and not behind you. The third: mixing color temperatures illogically, a cool white on the ceiling and a warm white on the island, which results in messy lighting as night falls. Add to that pendant lights hung too low above an island, which obstruct the view into the living room in an open-plan kitchen, and bare bulbs without diffusers, which are dazzling when seated. We review the most common pitfalls in our guide to common lighting mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to properly light a worktop?
Install a light strip or battens under the wall units, which illuminate the worktop directly so you don't work in your own shadow. Choose a neutral white around 4000 Kelvin to clearly distinguish food colors and cook safely.
How many pendant lights above an island?
Depending on the length of the island, typically one to three pendant lights are aligned: a single one for a small island, two to three for a long surface. Position their bottom edge 75 to 90 cm above the surface and space them regularly for uniform lighting.
What light temperature for a kitchen?
A neutral white around 4000 Kelvin in work areas, for clear visibility, and a warmer white, around 2700 to 3000 Kelvin, in the dining area, for conviviality. This combination avoids overly cold light in an open space.
Do you need a ceiling light in a kitchen?
Yes, as general lighting, but never alone. Always supplement it with dedicated worktop lighting and, if you have an island, with pendant lights. A kitchen lit by a single ceiling light leaves the worktop in shadow.
To compose your kitchen lighting, explore our pendant lights and the entire lighting collection from Fenalor.
