Kitchen Lighting Ideas for Brightening your Home

Each Shea home is built with a focus on the lives of the people who will live in it. The commitment to quality and detail can be seen in the floor plans, the door frames, and yes, even the lighting. With the right lighting, we illuminate our spaces to help create an atmosphere that the whole family will enjoy. This is especially true of a Shea Homes® kitchen, where we know so many activities and life moments will take place, from family dinners, to school projects, to holiday gatherings. In many ways, the kitchen is the center of our homes that brings people together, where we begin and end our days with meals and conversations. Whether it’s midday baking or late-night cocktails, having the right lighting in the kitchen not only brings the room together but also adds atmosphere to every meal.

Kitchen Lighting Design Ideas from Different Home Plans

Shea Homes’ unique approach to lighting kitchens helps create the perfect well-lit (or dim-lit) space for cooking, hosting, entertaining and living. According to Sally Hayden, Director of Shea Design Studio for Colorado, “many hours of planning and review go into every Shea Homes kitchen. Planning starts with the product development team before moving to the architects and then to the designers. Every detail of lighting is reviewed. The placement of each window, size and height for the light throughout are closely reviewed to enhance this important space. Along with this is a lighting plan to provide just the right amount of light to ensure the space has plenty of both natural and placed lighting to create a practical workspace and comfortable entertainment area.” 

With light placement and light layering playing such an impactful role in the experience of a room, we put together some of our favorite ways to light one of our favorite spaces. Here are some ways we like to bring out the best in our homes using lighting in the kitchen:

Ceiling Lighting and Ambient Lighting 

When you think of kitchen lighting, you probably first think of a ceiling light or overhead lights. This is called ambient lighting, and it creates consistent lighting and adds a warm glow to the kitchen. Often a centerpiece with, ceiling light fixtures can express the character of a home and create an atmosphere that echoes throughout the rest of the furniture.  

Lighting should be located over all walkways, prep areas, sinks and cooktops. You always want to be sure there are no dark corners. Recessed cans are generally 24’’ to 48’’ apart. Using dimmers for each type of lighting will make your kitchen more functional and create different moods for different times of day and circumstances. 

Overhead lighting doesn’t need to be a single fixture or fan, but can be a splash of personality over your kitchen counter, island, or dinner table. Make things personal by choosing a fixture that speaks to the essence of your home, whether that be a classic gold lamp shade look, or a more industrial geometric piece.

Under Cabinet & Over Cabinet Lighting 

Subtle yet brilliant. This is the best way to describe under cabinet lighting. Born out of a practical yet genius need to illuminate the often-overshadowed spaces under cabinets, under cabinet lights, known as task lighting, can add a glow to the atmosphere of the entire room through illumination. Although very practical, these lights need not feel sterile or laboratory-like; the stream of warm hues can actually make the room feel cozier! 

Under cabinet lighting works best if you stay away from spot or puck lights and use varied lengths to light up the counter. A frosted lens will also defuse the light and help avoid glare. The under-cabinet lighting should be installed closer to the front of the cabinet than to the back, and remember that a dimensional tile on the backsplash may reflect shadows. 

Up the voltage by adding lighting above cabinets to really make the room pop, or even under individual shelves for an ultra-modern take on the well-lit kitchen space.

Decorative Lighting 

Floor Lamps and Chandeliers
This may be the last type of kitchen lighting you would think of, but it’s just that uniqueness that can make your space feel personal and memorable. A floor lamp near the kitchen or dining table can help blend the vibe between your cooking space and the neighboring living space, really bringing the open concept to life.  

Chandeliers are a fun way to add a splash of personality and sparkle to the room. Remember, decorative lighting is architectural jewelry and people may love it or hate it.

Table Lighting & Candles 
Adding lighting directly to the dinner table can provide not only functional utility, but also act as a table centerpiece, proving decorative value even when not lit. Using candles as table lighting is also a very popular option and can be easily added to or changed throughout the seasons for that extra festive touch. 

Another form of decorative lighting, this is all about accessorizing the space to really make your kitchen feel like home.

As a final and overall tip, you can never go wrong by keeping things understated and timeless.  Simple lines and lots of glass remains very popular and gives added sparkle. On the other end of the spectrum, a lavish decorative light may change an ordinary kitchen into an extraordinary luxury kitchen. It’s important that the kitchen lighting ties in and compliments the entire home, but even more important that it feels like home.

How would your ideal kitchen be lit? Comment below and sign up for more information about Shea Homes Communities.