Best kitchen lighting: top picks to brighten up your kitchen space

We take a look at the best kitchen lighting around to help you completely transform your space this year

the best kitchen lighting
(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

The best kitchen lighting will completely transform the look – and feel – of your space if planned correctly. So, we recommend that you start thinking about it pretty early on in the process of designing a kitchen. 

Whether you're looking for functional lighting that will make a small kitchen feel larger and lighter; or want to make a design statement with stylish pendants, our pick of the best kitchen lighting will suit all tastes and needs too.

Check out our kitchen ideas page for even more inspiration.

Best kitchen lighting

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The best kitchen lighting is the Coleman Clear Glass And Copper Ceiling Light if you're looking for a pendant light to hang over a kitchen island or dining table. It's effortlessly stylish, guaranteed to work with any scheme and won't go out of fashion when interiors trends (inevitably) change.

Alternatively, we'd recommend the Philips Hue Ambience Still Spotlight, if you're looking for functional lighting that will effectively illuminate a dark space, making your kitchen easier to use.

Keep scrolling for complete product reviews:

The best kitchen lighting in review

the best kitchen lighting: Coleman Clear Glass And Copper Ceiling Light

(Image credit: Coleman)

1. Coleman Clear Glass and Copper Ceiling Light

Best kitchen lighting: industrial copper that can take centre stage in any kitchen

Specifications

Material: Glass and copper
Type: Pendant
Bulb Wattage: 60W

Reasons to buy

+
Can be used with a filament bulb for extra oomph
+
Stylish design that will work with any scheme

Reasons to avoid

-
Not great for houses with low ceilings

The best kitchen lighting is the Coleman Clear Glass And Copper Ceiling Light thanks to its super stylish, yet timeless, design. We've seen industrial chic lighting everywhere recently, and this option from Habitat is a great example. That said, you can rest assured that this classic design won't look dated as interiors trends come and go.

Offering both style and practicality, its pendant style is sure to complement a variety of spaces and this is definitely one of the best kitchen lighting options for high ceilings. We particularly like the idea of placing it above a kitchen island or dining table to create zones within a space and would recommend opting for a vintage bulb to really complete the industrial feel.

the best kitchen lighting: East White And Gold Metal Ceiling Light

(Image credit: Habitat)

2. East White and Gold Metal Ceiling Light

Best kitchen lighting for low ceilings: keep it neutral but add a touch of colour with this contrasting dome light

Specifications

Material: Metal
Type: Ceiling light
Bulb Wattage: 60W

Reasons to buy

+
Glamorous gold-leaf interior
+
Contemporary design

Reasons to avoid

-
Metallics won't suit everyone 

If you like to keep things minimal, but want to give your kitchen a little edge, this East White And Gold Metal Ceiling Light, with its contrasting gold-leaf interior is enough to add a bit of interest to your home.

It is not as long as some of the pendant lights – which is something to consider if you have particularly high ceilings – but that won't stop it from making a subtle statement in your home.

the best kitchen lighting: Faye Pendant Light

(Image credit: Made)

3. Faye Pendant Light

Best kitchen lighting for small kitchens: a luxurious double pendant to feature in your kitchen

Specifications

Material: Marble, brass
Type: Double pendant
Bulb Wattage: 20W

Reasons to buy

+
Great low-light option
+
Unique, stylish design

Reasons to avoid

-
Won't be to everyone's taste

Looking for something a little more unique? This Faye Pendant Light with its double pendant design creates a soft ambient lighting. Its curved edges really make it a feature piece for the kitchen.

It has a low wattage, so don’t expect to get a lot of brightness from this kitchen lighting, but if you host dinner parties or like to set the mood, you can expect the Faye pendant to really stand out. 

the best kitchen lighting: Philips Hue Ambience Still Spotlight

4. Philips Hue Ambience Still Spotlight

Best smart kitchen lighting: a tech-savvy LED light for the smart home

Specifications

Material: Plastic
Type: LED Spotlight
Bulb Wattage: n/a

Reasons to buy

+
Control brightness and other modes from your phone

Considering incorporating smart lighting into your kitchen? We couldn't recommend the Philips Hue Ambience Still Spotlight, more.

The LED spotlight is contemporary and minimal, with four light recipes designed to change the mood and brightness of your space, at the touch of a button. Simply sync it to your smart phone and enjoy a whole range of programmable options – including getting your light to flash at you when your dinner is ready.

Discover more of the best smart lighting to light your home in our handy guide.

the best kitchen lighting: Starkey Cluster Pendant Light

(Image credit: Made)

5. Starkey Cluster Pendant Light

Best cluster kitchen lighting: this cluster of bulbs is an industrial-style statement piece for your kitchen

Specifications

Material: Metal
Type: Cluster pendant
Bulb Wattage: 40W

Reasons to buy

+
Provides multi-directional light
+
Stylish design with industrial feel

Reasons to avoid

-
Not for low ceilings

Filament lightbulbs are having a moment, and for good reason. We love this Starkey Cluster Pendant Light, which is guaranteed to make a statement in your kitchen.

While it looks pretty quirky, it is also a practical lighting solution that provides warm but bright light to a space. It's possible to customise your lighting to suit your taste by choosing different sized bulbs to fit the cluster.

Annie Collyer
Head Ecommerce Editor

Hi! I'm Annie, and I'm the Head Ecommerce Editor at Real Homes. I've been part of the Real Homes team since 2018, when I joined as Deals Editor. Along with covering major sales events — from Black Friday to Amazon Prime Day — I review home must-haves so that you can buy with peace of mind. Mostly focusing on home fragrance and sleep, as well as a few vacuum cleaners, I've tested pretty much every item you can think of that you need in your home. I live on the outskirts of the city in a two-bed apartment with my husband and my pug, Doug. So I am always searching for compact alternatives and ways to save floor space. What about when I am not typing away? Well, you'll find me enjoying an iced coffee (no matter the season) and trying out the latest brunch spots the city has to offer, or booking my next holiday. Where else can you find my words? Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home, Gardeningetc, and Woman & Home.

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