A small kitchen can still make a big impact – if it’s lit the right way. Get your kitchen lighting wrong and it can leave compact spaces feeling dim and cramped, but a well-planned scheme has the power to transform your kitchen into a more inviting place to cook, dine, and gather.
With limited space and often fewer windows, getting the balance right in a small kitchen can be a challenge. The key? Layered lighting that enhances functionality, highlights design features, and makes the room feel bigger.
From practical task lighting to clever space-enhancing tricks, we asked the experts to share their favourite lighting ideas for small kitchens, so your space can truly shine.
Lighting ideas for small kitchens
“In a small kitchen, strategic lighting plays a crucial role in enhancing the sense of space and adding much-needed character,” explains Luke Thomas, design director at John Cullen Lighting. “By carefully placing light sources, you can create the illusion of a larger, more open kitchen while ensuring that every area is well-lit and inviting.”
Luke Thomas
Luke has been in the lighting industry since 2008 and leads the UK design team at John Cullen Lighting. He collaborates with top designers, architects, and clients, working on projects ranging from new-build mansions and hotel renovations to historic Scottish castles.
Emer Gillespie, founder Spark & Bell., agrees: “I think lighting a small kitchen can be easier than lighting a large one,” she explains “however, with fewer lights needed, the challenge is choosing the right lights for the space.”
Her advice? Use lighting to enhance materials and finishes, ensuring it complements – not competes with – your kitchen design. “If your kitchen design is quite simple and clean, you can have more fun with the lighting design,” she says, “but if there is a lot going on with decorative details, you may want to keep it simpler and refined.”
Emer Gillespie
Emer Gillespie is the Founder and Lead Designer at Spark & Bell Lighting, a company specialising in handmade, customised lighting.
1. Use vertical lighting to make a small kitchen feel bigger
Washing light over your kitchen’s vertical surfaces is a great way to make a narrow space feel more spacious, (Image credit: John Cullen Lighting)
In a compact kitchen, brightening up walls and cabinetry is a simple but effective way to prevent the space from feeling boxed in. Instead of relying solely on overhead lighting, incorporating light along vertical surfaces draws the eye upward, creating the illusion of height and openness.
“Lighting up vertical surfaces, whether with a linear LED strip to wash down the front of the cupboards or with small recessed downlights, will make the room feel much larger,” explains Luke Thomas.
This technique is especially useful in galley kitchens or narrow spaces with minimal natural light, where shadows can make the room feel tighter. To enhance the effect, choose soft white LEDs that mimic daylight, as these keep the space feeling bright, fresh, and airy without being harsh.
2. Light the underside of cabinets and islands for a sleek, modern touch
(Image credit: Searle & Taylor Kitchens)
“Always remember to light underneath the kitchen wall cabinets to provide good task light,” says Luke Thomas. “In a small kitchen, if one side has cabinets and the other has shelves, make sure each shelf is lit as well.”
Why? Because nobody wants to prep dinner in the dark. Without under-cabinet lighting, overhead cupboards cast awkward shadows, making your kitchen worktops feel dim and uninviting – not exactly ideal when you’re wielding a sharp knife.
Placement matters, too. “Harsh, overhead lighting can create this issue if they aren’t positioned centrally so as not to cast shadows,” explains Molly Albin, photographer and stylist at Festive Lights. “Spotlight-style lighting is a great way to illuminate multiple areas at once.”
For a bright, shadow-free space, install under-cabinet lighting toward the front edge of the unit. As this directs light exactly where you need it and instantly makes your kitchen feel bigger and more inviting.
Molly Albin
Molly is a photographer and stylist for Festive Lights Ltd, the UK’s leading online lighting retailer for home, garden, security and seasonal lighting.
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Vattensten Led Lighting Strip
This LED strip light lets you enhance your kitchen with practical, ambient lighting – brighten worktops, highlight cabinets, or add a warm glow under counters.
Enteenly Under Cabinet Strip Lights Kit
Equipped with double-sided tape, these under cabinet strip lights are incredibly easy to install and can be controlled remotely.
3. Light kitchen cabinets and cupboards from within
(Image credit: Naked Kitchens)
Lighting kitchen cabinets from within is a small change with a big impact, instantly making a compact kitchen feel brighter and more spacious.
“Glazed cupboards should be lit from within, either with LED strips along the sides or small recessed spotlights,” explains Luke Thomas. “This technique adds depth and makes the kitchen feel larger by drawing attention to the illuminated interior.”
It’s an especially clever trick for glass-fronted cupboards, where soft lighting can highlight stylish dinnerware or your favourite decorative pieces while adding a warm, inviting glow. For a modern, fuss-free upgrade, try motion sensor LEDs, they’ll light up as soon as you open the door, making it easier to find what you need.
4. Free up space with stylish wall lights
(Image credit: Spark & Bell)
Wall-mounted lights can be a brilliant space-saving solution in a small kitchen, providing ambient lighting without encroaching on valuable ceiling space.
“Wall lights are a great way of mixing up the feel of a room,” says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL. “They create a softer light and really give character to the space. I would always recommend wall lights in a kitchen.”
These fixtures are especially useful if you have high kitchen shelves or limited room for pendants, offering both function and style without cluttering the space. Whether you choose a vintage-style sconce for a cottage kitchen or a sleek, modern fixture for a contemporary edge, wall lights are a fantastic way of bringing warmth, character, and a beautifully layered glow to your space.
Helen Parker
Helen Parker is the Creative Director at deVOL Kitchens, known for her impeccable eye for design, trend forecasting, and timeless kitchen aesthetics that blend craftsmanship, functionality, and character.
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“Arc” Wall Light in Alba White & Brass
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Wade Logan Ketilelf Light
This sleek wall sconce is perfect for modern kitchens, illuminating worktops or dining nooks with its integrated LED and minimalist design.
Goodhome Baldaz Wall Light
The elegant Baldaz lighting range features a soft brass effect finish, with round frosted glass shades that will diffuse light evenly around your kitchen.
5. Add lamps and shelf lighting for a cosy glow
(Image credit: OKA)
Small kitchens rarely benefit from harsh, bright lighting. Sometimes, it’s better to lean into the cosiness of your space with a softer, more decorative glow.
“Even in the smallest kitchen, you need some ambient light,” explains Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds. “If you have a bit of wall space, try installing shelves and have some kind of light on there, whether that’s a lamp like the Dowsing & Reynolds Waldorf Pebble Lamp, which sits really well on a shelf, or some fairy lights – just something that creates a soft glow.”
Table lamps might not be the first thing that comes to mind in a kitchen, but they can also be a great way to soften the space, particularly in open-plan designs. “I love the use of table lamps in the kitchen,” says Helen White, founder of houseof “If you have space, consider this. They are great for open-plan spaces as they can be switched on after you have prepped your meal for a more ambient light.”
A small, portable lamp on a shelf, breakfast bar, or side counter can bring warmth and personality while keeping the main lights dimmed in the evenings.
Ally Dowsing-Reynolds
As co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds, Ally has over 20 years of experience in design and interiors. She has helped shape trends in luxury bathroom fittings, and has designed a range of statement bathroom taps and accessories.
Helen White
Helen White is the founder of houseof and an experienced lighting expert with a background in buying, trend analysis, and interior design.
6. Keep pendant lighting simple and subtle
(Image credit: Pooky)
Pendants are a staple of kitchen lighting design, but in a small space, they need to be chosen carefully.
“Keep pendant lights subtle and not too overpowering,” recommends Helen Parker from deVOL. “Don’t be set on the three-lights-over-an-island combination either. Try to be less obvious and go for something simple, understated, and beautiful.”
If you’re relying solely on spotlights, Helen White warns that you may end up with dark patches. “Spotlights are great for directing light to a single place, but what if you need the light everywhere? If you only use spotlights, you will have dark spots in your kitchen.” In her opinion, pendant lights hung high in a room are the best lighting choice for kitchen ceilings.
“Have a row of central pendant lights that hang directly overhead,” she advises. “Hang them higher so that the spread of light fills the whole room. Doing this instead of using spotlights means that you will never be working in your shadow – an important thing to consider when using sharp objects!”
7. Or use statement lighting to distract from your kitchen’s size
(Image credit: DelightFULL)
Just because a kitchen is small doesn’t mean it can’t be big on personality. A well-chosen statement light, like a sculptural pendant or an oversized bulb, can become the focal point of the room, drawing attention away from its size and onto its style.
In a compact space, a sculptural fixture – such as the above pendant chandelier by DelightFULL – can act like artwork, drawing the eye upward and making the room feel more expansive. Pairing it with neutral painted kitchen walls and simple furniture, allows the light to shine – literally and figuratively – while still keeping the kitchen feeling fresh and cohesive.
8. Take advantage of dual-purpose lighting fixtures
(Image credit: Claire Garner Design Studio)
In a small kitchen, every detail has to work twice as hard, and lighting is no exception. That’s where wall-mounted swing-arm sconces come in. They save valuable counter space, provide task lighting for food prep, and can be adjusted to offer softer, ambient light when needed.
In this beautiful kitchen setup by Claire Garner Design, a brass swing-arm light mounted high on the wall serves a dual purpose – it illuminates the worktop when angled downward and can be swung outward to provide a broader, more atmospheric glow. Paired with a table lamp for extra warmth, this layered approach ensures the kitchen feels just as inviting at night as it does during the day.
Egret Wall Light in Antiqued Brass
This stylish swing-arm wall light in antiqued brass, perfect for adding adjustable task lighting to kitchen workspaces.
9. Install smart lighting
(Image credit: John Cullen Lighting)
Smart lighting can transform how you use your kitchen, letting you switch seamlessly between task lighting and a soft ambient glow at the tap of an app or a simple voice command.
Dimmable smart bulbs make it easy to brighten worktops for food prep and then dial things down for a more relaxed evening atmosphere, while motion-sensor LEDs are perfect for under-cabinet or pantry lighting, automatically switching on when needed and off when you don’t.
Want even more control? Schedule your lights to match your routine, keeping your kitchen bright and welcoming in the morning and calm and cosy in the evening.
10. Highlight your kitchen’s unique features
(Image credit: Naked Kitchens)
“Regardless of your kitchen’s size, you can still bring attention to its key features with clever lighting tricks,” says Molly Albin. “Rope lights under cabinets on floor level, around jars, and above worktops are a great addition to a kitchen, injecting a sense of luxury and expense whilst being very affordable and easy to install.”
If rope lights aren’t your style, you can achieve the same effect by using adjustable spotlights to highlight open shelving or wall-mounted lights to illuminate a striking backsplash. These small changes can create a more polished, designer feel, even in a compact kitchen.
11. Opt for decorative lighting that enhances your kitchen design
(Image credit: lightsandlamps.com)
“With a smaller kitchen, you could opt against spotlights and simply go for bright decorative lighting that adds to the overall design of the space,” says Emer Gillespie. “Look at the materials you have incorporated into the kitchen design and use lighting to enhance these.
“If you have a modern kitchen that is quite simple and clean, you can have more fun with the lighting design, but if there is a lot going on with the kitchen design and decorative detail, you may want to keep it simpler and refined.”
12. Pick the perfect bulbs to set the mood
(Image credit: J Adams Co)
Getting your kitchen lighting right isn’t just about selecting the best fixtures, it’s also about choosing the right bulbs. The colour temperature and brightness of your bulbs will influence how spacious and inviting your kitchen feels.
“My go-to for most of our bulb options is 2700K,” says Emer Gillespie. “It’s the perfect temperature for residential decorative lighting, giving a perfect warmth of white light to a space without being too warm. Cooler temperatures of about 3000K and up make a space feel too cold and uninviting. You want to sit and enjoy your kitchen throughout the day and into the late nights!”
Helen White prefers a slightly different approach, recommending daylight bulbs for a brighter effect. “We would opt for a daylight bulb, so around 3500 kelvins. This is a bright light, but not on the blue colour spectrum, so that your kitchen looks inviting and not clinical.”
If you want full control over the brightness and warmth of your kitchen, the best smart light bulbs allow you to adjust colour temperatures and switch between warm vs cool light depending on the time of day.
A little lighting know-how can turn even the smallest kitchen into a bright and inviting space. So try to avoid common kitchen lighting mistakes when planning your renovation or self-build.
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