• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • Tour Our Home
      • Bella Tucker Christmas Kitchen 2019
      • Bella Tucker featured on Apartment Therapy
      • Tour Our Home
      • Tucker House TV Features
      • Vintage Tucker Christmas
      • Christmas House Tour- Tucker Style
  • Portfolio
    • Kitchen Remodels Before and After
  • Kitchen Remodeling & Design
    • Design Services
  • Cabinet Painting
    • Paint Color Consultations
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Shop Favorites
  • e-Design
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
bella tucker kitchen remodeling and kitchen cabinet painting

Bella Tucker

Kitchen Design-Cabinet Refinishing-Nashville TN

Kitchen Island Lighting Options

By Dana Tucker 2 Comments

If you are looking for a great way to update your existing kitchen or if you are planning a remodel, the right kitchen island lighting can make all the difference. If you have three micro pendants over your island or peninsula, this post is for you.

Here are my general island lighting guidelines that I have developed over the years. 

Lighting a breakfast bar or peninsula

If you have a breakfast bar or peninsula type island from the late 90’s or early 2000’s, chances are you have mini hanging pendants over the island. These can easily be updated by replacing them with larger more substantial lights.  Don’t be afraid to go bigger. Most of the micro pendants are about 4″ wide. Don’t be afraid to go 10-14″ wide. 

Pendants over a peninsula

Lighting a long narrow island

My favorite lighting for a long narrow island is a linear fixture. They are long and skinny with multiple lights. These starting showing up in design a few years ago and I am obsessed with them. I probably have about 100 saved in my design program so that I can find just the right one when designing a kitchen. For a linear light, I recommend one half to two thirds the length of your island. For instance, a 6ft island would need a 47″ long linear light. Another option for long islands is to use two oversized pendants. 

modern linear island light
Two pendants over island

Lighting a square island

It’s my opinion that a square island needs a square or round fixture. Or a single large fixture that is 50%-66% of the size of the countertop. For instance, a 54″ square island needs at least a 27″- 35″ fixture.  Two small pendants over a square island just feels out of place. 

one island light
One centered light over the square island. Photo by Geinger Hill

Lighting a sink

Sometimes in a breakfast bar/peninsula it just makes sense to place a light over the sink. In this case, I’d use the size of the sink as a guide. For a 36″ sink, I think you can go up to about 50% of the sink width or 18″. 

generation lighting pendant
Single white oversized pendant light over the sink

How and where to hang the lights

I prefer a hanging height of 36″ from the bottom of the fixture to the top of the countertop. This seems to be a height that works for everyone. If hanging two pendants, I space them about 30″ apart and at least 6″ from each edge of the countertop. If hanging three, I would space them evenly over the surface and at least 6″ from the edge of the countertop. 

kitchen-remodeling-cabinet-painting-franklin-tn
Two oversized frosted pendants over a large island looks perfect- Photo by Geinger Hill

Overall fixture height

Always, always, always consider the OAH, or over all hanging height of the fixture and the minimum hanging height. Factor the height of your ceiling, minus the over all hanging height, minus 36″ for the island height, minus 36″ to hang above the island at the correct height. For instance: 9ft ceiling (108″) minus the 36″ cabinet height, minus 36″ of space between the countertop and the fixture leaves you with an OAH of 36″. Within that 36″ of available fixture height make sure you factor in the size of the canopy if it’s not listed in the specs. Those are usually 4-6″. Fixtures that come with down rods are much harder to place at the correct height than a fixture that has chain link because they usually come in 6″ and 12″ lengths.

vintage-pipe-cleaner-snowflakes
Linear island light with down rods

Other considerations

My personal preference is island lights that don’t show a naked bulb. I think they are too stark. If you have this type of lighting I recommend a frosted bulb to soften the glare. I will always gravitate to a shaded light or a frosted glass pendant. Never, ever, ever use an Edison bulb. They turn everything yellow/gold and have minimal light output. If you have those in your house, please replace those ASAP and report back to me on how much more you love your kitchen with white light. Speaking of light bulbs. I prefer 2700K-3000K LED bulbs placed on a dimmer. Always on a dimmer. Put every light you possibly can on a dimmer. You’ll thank me later. 

All photos by Leslie Brown except for two by Geinger Hill. 

Need help with your kitchen?

Do you have a kitchen that needs an update? We would love to help you fall in love with your kitchen too. Whether you are ready for a full kitchen update or just in need of cabinet refinishing, we would love to help. We do everything from custom cabinet refinishing and painting to full kitchen project management and design. Fill out the form below if you’d like more information.

Contact Form

We would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly.
    Promise it will be great!

Tweet
Share
Pin11
Share
11 Shares

Filed Under: Kitchen Design, Kitchen Updating

About Dana Tucker

By Dana Tucker | [email protected] | Google

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Victoria KINDELL says

    April 1, 2021 at 9:11 am

    Thanks Dana! I’m starting to ‘pin’ remodeling idea for our 90’s kitchen. We have vaulted ceilings and some awful florescent lighting that needs to go, so this is very helpful.

  2. Dana Tucker says

    April 1, 2021 at 9:12 am

    I’m so glad you found this helpful. Please let me know if you need any help with any decisions when you are ready to remodel!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Looking For Something?

Let us handle your kitchen re-design. Call us today at 615-628-7373

Categories

Latest on Instagram

bellatucker

A well designed island should remind you of a mull A well designed island should remind you of a mullet. Business in the front and party in the back. 

Design @bellatucker 
📷 @lesliebrownphotography 
Styling assist @emilybutler166 
General Contractor Renovations by Bob Whitley 
#grasslandmodernkitchenremodel
Two photo shoots in one week almost did me in, but Two photo shoots in one week almost did me in, but I had amazing talent helping me out! Sneak peek of my most modern kitchen design yet! 

Design @bellatucker 
📷 @lesliebrownphotography 
Styling assist @emilybutler166
We did a faux apron front sink in this kitchen by We did a faux apron front sink in this kitchen by extending the quartz on the front of the cabinet. We were still able to use my favorite granite/quartz composite under mount sink but got that farm house sink look. 

Design by @bellatucker 
📷 by @lesliebrownphotography 
Styling assist by @laurenlechols
New project photos! So excited about how this kitc New project photos! So excited about how this kitchen and these photos turned out. I love using porcelain slab material as a backsplash and this one is my favorite! 
Design | @bellatucker 
Photos | @lesliebrownphotography
You guys don’t want to miss this house I’m sha You guys don’t want to miss this house I’m sharing in stories today! My friend @tsteffen18 collected every single piece, designed every inch, and styled it to perfection. I am so inspired today after spending a few hours in this gorgeous space last night. Thankful for the talented women and friends in my creative community. Thanks for inviting me into your beautiful spaces.
I’m definitely not a flower arranger, but man! T I’m definitely not a flower arranger, but man! These 6 day old tulips from @traderjoes have opened up and arranged themselves. More beautiful each day this week as they gently opened and dropped.
Many thanks to @nashvillelifestyles at Home for in Many thanks to @nashvillelifestyles at Home for including me in your inspiring spaces feature. So honored to be included among the amazing design talent in this feature! 
📷 @lesliebrownphotography #nashvillekitchendesigner
This kitchen! This family! This house! We’ve com This kitchen! This family! This house! We’ve come so far together. We are still waiting on some additional rooms to be completed but I had to share some BIG changes in the kitchen. Professional photos coming as soon as we get all the pieces. Swipe for the before.
Stove hood art. It’s a thing. Stove hood art. It’s a thing.
I’m trying to stop posting about my new mural, b I’m trying to stop posting about my new mural, but I thought you might care to see what it looks like in natural light. I’m so happy!
We did a thing today. Merry Christmas to me! Thank We did a thing today. Merry Christmas to me! Thanks to @hangingaroundpro for a perfect install of this mural. Swipe for the before.
Hello fall! I love you best of all the seasons. Hello fall! I love you best of all the seasons.
Who’s ready for another before and after slider? Who’s ready for another before and after slider? This bathroom and these clients will always be my favorite 😍 

Design | @bellatucker 

After 📷 | @lesliebrownphotography
This was about 3 years ago, but it popped up in my This was about 3 years ago, but it popped up in my memories today and I can't quit smiling. I'm not a "costume person" but this one was pretty perfect for us.
Don’t you just love a great before and after? If Don’t you just love a great before and after? If you are wondering, the white kitchen is the after 😂. 
Design | @bellatucker 
After 📷 | @lesliebrownphotography
I love the way these wire mesh door inserts add a I love the way these wire mesh door inserts add a cozy vibe to this dining room. We wouldn’t have gotten this same feel with glass. Details matter! 
Design | @bellatucker 
📷 | @lesliebrownphotography
Art in the kitchen? Always! Every single kitchen. Art in the kitchen? Always! Every single kitchen. 
Design | @bellatucker 
Photo | @lesliebrownphotography 
Art | @thesimplesketchbook
I’ve walked about 20 miles over the last three d I’ve walked about 20 miles over the last three days at High Point Market. My body hurts but I’m so inspired and ready to hit the ground running with fresh ideas. One more day to go! #hpmkt
My most rewarding project to date. If you’d like My most rewarding project to date. If you’d like to hear a great story about how God provided a new kitchen for some really deserving people, click the link in my profile and scroll down to “Faithful Servants’ Kitchen” on our blog. @tennesseechildren
I’ve added 3 treasures to my office in the last I’ve added 3 treasures to my office in the last few weeks. Can you guess which ones?
Load More Follow on Instagram
Bella Tucker

Nashville TN Cabinet Painting| Kitchen Remodeling| Kitchen Design| Call 615-628-7373 All content Copyrighted by Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes 2020

By Dana Tucker | Bella Tucker | [email protected] | Real Estate Websites