Kitchen sink lighting is the perfect choice if you want to add lights to your cooking space. With many homes, regular overhead fixtures don’t work well when performing certain tasks. The more you think about it, sink lighting is a great way to make your kitchen area a better workspace.

If you’re installing fixtures for the first time over your sink, make sure they hang 30 to 40 inches above the counter. Even with small sinks, you should follow the same rule. You’ll also want to use water-safe lights given their proximity to water.

When choosing a lighting style for your kitchen sink, height, style, and context should be considered.

Best Kitchen Light Fixtures

If you’ve been thinking about updating your kitchen, sink lighting is one of the most effective ways to achieve this without breaking your budget.

Undercabinet Lighting

Kitchen lighting offers easy installation. But more than anything, the lights provide a service that accentuates its look.

Here are the best kitchen fixtures to use in your kitchen:

Recessed Lights

They are used to focus light on particular areas of the kitchen, say work and display areas. They can be placed on the kitchen counter, refrigerator, oven, and so on.

Pendant Light Fixture

They’re a great choice when adding color and marking the functional areas of a kitchen. The lights come in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes.

Multiple Lamp Fixture

The lights are fixed on the ceiling and depending on how powerful the light they disperse, they can illuminate up to two feet. They can also come equipped with a dimming light which helps reduce dispersion.

Cabinet Lighting

They are useful when you want to display content and also useful for people who don’t see clearly. Some of the best options are installing puck lights for cabinets with glass doors or LED strips for under cabinet lighting.

What Is The Best Light Color For A Kitchen?

This is one of those questions that doesn’t have a wrong answer. There are a few popular kitchen light colors, but you’re free to follow whatever style you want.

Undercabinet Lighting

Warm white is the best light hue for kitchens. Other light shades worth considering are soft white and bright white.

A bright light is measured by a Kelvin rating. The higher the brightness, the higher the Kelvin rating. Here’s a breakdown of bulb brightness:

Soft white (2700-3000 Kelvin) is yellowish and synonymous with incandescent bulbs. They are suitable for living rooms, dens, and bathrooms.Warm white (3000-4000 Kelvin) have a yellowish color and are suitable for the kitchen.Bright white (4000-5000 Kelvin) produces a white and blue light.Daylight (5000-6500 Kelvin) has a bluish tone that increases functionality and is used on a makeup stand, when working, or reading.

Kitchen Sink Lighting Ideas

There are many lighting options for your sink and kitchen area. Popular choices include pendant lights, over the sink lighting, flush mount lighting, and recessed lighting. With interior design sink lighting, less is more.

Check out the following sink lighting ideas for your kitchen.

Kitchen Sink Island

Task lighting should be your first concern. If your sink is part of a kitchen island, hang pendant lights above it. In this classic style kitchen design by Cindy Smetana Interiors, pendant lights are the focal point and offer rustic appeal as they hang over the sink and provide visual depth.

With kitchen islands, you’ll have more lighting ideas, especially if you have vaulted ceilings.

Kitchen Sink Pendant Light Fixture

Studio Warmington & North designed this kitchen space, which includes two sinks, one in the kitchen island and the other next to a window. They both have stylish lighting overhead, featuring the same pendant lights at the same height.

Blue Backsplash Kitchen Lighting

Pendant lamps are only one of the many options you can choose from when it comes to over the sink task lighting for the kitchen. This eclectic space designed by Randall Architects proposes a set of three sconces, one above each of the windows.

Kitchen Sink Lighting Fixtures

This is what you get when you combine traditional appeal with contemporary design. The role of sink lighting is all about providing task lighting. With this in mind, pendant light size is important.

This farmhouse kitchen, designed by Smith & Vansant Architects, is an example of how harmony is achieved when you have enough room.

Geometric Frame Light Fixture

Hanging several pendants at optimal height is a popular, but other options like sconces, spotlights, and small chandeliers are also good ideas. This rustic style kitchen, designed by Frank Shirley Architects, is a source of interior light inspiration.

Flushed Mount Light Fixture

For some kitchens, pendant lighting doesn’t work well. You want your kitchen to have aesthetic appeal, so consider your kitchen decor. With a kitchen island, the lighting should work with it rather than against it.

This design from recipegirl, is an example of how white kitchen cabinets in a dining area can help illuminate a kitchen space. If you use your kitchen island as a dining table,, then flush mount lighting wouldn’t be too bright.

To safeguard against overbearing lights, install a dimmer switch so you’ll have more control over the room’s brightness.

Recessed Lighting

Among all lighting ideas, when lighting your kitchen space, you have serval ceiling light options. Here are a few that offer contemporary appeals and more inspiration for your kitchen.

This kitchen layout is from Blair Design. The sink is in front of the window which provides natural light. The stylish hanging pendant is a subtle light source at night. With the black metal shades and brass sink fixtures, and industrial color scheme is achieved.

Contemporary Style Lighting Ideas

These over sink sconces not only look beautiful and chic but are also very practical. The Imbrie articulating sconce has an adjustable arm design that lets you position them. If you’d like to find out more details about this beautiful kitchen you can check out stylebyemilyhenderson.

Oil Rubbed Bronze Finish

The kitchen is a good place to hang some rustic or industrial-looking pendant lamps. They’d look right at home above the sink or in key areas in need of task lighting.

You can combine them with sconces or spotlights to create a diversified and practical design perfect for this space. Check out devolkitchens for more details about this particular kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

What kind of light goes over kitchen sink?

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, you should use recessed lighting as much as possible. This involves using standard lighting such as natural ligting from a window or recessed lighting fixture.

What are the lights above sink called?

Lights over the sink are called recessed lights. Years back, recessed lighting usually involved the use of one incadecent bulb or a bright spotlight while nowadays, there is a wide selection to choose from.

How far should a pendant light hang over a sink?

Pendant lighting comes in handy when you’re doing important tasks in the kitchen such as washing dishes. It’s recommended to position your pendant 30 to 40 inches above the sink or counter.

What size recessed light over sink in kitchen?

For proper lighting, you can use two 6 inch recessed lights. You can include more lights if you want more illumination.

Can I Use Floodlights Over A Kitchen Sink?

Floodlights are meant for outdoor use. However, as a form of recessed lighting, they can work well in your kitchen. The benefit they offer is how they handle moisture generated from daily tasks.

How Far Does A Light Switch Need To Be From A Kitchen Sink?

A light switch should not be more than two feet from a kitchen sink in either direction.

Can I Install A Motion Sensor Light Fixture Over My Kitchen Sink?

If you want motion sensor lights in your kitchen, the best place to install them would be under your cabinets. If you installed sensor lights over your kitchen sink, it would cause problems at night when you used your sink.

What Is the Best Way to Install Lights On A Ceiling Beam?

For ceiling beams, install spotlights around the perimeter of the room for optimum kitchen lighting. Position the spotlights at the highest point of the side walls and direct them up and across the beams at an angle

You could also go with a diffused light style as a backup option.

Over Kitchen Sink Lighting Conclusion

When installing light over your kitchen sink, there are several options. Many homeowners do not dedicate enough attention to the lighting style in their kitchen sink area. However, the kitchen is a great spot to add lights and set an overall mood for your living space.

As you’ve seen here, natural lighting is an easy way to give your kitchen space more light. However, after the sun has set, your mid-century kitchen, for example, needs sufficient lighting. And this is where your kitchen sink area could benefit from additional kitchen lighting like undercabinet lighting, for example. If you’re afraid that you ‘ll have too much light, install a dimmer switch in your kitchen.

With lights above your kitchen sink, for your first purchase, consider pendant lighting. The light fixture is an interior design favorite. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you might need to install several pendants, but other styles are available.

As we’ve said before, interior design is about you and your personality. However, one thing that cannot be denied is how your kitchen area needs sufficient lighting. When designing your kitchen layout, aim for a rich visual texture.