Design Guide: Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas and Planning | Lights and Lights

The lighting for a kitchen island will vary depending on how the island is used.  Bright and localized lighting (task lighting) is necessary if the island is used for a high number of tasks such as: food preparation, doing paperwork, kids homework, or household projects. However, if you only use it as a place to have breakfast or for an after-school snack, softer lighting (ambient lighting) will do. So the question is: where do you lie on the ambient lighting/task lighting line:

Knowing where you lie on this ambient/task line will help in choosing what kitchen island lighting fixtures to use

There is a vast array of kitchen lighting fixtures that you can choose from, and those who are searching for kitchen island lighting ideas may wish to consider the following.

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If you are using the kitchen island causally, i.e. quick meals, and not for tasks then general ambient lighting will provide the right level of lighting. Ambient lighting in a kitchen will include general ceiling lights such as recessed lighting.