Back to blog

Pendant vs. Recessed Lighting in Kitchens

Kitchen

Updated white kitchen with four pendant light fixtures above an island with white and gray granite countertop and electric stove.

Lighting is one of the most important functional and aesthetic features in the kitchen. You need enough illumination to cook and entertain but it’s also nice to have control of the lighting to create a different ambiance.

Pendant lighting fixtures and recessed lighting are two common choices for kitchen remodeling projects — for completely different reasons. If you’re wondering which one you should choose, let us help you decide.

Create Your Dream Home

Pendant Lighting in the Kitchen

A pendant light is a type of fixture that hangs from the ceiling, typically over a kitchen island or a large amount of counter space. This type of fixture is perfect for task lighting or controlling your kitchen’s atmosphere. Pendants can be wonderful accent lights in a large space that draws the eye while still providing function.

For this updated kitchen refurbishment, we placed three pendant lights over the kitchen island. We made sure the pendants had an equal amount of space between each other and were centered over the island for light while cooking on the stove. We also placed a single hanging light over the dining area that added task lighting and an elegant aesthetic to the kitchen design.

Updated kitchen with four pendant lights over the island and glass dining table in foreground with larger round pendant light over it.

Updated white kitchen with four pendant light fixtures above an island with white and gray granite countertop and electric stove.

Recessed Can Lighting in the Kitchen

Flush or semi-flush mounted lighting is typically seen in hallways and smaller spaces. They’re lighting fixtures that are recessed into the ceiling or are closer to the ceiling than a hanging light fixture. A flush-mount lighting fixture for a kitchen works best if the space is smaller or has a low ceiling. To avoid cooks and guests hitting their head on an accent piece, flush-mounted lights provide light while staying out of the way of the action.

In this small kitchen revamp, we chose to place recessed lighting fixtures closer to the edges of the cabinets to light up the most important parts of the kitchen: the stove and counters. You can also place recessed can lighting over the kitchen island. The lighting fixtures may not be focal points, but they illuminate the small space beautifully, highlighting the blue-tiled backsplash and marble countertop.

Small updated white kitchen with recessed can lighting, wood floors, and light blue subway tile backsplash.

Small updated white kitchen with recessed can lighting, wood floors, and light blue subway tile backsplash. View from different angle.

Create Your Dream Home

Think about the space in your kitchen carefully and make sure you’re choosing the right lighting fixture to match your style. Pendant lighting might look gorgeous, but not if it’s in a small space. A recessed lighting fixture may cast light on the stove, but there may not be enough light for a large space.

If you need any help with your choices, let CQC Home find you the perfect kitchen light fixture. Our team has helped homeowners in DurhamRaleighCary, and Chapel Hill with many remodeling projects. Take a look at some of our kitchen projects and whole-home renovations. Trust CQC Home to help you build the home of your dreams.

Contact us today to learn more about kitchen lighting options or schedule a consultation.