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Do you have a low ceiling kitchen and are feeling stuck on ways to brighten up your space without closing up your kitchen even more? Then this article is for you!
What is considered a low ceiling? Obviously whether a kitchen ceiling feels low depends on the perception of the person and how it impacts functionality of the space, however, in the US, the standard ceiling height for residential kitchens is typically around 8 to 9 feet (approximately 2.4 to 2.7 meters). Therefore, a kitchen with a ceiling height significantly lower than this range may be considered to have a low ceiling.
Low ceilings in a kitchen can pose some serious challenges when trying to elevate your kitchen decor compared to high ceilings or tall ceilings in a kitchen. They can make a kitchen feel more enclosed, smaller, and more cramped. There are also limited design options for a low ceiling kitchen such as less options for cabinet designs or lighting options and can make it even more difficult for a small kitchen.
Yes, lighting options!! Because too oversized light fixtures may not fit comfortably or standard pendant lights or chandeliers may hang too low… It’s essential to avoid overcrowding with bulky fixtures in a low ceiling kitchen. In addition, natural lighting may be reduced making the space feel darker and less inviting. So, it’s important that we incorporate great artificial lighting in our low ceiling kitchen however we need to be smart with it!
This article will discuss 7 kitchen lighting ideas for low ceilings so you can elevate and brighten up your kitchen space without cluttering and enclosing the space even more!
If you’ve read my article here on small bathroom lighting ideas, I discussed the different types of lightings (task, ambient, accent) and how they are essential to brightening up a space! We will go over address some of those concepts here with different light sources so be sure to look at that article for a quick review!
Kitchen Lighting Ideas for Low Ceilings
1. Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting can look so beautiful and so sleek and is a great way to illuminate a low ceiling kitchen! They are considered flush lights or flush ceiling lights as they sit flush with the ceiling, which maximizes overhead space. In a kitchen with low ceilings, this can help avoid making the space feel even more cramped by minimizing hanging lighting fixtures
In addition, have a sleek and minimalist design, making them visually unobtrusive. They blend seamlessly into the ceiling, providing illumination and enough light without drawing attention to themselves. This can help create a clean and uncluttered look in the kitchen!
2. Flushed Mount Fixtures
One of the best kitchen lighting ideas for low ceilings! Flush-mounted fixtures are lighting fixtures that are installed directly against the ceiling or wall, as opposed to hanging down from it. These fixtures typically have a low profile, meaning they don’t protrude far from the surface they’re mounted on like pendant lighting does.
Because of this, these can be PERFECT for low ceilings. They come in SO many various colors, styles and designs making it a perfect choice to decorate your kitchen. You can hang them in the center of your kitchen, above your dining room, or dining table and it can be particulary nice above your kitchen island if you have one.
They also provide uniform and even illumination across the entire kitchen which helps minimize any shadows and ensure that your kitchen is perfectly lit.
Lastly, Flush mount fixtures are typically easier to clean compared to pendant lights or chandeliers, as they don’t have dangling parts or intricate designs that can collect dust and dirt. Can a great option to make it an easier space to clean!
3. Under-Cabinet Lighting
With limited overhead space, under cabinet lighting doesn’t take up any additional headroom, making it an efficient choice for low-ceiling kitchens.
They also provide amazing task, ambient, and accent lighting! Under cabinet lighting can provide great task lighting as cabinet lights can provide focused illumination directly onto countertops, which is beneficial for things like meal prepping, cooking, or cleaning. This targeted lighting can improve visibility in areas where overhead lighting might cast shadows and make things difficult to see! In addition, these types of lights can help illuminate dark corners in your kitchen!
Under cabinet lighting can provide great ambient lighting as it can provide great cozy vibes depending on the brightness levels!
Lastly, it can provide great accent lighting as it can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the kitchen by highlighting backsplashes, countertops, and kitchen decor. It can add depth and dimension to the space, making it feel more visually appealing. Under cabinet lights are typically installed discreetly beneath the upper cabinets, keeping the light source out of direct view. This can create a clean, seamless look in the kitchen, which can be very beneficial as we want to minimize clutter as much as possible with low ceilings!
4. LED Panel Lights
LED panel lights are a great choice for low ceiling kitchens! They have a sleek and slim profile, making them ideal for spaces with limited ceiling height. They sit flush against the ceiling, minimizing the amount of space they occupy and ensuring they don’t hang down too far.
LED panel lights come in various shapes, sizes, and color temperature, allowing you to choose the option that best suits your kitchen decor. They can ALSO be dimmable, providing flexibility in various types of tasks or ambiance.
LASTLY, LED panel lights have a nice modern aesthetic that can complement lots of different styles of of kitchens. Their clean lines and unobtrusive design make them a visually appealing choice for low-ceiling kitchens.
5. Semi-Flush Mount Fixtures
Another great choice for kitchen lighting ideas for low ceilings! Semi-flush mount fixtures have a design that allows them to hang down slightly from the ceiling while maintaining a relatively close profile. This means they don’t take up as much space as pendant lights or chandeliers, making them an excellent choice for low-ceiling kitchens!
Semi-flush mount fixtures come in a variety of styles, ranging from modern to traditional, allowing you to find an option that complements any kind of kitchen decor! They add a decorative element to the space WITHOUT overwhelming it, making them a beautiful choice for low-ceiling kitchens.
An absolutely perfect choice for ambient lighting that helps to illuminate the entire kitchen space evenly. This ambient lighting can help to brighten up the room and make it feel more inviting, which is especially important in low-ceiling kitchens where natural light may be limited.
6. Track Lighting
Track lighting is a type of lighting fixture that consists of a linear track mounted to the ceiling or wall that can be positioned along the track. These heads typically contain one or more light bulbs, which may be halogen, incandescent, fluorescent, or LED, depending on the specific fixture!
These types of lighting fixtures typically have a low profile, sitting relatively close to the ceiling. This means they won’t take up much space making them a great option for low ceiling kitchens and minimizing any clutter
Also these types of fixtures have multiple light fixtures spaced along the track, providing more uniform illumination compared to one single fixture. This can help to minimize shadows and dark spots in the kitchen and create a nice well-lit space!
Lastly, if you kitchen style is modern or contemporary, track lighting can be an excellent choice for this and often act as a focal point above the center of your kitchen! However, there are so many different design styles of track lighting—like the farmhouse style in the second picture!
7. Adjustable Swing Arm Wall Sconces
Adjustable swing arm wall sconces are lighting fixtures or wall lights mounted on the wall that feature a pivoting arm, allowing the light to be adjusted to wherever you need more light space!
The adjustable arm of these sconces allows for precise positioning of the light, making them ideal for task or accent lighting. You can adjust the angle and direction of the light to suit your specific lighting needs or to highlight particular areas of a room (aka accent lighting). You can install the wall sconces at different heights too depending on your needs!
In a low-ceiling kitchen where space is often limited, adjustable swing arm wall sconces provide excellent task lighting without taking up valuable countertop or floor space. You can mount them on a wall and free up space that would otherwise be occupied by table lamps or floor lamps and install them in particular dark corners of your kitchen.
These sconces come in a variety of styles, finishes, and sizes, making them versatile enough to complement so many different kitchen decor styles. Whether you prefer a modern, minimalist look or a more traditional, decorative style, there’s likely a swing arm wall sconce to suit your tastes!
These types of light fixtures also add great ambient lighting on the type of bulb that is used. A warm colored bulb can great a nice cozy and warming environment to your kitchen!
Lastly, installing adjustable swing arm wall sconces is typically straightforward and can often be done without professional assistance. They can be mounted directly to the wall using screws or brackets, and many models come with plug-in options for easy installation without the need for hardwiring.
Those are some of the best kitchen lighting ideas for low ceilings! You can get super creative with the types of lighting fixtures you choose but please don’t feel helpless if you have lower ceilings. You can really create a beautiful and decorative kitchen design with low ceilings with the right type of lighting!
