Kitchen Lighting to Transform Your Space

The kitchen, as they say, is the heart of the home. No matter how often you try to shoo guests to other parts of your home, everyone seems to congregate in the kitchen. Even when you're not entertaining, there's a good chance that you and your family spend an incredible amount of time in the kitchen, which is probably why kitchens often top the list of spaces people want to remodel. Fortunately, something as simple as changing kitchen lighting can dramatically transform the room, no demolition required.

The Details

As the place where you prepare food, it's essential that your kitchen be a well-lit space. Depending on the layout of your home, your kitchen may also be a place for sharing meals, doing homework, socializing, working from home and more, so it's important to take into account all of the different ways you use the space when you start to think about designing or updating your lighting scheme. Having both ambient and task lighting options gives you flexibility and helps ensure that you have plenty of practical lighting as well as the ability to adjust the light to create an atmosphere that is warm and inviting.

Since counter space is always at a premium, ceiling lighting is the most common choice for the kitchen. A mix of recessed lighting, flushmounts and pendants is often recommended, particularly for smaller spaces. If you have an open floor plan or a larger kitchen, you might find that you have a need for dining room lighting as well, so a pair of sconces or a dramatic chandelier might be just what your kitchen/dining area needs. West Elm carries a wide variety of options in all of these categories, so you'll have no trouble finding something that suits your needs and aesthetic. Here are just a few of the available kitchen lighting options:

• Sculptural Glass 7-Light Globe Chandelier - This statement-making piece features spherical glass shades with a dramatic metallic ombre finish. You can choose from three hardware finishes, each with a complementary metallic shade. Doubley customize the look by opting for uniform or mixed shade sizes, and create a beautiful focal point over your dining table or island.
• Wicker Globe Pendant - Available with a natural or black cane shade, this charming pendant light adds a relaxed, boho touch to any space. Both modern and organic, the Wicker Globe Pendant can be adjusted to hang at various heights, making it easily adaptable to most spaces.
• Edie Prismatic Flushmount - The textured prismatic glass shade on the Edie is a contemporary take on vintage lighting. With an antique brass finish and a textured, clear glass shade, this elegant flushmount light adds a bit of retro glamour to any room.