Kitchen Lighting Mistakes That Are Making Your Space Look Dated

Whether you're undertaking a full kitchen renovation or just looking to make your space more functional, one feature that you shouldn't overlook is the lighting. Carefully planning your kitchen's lighting will not only ensure that you're able to clearly see what you're cooking, but it will also add to the aesthetics of the space.

Unfortunately, lighting a kitchen isn't as easy as many think. As Tim Stassi, the founder of Dwell One Realty, tells House Digest during an exclusive interview, "Lighting in a kitchen is like seasoning in a dish — you may not always notice when it's done right, but when it's done wrong, you can't ignore it. Too dim? Too harsh? Fluorescent nightmare? Time to fix the recipe." 

The good news is that you don't have to be an interiors expert to have great lighting in your kitchen. Instead, you can just borrow the best tips from the pros. We spoke with Stassi and Nikki Klugh, an award-winning interior designer and the principal designer of Nikki Klugh Design Group, to learn more about the top kitchen lighting mistakes that can make a space feel dated and what you should do instead when illuminating your kitchen.

Take a look at the lighting in your kitchen. How many sources do you have? If you answered, "only one," then, you've just identified the first kitchen lighting mistake you're guilty of. Klugh explains how relying on a single source of illumination, particularly a fluorescent or recessed light, can make a kitchen feel dated. "This approach can make the kitchen feel flat and one-dimensional," she explains. 

Instead, Klugh recommends adding layered lighting to boost the ambiance. She says, "Incorporate under-cabinet lighting to brighten countertops, pendants over islands to create focal points, and recessed lighting for ambient illumination." Pendant fixtures (like Casamotion's Hand Blown Lighting) paired with some under cabinet LEDs (such as Black+Decker's Under Cabinet Lights) could help you achieve this more layered look that Klugh suggests. With multiple options, you can customize the brightness of the space based on what you're doing, increasing visibility when prepping foods or relying on softer lighting when having a casual evening gathering.

If your kitchen lighting is making your space look dated, it might be due to the design of the fixtures. Whether they have been there for years or you've recently replaced them, Klugh cautions that super ornate fixtures can prevent a modern vibe. She uses heavy bronze chandeliers or other fixtures with intricate scrollwork and frosted glass as examples of "styles that take away from the beauty of your kitchen." Instead of providing light to illuminate the rest of the space, these too-detailed pieces will become the focus of attention themselves.

To refocus attention on the design elements you want to highlight, Klugh says, "Replace overly ornate fixtures with sleek, modern options. Think elegant linear pendants in brushed gold, sculptural designs, or minimalist fixtures with clean lines." As an example, these sleek LMS Pendant Lights, with their mid-century design and brushed gold finish that Klugh highlights, could fit the bill when you're looking for a replacement. 

Lighting trends have certainly changed over the years. So, if you haven't updated the fixtures in your kitchen since the '80s or '90s, then it's no surprise they're making your space feel dated. As Klugh explains, "Fixtures with outdated finishes, like shiny brass or overly rustic oil-rubbed bronze, can make a kitchen feel stuck in the past."

Bringing your kitchen into the 21st century calls for some new and trending light fixtures. As you're shopping, consider Klugh's advice. She says, "Mixing materials — like combining matte black, brushed gold, or alabaster — brings depth and richness to fixtures." To achieve this more modern look, consider adding some brushed gold fixtures over the sink along with a dark fixture over your kitchen island (such as the Zglaojt Matte Black Ceiling Light). For a more subtle contrast, you might pair a creamy finish (like this OSRoyce's Alabaster Pendant Light) with a sleek gold chandelier.

You may still find recessed lighting in modern kitchen designs. However, that doesn't mean that the specific recessed fixtures in your space look up-to-date. Over the past several years, technology has improved and so too has the design of these features. If you have older recessed can lights with a wide trim, Klugh explains that they could be making your kitchen feel outdated. Klugh points to another lighting choice you should avoid in your kitchen at all costs. She says that "older fluorescent box fixtures with plastic panels also lend themselves to feeling dated."

So, it might be time to implement some changes in your kitchen. If you want to keep the recessed lighting, consider upgrading to a more modern design. Updated fixtures – like this 12-pack of Recessed Ceiling lights from Ensenior – have minimal trim, making them a much sleeker choice. If your kitchen has any of those fluorescent box fixtures that Klugh cautions against, now might be the right time to swap them out. A new LED fixture, such as the Luest Modern LED Black Square Ceiling Light or the Tengxin Brushed Gold Pendant Lights, can deliver a clean and modern feel.

You likely use your kitchen for more than one type of task. So, it makes sense that using the same color temperature throughout the entire space can make your space feel dated and less functional. You may end up with prep spaces that aren't lit crisply enough to see clearly when you're measuring, chopping, or mixing ingredients. But if you opt for brighter, cool lighting throughout the whole room, more social areas of the kitchen will have a harsh feel that won't be conducive to relaxing.

As Klugh explains, "Color temperature is everything when it comes to creating the right mood and functionality in a kitchen. Modern kitchens often use a mix of color temperatures, layering warm lighting in social areas and cooler lighting where precision is needed. It's a balance that elevates the space while keeping it highly functional." 

To follow Klugh's advice, pair light sources like Daybetter's Edison Warm White LED Bulbs with the Ruiyey Modern Chandelier over the kitchen table where you would enjoy a quiet meal. Then, for the areas where you prep and cook food, opt for cooler task lighting, such as the Wobane White Under Cabinet Dimmable LED Lighting. If you have an island that you utilize for both social gatherings and meal prep, look for smart bulbs that allow you to change the color temperature to your needs at the moment. 

If you don't have dimmer switches (and dimmable bulbs) in your kitchen, Stassi says that you've been making a mistake. "Without dimmers, you're caught with one degree of brightness all the time," explains Stassi. And, that single setting is leaving you in the past. You can't customize the lighting to match the specific way the space is being used at a given time.

So, follow Stassi's advice and opt for more customizable lighting that matches the various tasks and activities you perform in your kitchen. You can install a dimmer switch without calling an electrician if you feel like you have some basic knowledge of wiring. Or, you could always leave this task in the hands of a qualified professional for better peace of mind. A high-tech option like Kasa's Smart Dimmer Switch even allows you to turn your lights up or down by asking Google or Alexa. "Imagine being capable of altering your kitchen lights based on what you are doing — brilliant for cooking, softer for dinner, and a comfortable glow for late-night time snacking," shares Stassi. With your new dimmer switches, this will be a reality, not only something to dream about.