Why lighting is one of the most overlooked but transformative parts of kitchen design

It’s not exaggerating to say that lighting can make or break a kitchen design. Particularly in period properties where natural lighting is limited, expertly designed artificial lighting shapes the atmosphere, enhances craftsmanship, and ensures your space works beautifully from morning coffee to late-night entertaining.

In every David Haugh bespoke kitchen, lighting is planned with as much care as cabinetry and appliances because the right illumination brings the whole design to life and also makes it easier to use your kitchen.

This year, we attended Light25, the UK’s only dedicated lighting specification exhibition to find inspiration from over 200 top lighting brands. A visit to the show gave us access to the latest in architectural and decorative lighting, tech and controls. We love to keep abreast of new ideas and products in lighting design to enhance our kitchen designs.

Here’s our guide to the five key types of kitchen lighting and how to combine them effectively.

1. Ambient Lighting: The Foundation Layer

Ambient lighting provides the general illumination that fills the room. It creates a comfortable base level of brightness, ensuring your kitchen feels welcoming and safe to move around in.

Examples:

• Recessed downlights or ceiling spots.
• Flush or semi-flush ceiling fittings.
• Pendant lights giving overall illumination.

Design Tip: Choose dimmable warm-white LEDs (around 2700–3000 K) to maintain a soft, inviting glow. In period homes, position fittings carefully to highlight architectural details without overwhelming them.

2. Task Lighting: Precision Where You Need It

Task lighting focuses light exactly where you need it most. This is over worktops, sinks, and hobs to make chopping, cooking and cleaning easy and safe.

Examples:

• LED strips beneath wall cabinets.
• Recessed spotlights over prep zones.
• Lighting inside larder or pantry cupboards.

Design Tip: We always position task lighting in front of you rather than behind to prevent shadows on your workspace.

3. Accent Lighting: Showcasing Craftsmanship

This is the fun part. Accent lighting draws the eye to special details: a beautiful splashback, open shelving, or the fine joinery of your bespoke cabinetry. When you invest in a bespoke kitchen there are many features to show off, so lighting can be really effective in showcasing everything you have carefully chosen.

Examples:

• Under-worktop or plinth lighting.
• Glass-shelf or display-cabinet LEDs.
• Wall washers highlighting stone or timber textures.

Design Tip: Use subtle, warm tones to emphasise natural materials and craftsmanship; ideal for handmade furniture.

4. Decorative Lighting: The Statement Piece

Decorative fixtures add personality and style. They can define a zone, anchor an island, or create a focal point for dining.

Examples:

• Pendants over a kitchen island.
• Chandeliers in open-plan spaces.
• Sculptural wall sconces.

Design Tip: Choose fittings that reflect your kitchen’s character. Think sleek glass pendants for a modern space, or aged brass for a classic country feel.

5. Natural Lighting: The Ultimate Luxury

Nothing rivals natural light. It enhances colour, brings warmth, and connects the kitchen to the outdoors and it’s particularly valuable in period or country homes.

Examples:

• Large windows or bi-fold doors.
• Roof lanterns or skylights.
• Pale surfaces that reflect daylight.

Design Tip: If your kitchen faces north, balance cooler daylight with warmer artificial light to maintain a welcoming ambience.

Bonus: Smart & Layered Lighting Controls

Modern luxury kitchens increasingly feature smart lighting systems. With programmable zones and dimming options, you can set scenes such as Cooking, Dining, or Entertaining at the touch of a button. We’re experts in knowing what will work with your space and the way you use it.

Design Tip: Integrate lighting design early in your project. This is way before cabinetry is installed, so wiring, switches and fittings are perfectly placed and hidden away.

Bringing It All Together

A beautifully lit kitchen combines these five types of lighting in layers. At David Haugh, we work with clients throughout Kent and Sussex to design lighting schemes that highlight every handcrafted detail from the smooth grain of oak cabinetry to the gleam of polished marble worktops.

Whether you’re renovating a period property or creating a contemporary space, our design team can help you select the perfect combination of ambient, task, accent and decorative lighting to enhance your bespoke kitchen.

Ready to start your kitchen design?

Visit our Bells Yew Green showroom to see examples of how lighting can bring your kitchen to life. Our main showroom features a whole range of ‘scenes’ exclusively created using lighting design. If you’re in Kent, Surrey or Sussex and are ready to start planning your kitchen, contact us to speak with our expert designers.