1. PLAN IN YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND LIGHTING FROM THE START
Lighting, in most rooms, is often an afterthought, something the add-in at the final stage. But we are of the belief that lighting should be planned in a room at the really early stages as it's so key to a room functioning and feeling right. And this is so true of kitchen islands, if you plan to add pendants above your island factor them in when you are making all the big decisions on size and shape, and layout.
2. GET YOUR SIZING SPOT ON
As well as positioning, you need to consider sizing. Of course, you want your kitchen island pendants to make a statement but above all else, they need to be practical. A kitchen island is potentially one of the hardest working pieces in your home, and the lighting needs to be functional. In order for your kitchen lighting to work you need to consider the best size for your space.
3. CREATE A REAL FOCAL POINT WITH YOUR PENDANT LIGHTING
So we've established that kitchen island pendant lighting needs to be practical, but that doesn't mean it can't be a beautiful focal point of your space too.
4. HANG LIGHTING IN ODD NUMBERS
The rule of three is the oldest trick in the interior design book, and it actually has science to back up why odd numbers always work best in interiors. It's something to do with the brain taking longer to register odd numbers and it's not a sequence like groups of even numbers and therefore you will spend longer taking in something made up of odd numbers over even. Essentially odd numbers are more interesting to look at and have more intrigue.
5. BUT SYMMETRY CAN BE SATISFYING WITH ISLAND PENDANTS
That being said, symmetry can be equally satisfying to the eye, and hanging just two pendants above an island is such a classic look. 'Another way to even out the appearance is to choose a pair of oversized pendants that stretch across the space.' adds Peter Legg.
6. GO OVERSIZED BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE
If you are blessed with a large kitchen island, a large kitchen, or tall ceilings, you are going to want to go big with your pendant lights. Of course, there will be exceptions but in general, if you have a larger kitchen island with seating, you don't want a couple of small pendants floating above, you want to create a balance.
7. LAYER ISLAND PENDANT LIGHTING WITH OTHER SOURCES
This is so key to creating a kitchen lighting scheme that works – no matter how big or how bright your pendant lighting you need to layer it with other lighting sources. This will prevent that pooling of light we have talked so much about, not only giving you a nice even overall glow when you need it, but also supplying tasking lighting for areas like the cooking space and worktops elsewhere in your kitchen layout.
8. MATCH KITCHEN ISLAND PENDANTS FOR A COHESIVE SCHEME
And since your island pendant lighting is therefore potentially not going to be the only lighting in your kitchen, consider how it will look with the lighting used around the rest of the room. Do want a cohesive look like the one above or would you rather mix and match your lighting? The one thing we will say is try and have some link with the lighting throughout the space, whether that be they are the same shade, same shape, or same size.
9. BLEND STYLES WITH YOUR CHOICE OF ISLAND PENDANT
Pendant lights can be a really easy way to introduce a style into a kitchen and create a really characterful mix. For example, you may really like the rustic aesthetic, but can't part with your classic Shaker units, so just bring in an element of rustic with say a couple of rattan or seagrass pendants. Super simple but effective.
10. GO FOR SOMETHING THAT ADDS CHARACTER
If perfectly uniform pendants aren't quite your style, something quirky and unexpected can totally work over a kitchen island. Vintage holophane lights have been grouped together over this kitchen island, adding different shapes and levels of lighting which really effectively light up the whole room.