Lighting Tip #16 - Kitchen Islands

A kitchen island is often where people gather, work gets done, and meals get eaten. Because the island is usually located in the center of the room, it is typically the focal point. Lighting an island with pendants gives it adequate lighting without being too visually dominant. 

  1. Hang pendants between 30” and 36” from the bottom of the pendant to the surface of the island.  
  2. The space between the pendants should be larger than the diameter of an individual pendant, typically at least 18” apart. 
  3. Place the end pendants 12” to 15” from the edge of the surface, and space them evenly within that span.
  4. If only two pendants, hang at least 30” apart, equal distance from the center of the surface.

Tip: To have symmetry between the pendants, follow the “Rule of Three” which states that balance is created by repeating an element three times.