Kitchen lighting options compared: Pendants vs. spotlights vs. under-cabinet

When you imagine your dream kitchen, lighting might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But it should be. The right lighting doesn't just illuminate the space, it sets the tone, enhances usability, and completes the look. Done well, lighting makes your cabinets shine, your worktops feel luxurious, and your late-night snack runs far more pleasant.

TL;DR

Pendants bring visual drama and define zones. Spotlights ensure functional brightness across the room. Under-cabinet lighting offers subtle, practical support. The best kitchen lighting design tends to combine all three for both style and usability.

Pendants: Character and Focal Point

Pendant lights are the show ponies of kitchen lighting. They hang with intention, often above an island or dining table, and bring personality to the space. Whether you're after something sculptural, vintage or minimalist, there's a pendant for it.

That said, they’re more about mood than practicality. You wouldn’t want to rely on pendants alone while dicing onions or measuring flour. They can cast shadows if not balanced with task lighting, and their placement needs thought. Too low and you’re ducking every time you walk by.

In kitchens with islands or peninsulas, pendants work brilliantly to help define the layout. For more on that, take a look at our guide to island vs peninsula kitchens.

Spotlights: Practical and Unfussy

Spotlights don’t crave attention, and that’s their charm. Installed in the ceiling, they create an even wash of light that’s hard to fault for daily use. They’re particularly good in narrow kitchens, or where natural light is limited.

Spacing is everything though. Bunch them too close together and it’ll feel like a dental surgery. Too far apart and you’re cooking in patches of shadow. We always recommend pairing them with a dimmer switch for greater control.

If you’re planning a full kitchen renovation, it’s worth considering how much lighting you can install yourself and what’s better left to the pros. Our article on DIY vs professional kitchen installation might help you make the call.

Under-Cabinet Lighting: Subtle but Smart

Easily overlooked, under-cabinet lighting is one of those features you’ll appreciate every single day. Mounted discreetly under your wall cabinets, it illuminates worktops without flooding the whole room.

Think of it as your secret weapon, ideal for chopping veg at dusk or setting a calm, low-lit tone when the rest of the house has wound down. It also adds a bit of theatre. That ambient glow beneath your cabinets gives a polished, designer finish without trying too hard.

If you’re refining your kitchen’s visual details, you may want to think about complementary upgrades like undermount versus Belfast sinks - another subtle decision that makes a big difference in look and function.

Combining Lighting for Best Effect

Most modern kitchens blend all three lighting types - not for the sake of it, but because they each serve different needs. Spotlights provide broad visibility. Pendants create zones and add charm. Under-cabinet lighting supports your workflow.

You’ll want to think about how each space gets used throughout the day. The prep zone needs clarity. The dining area needs atmosphere. The kitchen as a whole needs balance.

This idea of layering lighting is something we explore further in our piece on pendants vs spotlights vs under-cabinet lighting.

Beams Renovation’s Take

In our experience, lighting has the biggest mood-to-cost ratio of any kitchen feature. You can spend thousands on cabinetry and still feel like something’s missing - and it’s often the light.

At Beams, we consider lighting from the start. We don’t just throw in a few ceiling spots at the end and call it done. We ask how you use your kitchen. Where you read the paper. When the room is busiest. Whether you want soft light for evening meals or clean brightness for cooking with kids.

We think the best kitchens aren’t just well-lit. They’re thoughtfully lit, with each fixture pulling its weight, day and night.