This Lighting Style Makes Your Kitchen Look Instantly Dated

If lighting is the jewelry of the room (and it is!), it stands to reason that lighting trends will come and go. Of course, swapping out lights is a little bit more involved than changing earrings, but compared to, say, changing tile or counters, it can still be a relatively painless way to update your kitchen. 

If you’re looking to refresh your space this year, you’re in luck. To find out what’s in and out in 2024 when it comes to kitchen lighting, I talked to designers and experts for the inside scoop on three lighting trends that are hot — and one that is not.

Overall, designers and homeowners alike are leaning into cozier lighting options for the kitchen. “We are seeing a shift towards more intimate and warm lighting options, creating a cozier atmosphere, just like a living room,” says Dabito, a designer, artist, and author of Old Brand New: Colorful Homes for Maximal Living.

“Since the kitchen is a central gathering spot, I recommend placing table lamps on countertops, islands, and shelves to introduce a softer ambiance,” Dabito says. “Instead of conventional task light sconces, consider using fixtures with natural materials that infuse warmth into the space, like this Mitzi sconce. This approach not only enhances the functionality of the kitchen, but also makes it a more inviting area for family and friends to enjoy.”

Elaine Thompson, a NYC & Charleston-based interior designer and the principal behind Pistachio Designs, seconds that. “A small-scale task lamp adds a warm, cozy, intimate feel to a kitchen space,” she says. Battery-powered lamps like these are “ideal for early mornings or late nights when you don’t want to turn on all of the overhead fixtures,” Thompson says.  And because there’s no cord (and no clutter!), you have “even more flexibility to move around the light wherever you need it most.”

Forget big box stores — one of the things I love most in my new home’s dining area is the vintage light fixture that echoes the ’50s build of the house. “There’s a growing trend of embracing vintage lighting by repurposing antique fixtures,” says Ellen Marie Bennett, founder and chief brand officer of Hedley & Bennett, and host of Kitchen Glow Up. 

“Homeowners and interior designers are drawn to the timeless appeal and craftsmanship of vintage pieces, finding creative ways to integrate them into modern spaces,” says Bennett. “Whether refurbishing old chandeliers as focal points in contemporary dining rooms, or converting retro desk lamps into stylish accents for home offices, the trend highlights a desire for unique, sustainable decor that tells a story. This move towards vintage lighting adds character and warmth to interiors and also highlights a shift towards more thoughtful design choices. ”   

While functional recessed can lights may not be disappearing anytime soon, some designers want to see them take a back seat to lighting you can, well, see. 

“I’m so pleased to continue seeing excitement over decorative surface-mounted lighting in kitchens of all sizes,” says Noz Nozawa, principal designer and founder of Noz Design. “From small flush-mount lights in place of recessed can lights, to megawatt statement chandeliers and oversize pendants over kitchen islands, I just love kitchen lighting that you can see, versus only having discrete architectural lighting.”

That said, Nozawa also likes lighting that actually helps you see, in new but clever ways. “Another lighting feature I want to include more in my future kitchen lighting is “nightlight” toe kicks,” she says. These are a low-light glow on the bottom of kitchen cabinets “that lets you grab a water refill late at night without having to skulk around in the dark or blast your eyes with light.”

Nobody says kitchen lighting has to look, well, kitchen-y. When I moved into my new house and had a bare light bulb on the ceiling at first, I grabbed a floor lamp from the living room to provide some light. Even after I replaced the overhead fixture I liked the lamp so much, I kept it (and am working by its glow on a cloudy day as we speak!).

This speaks to the trend of mixing things up when it comes to lighting in a kitchen. “Matching the decor is predictable,” says Isabel Ladd of Isabel Ladd Interiors. “Mixing up lighting in a kitchen is unique and lends to a curated, collected look,” Ladd says. The approach is simple: “Bring in lights that you’d traditionally find in other areas of the house. For instance, library sconces flanking a stovetop, lamps you would find in a living room tucked under a countertop, and a statement light (whether it’s antique or simply just awesome) as a focal point over an island.”

Ladd has a quick rule of thumb for her lighting queries. “I ask myself: Does this light look ‘kitchen-y’?” she says. “If it does, then I don’t use it! If the answer is ‘no, it could belong in another part of the house, too,’ then that’s when I know I’ve found the right mix!” Whether you agree with Ladd’s creative take on kitchen lighting or just want a cozier space, now you know the hottest lighting trends on their way in (and out!) this year.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: The “Dated” Kitchen Lighting Trend on Its Way Out in 2024 (and 3 on Their Way in!), According to Designers