Lamps for the kitchen above the table: how to choose good lighting

Lighting plays an important role in the design of any apartment, performing the function of zoning and decor at the same time. Lamps above the bar counter not only allow you to focus attention on a stylish piece of furniture, but also provide a comfortable stay for guests and household members. Modern design techniques allow you to experiment with the general concept of the room, bring your wildest fantasies to life, making your home a real work of art. Bar lamps are presented in a wide range by Russian and foreign manufacturers, but choosing the right lighting fixtures correctly is not as easy a task as it might seem at first glance. Experienced experts will help you understand the classification of lamps and advise current options for designing a bar counter.

Depending on the style of the room, lamps above the bar counter can be compact or large, discreet antique or bright, attracting attention.

Photo hunt: 57 ideas for planning lighting for your work surface and dining table

In Russia, kitchens are planned differently than in Europe. The differences are predetermined by the purpose of the room. For Europeans, this is a work area; they have lunch in a separate room. For Russians, this option is unacceptable. There is always a table (or at least a bar counter).

The housewife uses the table in the kitchen:

for activities with children;
working on a laptop;
to read in silence;
to have some privacy with a friend.

Most carefully plan the design and placement of furniture. Lighting often consists of a chandelier and a lamp near the work area.

Beautiful kitchen lighting for a large family The number and placement of lighting fixtures must be planned before the renovation begins (after dividing the space into functional zones).

It is important to understand that there is no kitchen for which a chandelier is enough. If the area allows you to highlight the dining area, a separate kitchen lamp is required above the dining table. It would also help to have sconces and lighting for the second row of cabinets, as well as lighting for the countertop, stove and sink.

Lights can be used to correct imperfections. If the room is narrow, it will be expanded by lighting fixtures along a short wall. The low ceiling will be “raised” by sconces on the wall, directing the flow of light upward. A massive loft pendant lamp for the kitchen above the table is only suitable for a room with a high ceiling.

At the planning stage, it is advisable to determine the light temperature for each zone. The kitchen lamp above the work table should emit cold light, and warm light above the dining table. Experts advise using LEDs as much as possible. They allow you to adjust the light level and save on energy consumption.

How many lamps to use

The first question that arises when organizing lighting above the bar counter in the kitchen is the number of light sources:

A composition of 3 or 5 lamps will be more convenient, especially if each can be turned on separately. But more often such lighting is done from an aesthetic point of view. Usually these are pendant lamps located at a height of 75-90 cm from the tabletop and at the same distance from each other, but not more than one meter, 15 cm from the edge of the furniture. The bar counter lighting will not be the only source of light in the kitchen, so when choosing the number of lamps, both the power of the central chandelier and the amount of other lighting are taken into account.

If you want to add sconces, they are mounted on the wall at a height of 1.7-2 meters from the floor, slightly higher than the head of a sitting person, so that the light does not blind the eyes.

Natural light

Lamps above the kitchen table are not needed during the day if the room has a large window and the dining area is located nearby. But this rarely happens. The apartments have standard window openings; in the dark, artificial lighting is still required.

One light fixture above the table

A feeling of coziness is created by pendant lamps for the kitchen above the dining table. It is advisable to give preference to devices that emit diffused light. They can be considered the best option. If the lighting fixture is unusual and beautiful, it brings the entire interior together into a single whole and radically changes its character.

When purchasing, it is important to consider the height of the ceiling. A chandelier with a rigid mount is not always suitable (its height cannot be changed). Preference should be given to models with a cord or chain. It is equally important to accurately calculate the installation location and the optimal diameter of the lighting fixture. The conclusion made by the builders for the lamp is often not suitable.

Uniform lighting

Hanging single lamps for the kitchen above the dining table in the form of chandeliers provide a variety of lighting. The ones that look original are those that spread streams of light 360 degrees without creating glare. A striking example is the artichoke chandelier designed by Paul Henningsen.

Dormer windows

In a country house, it is possible to install skylights. The horizontal arrangement makes it possible to transmit a luminous flux that is 2 times higher than the vertical one.

Most often, roof windows are installed in living rooms and bedrooms. In fact, such designs are most needed in kitchens. Natural light makes cooking and dining easier. If the room is small, the flow of natural light will visually enlarge it. Installing windows directly on the ceiling allows light to spread more evenly.

Light from above

There will be enough light from attic windows if their area is at least 10% of the area of the room. Otherwise, you will need kitchen wall lights above the table.

We multiply the light

To “reproduce” light, designers offer:

a mirror is installed opposite any lighting fixture;
in the absence of a window, ceiling lights for the kitchen above the table are complemented by mirrored walls;
additional light can be provided by a biofireplace combined with a glass panel or mirror;
pendant lamps for the kitchen above the table are complemented by a floor mirror;
hanging lamps for the kitchen above the table are complemented by mirror mosaics on the ceiling (“honeycombs” collect and reflect flows).

Accent lighting

Accents are created using track lamps. These devices highlight the details of the interior or dining area.

Advantages of track lighting:

space saving due to ceiling mounting;
compactness;
light weight;
ease of installation;
a wide range of power, sizes, number of lamps;
easy to use (the lamps easily change the height and direction of the light flux);
Possibility of distribution of meals among groups.

One track lamp can replace several traditional lighting fixtures.

Lighting fixtures installed on the busbar

Such light sources are installed in functional rooms. They allow you to illuminate individual objects, one of the zones.

Other advantages:

suitable for basic and directional lighting;
during installation, the ceiling material does not matter;
the lamps are comfortable, simple, functional;
externally suitable for different styles: loft, minimalism, Scandinavian and others.

If necessary, the busbar can be installed on the wall.

Spot lighting

If spotlights are built into the suspended ceiling, a kitchen lamp above the table is still needed (see photo). Rotating spotlights are used to illuminate chairs.

When combining the kitchen area with the living room, it is important to provide the possibility of separate lighting. It is better to install a beautiful chandelier in the living room, and spotlights in the kitchen area.

Floor lamp, floor lamp

To highlight the dining table, in addition to the ceiling chandelier, you can use wall, table, floor lamps, and floor lamps.

Floor lamps come in various shapes, with decorations in the form of figurines of houses and animals. They differ from floor lamps in the absence of a tripod and lampshade. Used to illuminate individual objects.

The convenience of a floor lamp is that it can be moved to any location. This quality is very useful for lighting a dining table. If the floor lamp is not needed, you can simply move it aside. One mobile floor light replaces several conventional lamps.

Regardless of the size of the kitchen, general lighting is not able to provide adequate illumination. Requires (at least) 2 additional appliances: above the work table and the dining table. Many people refuse general lighting, leaving only local lighting. This is a convenient option if the kitchen has a lot of floor and wall cabinets. In addition to convenience, this approach reduces energy costs due to periodic inactivity in certain areas of the room. A large selection of light sources makes it possible to make any room convenient and comfortable.

How to choose lamps for the kitchen

When choosing lighting for the kitchen, you need to start not only from your own wishes, but also from a clear understanding of the functional tasks assigned to kitchen lamps.

A kitchen plan with all work areas, as well as the following rules, will help with this:

It is better not to choose colored lamps for the kitchen. The lighting should be moderately bright, so white or transparent shades and lamps are suitable here.
In a small room, you can do without a traditional central chandelier under the ceiling, replacing it with spotlights. If you still prefer a chandelier, avoid massive, flashy models. Opt for a lightweight multi-lamp device that will visually raise the ceiling.
Bright directional light is needed above the work areas, so it is better to consider a system of spots above the sink, cutting table and stove. In the common area and above the dining table, sources of diffused light - pendant lamps - are appropriate.
When choosing pendant lights, consider their size. Lights should not hang too low over workspaces, otherwise they will interfere with movement around the kitchen. The optimal height of the chandelier is about 1/4 of the entire height of the kitchen. For small rooms, the best option is wall sconces, spotlights, overhead lamps and LED lamps built into a cassette suspended ceiling.
If you can't imagine a kitchen without a cozy chandelier, choose a lamp with an upward direction of light so that shadows are not cast on the workspaces.
The dining area is successfully complemented by a chandelier suspended not in the center of the room, but directly above the dining space. Imagine the style of the table, chairs and chandelier; it may differ from the work area.
Lamps in the kitchen can and should be combined with each other in color, style, and the nature of the light distribution.
For the kitchen, it is better to choose lamps made from natural materials: ceramics, wood, metal, glass. This is important because the environmental safety of the space depends on the material, and lighting fixtures in the kitchen are often used more often than in other rooms of the house or apartment.

Shapes and sizes

The next thing you need to decide on when choosing a bar counter is its shape. The following options are available:

corner - universal furniture that will allow you to use the room as efficiently as possible.
Zones the space, emphasizes the interior; Light green kitchen with a gray bar counter and a yellow apron

U-shaped - Suitable for large and very large kitchens. Combines several work surfaces, making the cooking process as comfortable as possible. It will serve as the main accent of the room, setting the tone and style of the entire kitchen;
rectangular (square) - a classic version of the stand, without corners and turns. Thanks to the shape, it is easy to fit any equipment or shelves under the rack;

rounded (oval) - one of the previous options, but with cut corners;

incorrect - can be in the form of any geometric figure. It is rare because it is difficult to fit into the interior.

It is worth saying a few words about size standards. The height of the rack directly depends on the tabletop. And the tabletops range in height from 82 to 110 centimeters - they are selected individually to suit the height of the hostess. For comparison, the height of a regular table is 75 centimeters.

We talked in great detail about how to choose the height of the bar counter, chairs and stools in this article.

The height of the bar counter is also selected individually: you need to take another 15–20 centimeters up from the tabletop. On average it reaches 110–130 centimeters. If we are talking about a combined version, then it is installed at the level of the working area - 86–90 cm from the floor.

The minimum width is 30 centimeters, but the optimal value is considered to be 60–80 centimeters - you can sit behind it on both sides. But the length depends on the size of the room and the number of users. Usually 60 centimeters is taken per person.

It is also important to consider the thickness of the tabletop: reliable options start from 25 mm.

Types of lamps for the kitchen

Performing different functional tasks, lighting devices have differences in models, configurations, shapes, and placement methods. Not all lamps used in living rooms, offices or children's rooms will be appropriate in the kitchen.

The following appliances are suitable for the kitchen space:

According to the installation method, preference should be given to ceiling, pendant and wall lamps. It is not recommended to place floor lamps like floor lamps in the kitchen - they will interfere with free movement.
Kitchen lamps hanging from the ceiling are chandeliers, lampshades, lamps on cables or slats. They will ennoble the room, and the unusual design and configuration will make the kitchen memorable and original. If desired, you can install several pendant light sources in the kitchen: in the work area, common area or dining area. For harmony and balance of shapes, it is recommended to combine large and small lampshades.
With low ceilings, hanging fixtures look unprofitable, so ceiling mounts are preferable here. They are mounted directly to the ceiling surface. Point spots are also appropriate for small room sizes.
If the kitchen has an island in the form of a complex of a separate cutting table, sink and stove, good lighting options for this would be modular lighting fixtures with movable shades or a number of individual pendant shades. This solution will emphasize the relevance and modernity of the room.
Track lights in kitchen interiors are ideal for accent lighting.

For work area

This area, specifically the countertop with cabinets, shelves and a refrigerator, bears the main functional load of the kitchen for cooking, and therefore needs bright lighting. The usual brightness calculation for this space is 40-50 watts per square meter. Here they use main and additional light.

A ceiling lamp for the kitchen is suitable as the main light: a chandelier or spots located above the work area. Additional accents are provided by lighting built into the cabinets above the countertop. Think about the location of the kitchen lamp with socket and switch in advance.

Fluorescent, halogen or LED lamps are used as lighting, the latter of which are the most environmentally friendly. Plus, they are economical, as they consume 65% less electricity than conventional lamps. But fluorescent lamps are able to cover a larger space above the tabletop and give the lighting different shades: from bluish to violet-yellowish.

Remember ! Used fluorescent lamps are disposed of in a special way. They should not be thrown into the general trash, because if the lamp breaks, the mercury vapor present inside will harm living organisms.

If the island countertop is located in the center of the kitchen, it is better to install a group of individual pendant lamps above it. The average distance between them should be at least 30 cm.

For the dining area

The dining area is no less important than the working area. Its main functions: convenient conditions for eating, comfort, creating a mood. Lighting is selected depending on the location: in the center, in a corner, near a window or in a niche. The type of lighting is influenced by the size of the kitchen and the chosen style of the dining area itself, which can be designed in contrast with the work area.

Above the table located in the center, ceiling pendant lights and lampshades look great. If you have a small space and the table is located near the wall, you can limit yourself to one multi-lamp lamp above the table or wall sconces.

For large kitchens, a massive chandelier and several single lamps with shades of the same or different sizes are appropriate. Convenient to use chandelier with adjustable height.

Advice . The light above the table should be soft, not blind the eyes, and not cause irritation. At the same time, it should not be dim or faintly flickering, so as not to evoke drowsiness and anxiety.

Above the bar

The presence of a bar counter in the kitchen not only increases the functionality of the room, but gives it style. Therefore, the lighting of this area should perform at least two tasks: to focus attention on the stylish element of the kitchen and create an atmosphere of rest and relaxation.

For low ceilings, it is better to choose spot lighting. Pendant lamps above the bar counter in the kitchen will steal the space and make it heavy, while spotlights will visually raise the ceiling.

With high ceilings, suspended and modular structures will make the bar area more airy and light. Lamps with movable shades are relevant here, allowing you to change the angle of the light direction.

Successful accent lighting is possible with the installation of track lamps. This type of lighting refers to a busbar, or profile, lighting system. Mounting the luminaires on a profile or busbar ensures their mobility - the ability to adjust their position.

Advice . It is necessary to use track lights in the kitchen harmoniously, since their excess can create the effect of a technical room or a cluttered space.

Over the sink

Special lighting is required above the kitchen sink, since this is where dirt accumulates: contaminated, greasy dishes and foods, including fish and meat, are washed. Food waste, leftover coffee and tea are also dumped here. To keep the area clean and hygienic, a good overview of the extent of contamination is necessary so that cleaning can be carried out immediately.

The sink near the window has access to sunlight throughout the day. In the evening, ceiling pendant or spotlights located directly above the sink will provide comfortable lighting to the kitchen.

If the sink is located in a corner or along the wall, in addition to the ceiling, spotlights built into wall cabinets would be appropriate. It creates direct light and good visibility.

General lighting design tips

1. Plan the location of the lamps in advance:

in the midst of repairs it is already too late. The best thing is to decide on the number and location of lamps when you have outlined the main functional areas.

2. Sockets, switches, lamps, wires

install at least 60 centimeters from the sink and water communications.

3. Use more than one light source.

Be sure to provide illumination of the working surface. If there is a dining area, the ideal option is a lamp above the dining group or a sconce for softer lighting. Decorative light and lighting for wall cabinets would be useful.

4. Adjust the space with lighting.

Does the premises have architectural deficiencies? To adjust the geometry of a narrow kitchen, place lamps along one wall. Lamps located along the center line of the ceiling, on the contrary, will visually “stretch” the room.

Wall sconces with upward light will visually lift a low ceiling. But for a very high ceiling, choose a massive chandelier.

5. Adjust the color temperature of the lighting.

Modern LED lamps provide light in a wide variety of colors and shades. Keep in mind that it is better to cook in as much natural light as possible - choose a cooler shade of lamps for the work area. But warm and soft light promotes appetite.

6. Don't forget about saving.

Use LED lamps: they reduce energy consumption by up to 90%, and their service life is up to 15 years. Dimmers will help you achieve the desired level of illumination and reduce energy costs.

Decorative lighting

To create atmosphere and comfort, decorative lighting attributes are used. Various types of lighting are installed in different parts of the kitchen: under the ceiling, in cabinets, racks and shelves, along the baseboards.

Lighting enlivens functional areas, expands the space, visually raises the ceiling and places emphasis on some detail. Velcro LED strip for the kitchen is an excellent lighting option. It is produced standardly in reels of 5 m per reel.

The ends of the tape have wires up to 10 cm long. With their help, the tape is connected to a power source. Since it attaches with a sticky back, it can be used anywhere, on any surface. Another issue is that the Velcro will begin to peel off over time.

From LED strips and special profiles, various lighting structures are created that decorate both the ceiling space and the glass box of the bar counter or an empty kitchen wall.

Another original option is spectacular lighting structures made from spotlights built into the walls.

How to zone a kitchen using lamps?

Even small kitchens need a variety of lighting. One ceiling chandelier is not enough. You can additionally install lamps on the walls, mount spotlights on the ceiling, highlight a work area, and also decorate a dining table, a seating area with a sofa, a bar counter or an island with pendant lamps. Luminous furniture and other elements make the interior unique, making it comfortable to spend time with family and friends.

For good kitchen lighting, you need one lamp for every four square meters. In this case, it is desirable that the lampshades or lampshades be matte. This will make the light soft and diffused. But modern design techniques, an abundance of all kinds of lamps of various shapes, sizes and styles allow you to experiment and bring original ideas to life. Therefore, you can not limit yourself to ceiling light, but add many other types of lighting to it.

Another rather big disadvantage of monotonously planned light is the presence of shadows in the room, which are created by switched-on lamps. This is inconvenient, especially if the shadow falls on the work area while cooking. This means that even at the design planning stage, it is important to determine exactly where the kitchen set, table, bar counter will be located, and then proceed to placing lighting fixtures.

For convenience, you can divide the kitchen into several parts and illuminate each separately: general light, dining area, cooking area. If the room is small, then one ceiling chandelier will act as general light and illuminate the dining table. For the work area, it is better to additionally install spotlights or LED strips under wall cabinets.

For a table with chairs or a comfortable sofa, you should use pendant lamps or chandeliers. Their appearance should emphasize the style of the interior. They will easily create a cozy homely atmosphere in the kitchen.

If the room is quite spacious, for example, a living room-studio, then you cannot do without central general light. Usually this role is played by a chandelier or a large ceiling lamp.

For comfortable lighting, it is better to use a light bulb with a warm yellowish light.

The bar counter is very popular now. This is not surprising, because it can be used as an additional work surface or as a dining table.

Illumination is often provided by spotlights that can be built into a suspended or plasterboard ceiling, or into a chipboard or MDF panel above the counter. A luminous lamp or lamp will give the room an original look and individual character.

Performance styles

The bar counter appeared relatively recently and is considered a modern type of furniture. But this does not mean that it is useful only for modern styles.

In a classic interior, a properly selected stand will look stylish, appropriate and luxurious. The convenient thing is that most often they are already included with the kitchen set, so you don’t have to choose anything yourself.

Classic style

The classic style does not have many requirements for furniture, and they are quite easy to fulfill:

use only natural materials - it is best to use wood with carvings, patterns, but laconic packaging;
choose a standard rectangular shape;
the ideal model is an island one.

The disadvantage of the island model is that it requires a lot of free space, but the classic interior also needs it, so there is no dissonance here.

Modern style

The main thing in a modern kitchen is functionality, so the bar counter should take into account all the features of the kitchen, becoming its logical continuation.

The decor is kept to a minimum: figured details are inappropriate. The decor should be the metal itself, its matte or gloss, shape or color scheme.

White bar top on island

Provence

Provence is somewhat similar to classic design, but carries a completely different image - simple, light and natural. The bar counter is again made of wood. But in this case it is better to paint it white or any other pastel color.

The furniture is selected antique or simply aged with patina.

Minimalism

Minimalism is one of the simplest styles to implement, since it has a minimum number of requirements. Colors, shapes, lines should be laconic, and decorative elements should be absent.

Geometry plays a big role in the interior, so the bar counter will most likely look like a rectangular piece of wood or plastic, which will open up in harmony with the rest of the furniture.

Kitchen-living room without upper cabinets with a bar counter. It is probably made of plasterboard and lined with artificial stone, acting as a partition

Loft

In such an interior, the bar counter looks most appropriate and organic. Loft loves to combine urban and industrial details, the symbiosis of which surprisingly makes the room more comfortable.

Concrete and wooden surfaces would look appropriate. The slightly raw look looks especially chic.

Orange kitchen with a pull-out black bar counter

Types of lamps for the bar counter

If everything is clear with general ceiling lighting, then choosing suitable lamps for individual areas of the kitchen is not so simple. To highlight the bar counter by focusing on it with the help of light, you need to decide on the main selection criteria, which include the type of lighting. Different types of lamps are suitable for the bar counter.

Pendant lamps

This is one of the most successful options for lighting a separate area. This type of lamp has a pendant that allows you to adjust its length. So, you can independently choose the height of the lampshades that is most comfortable for you. In addition, such lamps provide soft diffused light, decorating and emphasizing the style of the bar counter. Depending on its design, the lamps can be attached to a chipboard or MDF panel above it or to the ceiling.

Spot lighting

Convenient and practical type of lamps. They are small in size, do not require height adjustment and provide good illumination of the area in which they are located. They create direct light and can be mounted both in ceiling structures and on the top panel of the bar counter.

For spotlights, incandescent or halogen lamps are used. There are also rotating lamp designs, thanks to which you can independently adjust the lighting angle.

Spots

This type of lamp looks especially impressive in modern interiors of high-tech, minimalism, loft, and modern styles. The lamp has a metal bracket with several rotating halogen lamps attached to it. The plank can have an arched, semicircular or straight shape. Also, such lamps are often decorated with various materials.

Track lights

Another modern way to stylishly decorate your kitchen. With such lighting, the interior will not be boring and monotonous. The design consists of metal bars capable of conducting current, to which light elements are attached. Lights on tracks can change their lighting angle and location, and tires, in turn, can be hard or flexible. The latter allow you to change their shape; they are easy to bend and create any intricate shape. The control and assembly of such lamps is very simple; installation can be completed without the help of a professional, but safety precautions must also be observed here.

LED strip in the kitchen

The use of LED strip in the decor of the bar counter will create a spectacular accent in the interior. It will not only highlight the desired area, but will also serve as a real decoration for the kitchen. The luminous tape is easy to install and virtually invisible when turned off. During operation, it provides high-quality bright light; it can have not only white, but also any other colors, which further expands the design possibilities of the room.

Using the remote control, you can independently change the shades and intensity of the lighting. LED lighting is located anywhere on the bar counter. It is easy to decorate a tabletop, top panel or other part of the furniture.

Flexible neon and LED strips are very popular among customers as decoration for bar counters. This backlight is durable, practical and resistant to impacts and moisture reaching the surface. If one light bulb burns out, there is no need to change everything. Due to its flexible structure, the luminous tape allows you to create various ornaments, inscriptions and other patterns on the furniture body.

What is the price?

Thanks to the growing popularity of such a piece of furniture, prices for bar counters have decreased, but their spread is still quite wide.

An excellent option for an economy class counter is to assemble the furniture yourself.

For example, the counter itself - a metal support - costs from one thousand rubles, a bar tabletop - from three thousand rubles. As a result, it turns out that for 4 thousand you can buy a simple replacement for the dining table.

Many factors influence how much the final product will cost:

For example, the cost of this bar table is over 40 thousand rubles.

There is an option that is somewhat simpler, but also four times cheaper - 9,200 rubles.

On average, a stand will cost 20–40 thousand rubles. But there are also much more expensive options. For example, the next copy will cost almost 100,000 rubles. Designer models of bar counters will cost even more.

IKEA offers a lot of ideas for inspiration - every second kitchen in their interiors has a bar counter, either free-standing or combined with a work area. The minimum cost of a bar table is 9,500 rubles, but the company itself has offered options for making a homemade stand from a leg and a table top - it turns out to be much more budget-friendly.

Design of lamps for a bar counter

If pendant lamps are chosen as the main lighting for the bar counter, then it is important to choose them in accordance with the interior of the kitchen. Lampshades or lampshades should emphasize the style and focus attention on one of the main areas of the room.

Lamps in the shape of a cube or other shape with clear edges will fit perfectly into an interior with right angles and strict lines. Ball-shaped lampshades are suitable for classic kitchens.

Cone-shaped and drop-shaped lamps will decorate modern technological interiors. Depending on the style of the room, the material for lampshades can be different: wood, metal, glass, textiles, plastic, rattan, ceramics.

To illuminate the bar counter in a retro kitchen, you can use pendant lamps with metal shades in neutral or bright shades. Ultra-technological interiors with a large number of built-in household appliances, electronics, replete with chrome parts, glass and plastic are equipped with lighting with halogen, fluorescent lamps, as well as LED or neon strip. The shapes and designs of such lamps can be either simple or completely incredible: in the form of a labyrinth, openwork weaves and other intricate patterns.

With the help of a bar counter you can make your kitchen interior stylish and impressive, corresponding to modern fashion trends. It doesn’t matter where its location is: in the center of the room, against the wall, or as a separating element between the loggia and the kitchen, it should be a bright accent of the room. You can highlight it with the help of lamps of various types, shapes and designs. Their main functions include reliability, durability and ease of use, as well as compliance with the existing style of the room.