Accent lighting in a kitchen can be transformative. It’s the soft glow that makes your splashback look a little more special at 9pm, the gentle line of light that makes simple cabinetry feel bespoke, and the warm highlight that makes weeknight meals around the table feel a bit more put-together.
Unlike your main ceiling light (useful but rarely flattering) or bright task lighting (essential, but not exactly cosy), accent kitchen lighting draws attention to the details you’ve chosen with purpose: the veining in a stone worktop, the texture of zellige tiles, or those beautifully styled shelves you've worked hard to curate.
Not sure where to start? These are the golden rules for getting it right, and the best places to use accent lighting in a kitchen so it looks intentional, not overdone.
1. Pick your 'hero moments' first
Accent lighting is at its best when it’s editing a space rather than decorating it. So before you start adding strips and spotlights to your kitchen, decide what you actually want to draw attention to – then choose just two or three “hero” features to spotlight. That might be a glass-fronted kitchen unit, a beautiful run of open shelving, or a statement splashback you want to appreciate after dark.
As Jamie Moxey, lighting specialist at Dusk Lighting, explains: “Accent lighting is all about showcasing the features of a room. Where an ambient light can sit alone in a sparsely furnished space, an accent light needs something to partner with. This can be a piece of furniture, an architectural element of your kitchen, or even a showstopper appliance such as a range oven.”
In other words, Jamie recommends taking a look at your kitchen design first, then choosing two or three features to highlight with accent lighting.
Jamie Moxey has worked at Dusk Lighting since 2017, focusing on business development and eCommerce. He collaborates with interior designers, architects and homeowners to deliver considered lighting solutions across a wide range of projects.
2. Put accent lighting on its own circuit (and always add dimmers)
If there’s one detail that separates a kitchen that functions from a kitchen that feels genuinely beautiful to be in, it’s control. Much like ambient lighting, your accent lighting should be something you can reach for in the evening without flipping the room into “big light” mode, which is why it deserves its own circuit (and, ideally, dimmer switches).
“Accent lighting is most effective when it is adaptable,” explains Helen Pett, brand ambassador at Arteriors. “Dimmable solutions allow the atmosphere to evolve throughout the day, shifting from bright and purposeful to soft and intimate, whether for everyday living or a special dinner party.”
This gives you the flexibility to change the mood. As Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville, puts it: “Accent lights can significantly influence the mood of a space. Their warm pools of light create inviting corners and make even the most functional area feel softer.” And when these fixtures are controlled separately, it’s easy to shift from bright and practical to soft and relaxed at the twist of button.
Helen Pett is a passionate Brand Ambassador for Arteriors Home. She works closely with interior designers and architects worldwide to facilitate projects, raising awareness of their artisan-made collections.
Mara Rypacek Miller is the founder of Industville, a leading British lighting brand admired for its handcrafted designs, blending industrial influence with timeless craftsmanship and a refined, contemporary aesthetic.
Pooky’s Florence three-gang, two-way dimmer switch in bronze lets you control multiple circuits and soften accent lights easily together.
3. Keep accent light tones consistent
Nothing makes a kitchen’s lighting feel more accidental than a mash-up of colour and lighting temperatures. If your under-cabinet LEDs are icy-white but your pendants glow warm, the room can end up looking a bit patchy, and even gorgeous finishes – like stone worktops and wooden grains – won’t look their best.
The fix is simple – decide on a tone and stick to it across your accent lights. As Jamie Moxey from Dusk Lighting warns: “Try to keep all accent lights in the same colour tone to avoid sporadic light tones that just make a space feel busy.”
The best approach is to keep your kitchen accent lighting on the warmer side so finishes look their best, then let the other layers do their jobs. Ambient lighting sets the base level, task lighting handles prep, and accent lighting adds the finishing touches.
4. Use kitchen accent lighting to guide the eye
The point of accent lighting isn’t necessarily to make a kitchen brighter, but rather it’s to make it feel more considered. Done well, it gently guides the eye to where to look. For example, you may want to highlight that coffee station you’ve styled like a hotel mini bar or that unique niche that deserves its moment.
“Accent lighting is designed to draw attention to key elements of the décor,” explains Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds. “Wall lights are great for providing kitchen accent lighting and they can even become part of the feature if chosen wisely.”
Highlighting artwork is a brilliant example, because it can make a kitchen feel more lived-in. “To accentuate a single large piece of artwork, opt for a large wall light that will fully illuminate it,” recommends Ally. “If you have several smaller pieces of artwork you want to show off, use a small wall light to highlight each one individually.”
“Wall panelling is another beautiful detail that can be highlighted by placing wall lights within some panels,” she continues. “Consider choosing a simplistic design like Dowsing & Reynolds' Antique Brass Small Porcelain Wall Light to let the wall panelling take centre stage.”
“Alternatively, you could try drawing attention to the features that you want your guests to notice," Ally adds. "This could include anything from a central fireplace illuminated by classic wall sconces to an architectural structure highlighted with a statement table lamp.”
Ally Dowsing-Reynolds is co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds, recognised for her expertise in creating mood-enhancing interiors through expressive lighting, soothing colour palettes and characterful decorative details.
Shop accent wall lights for your kitchen space
This elegant brass wall light has a swivel feature so you can direct the light to where you need it most or to highlight key details in your space.
With a rich aged bronze finish, this decorative wall light will inject a subtle industrial style into your space. Comes with an adjustable bracket.
With a fluted shade in a neutral finish and an antique bronze fitting, this stylish wall light will work in a wide range of kitchen schemes and is perfect for illuminating a quiet corner.
5. Mix up your lighting methods
The quickest way to make accent lighting look “one note” is to rely on a single solution everywhere – like the same LED strip under every cabinet or the same spotlight in every corner. It might tick the box on paper, but in real life it can feel a bit flat (or worse, a little showroom-like).
A better approach is to mix a few types of kitchen accent lighting, each doing a slightly different job. Think of it like styling a room: you wouldn’t only use overhead lighting in a living room, so don’t do it in a kitchen either. You might use a soft strip to graze a splashback texture, an internal light to make a cabinet glow from within, and a decorative wall light to add warmth at eye level. Even a cordless lamp on a sideboard or shelf can count, as it’s an easy way to bring that cosy, layered feel into an open-plan kitchen-diner.
Just keep the edit tight. “Equally important is restraint,” cautions Helen Pett from Arteriors. “When accent lighting is overused or concentrated at a single level, it can feel visually cluttered. Instead, it should be placed intentionally, subtly guiding the eye and reinforcing the overall design.”
6. Bring in decorative fixtures to tie your scheme together
“When the light fittings themselves are sculptural or decorative, they can enhance the aesthetic of your kitchen,” explains Ally Dowsing-Reynolds. “Whether they’re statement-making table lamps or striking wall lights, accent lighting can become a focal point in its own right if you choose a unique design.”
Unlike concealed strips or discreet downlights, decorative pieces are chosen because they earn their place visually by bringing shape, finish and a little personality to the kitchen. So don’t shy away from choosing a design that’s a little more expressive, like a silhouette you love or a handcrafted lampshade that’s one-of-a-kind.
Sue Jones, co-founder of OKA, shares her top tip for selecting adaptable decorative lighting: "Choosing a style like OKA's Lucas Wall Lamp means you can switch up lampshades whenever you like, which can be a really lovely way to nod to the seasons. Wireless rechargeable wall lamps are ideal in rentals because there's no need for wiring. And if you want a more artful touch, lights with scalloped edges create a lovely flutter of light that softly illuminates surfaces."
Co-founder and Creative Director of OKA, Sue Jones launched the business in 1999 and continues to shape its distinctive furniture, lighting and accessories collections with her deep knowledge of high-end interiors.
Shop decorative accent lighting
Make a statement with your kitchen accent lighting with this decorative wall light. With two discs in an aged brass finish, it's more like a sculpture than a light.
This double light features two fabric shades and is designed to wash a subtle glow of light down your kitchen walls.
Exuding old school glamour, this concrete wall-mounted light is a great way to add a practical yet decorative touch to your kitchen lighting scheme.
7. Light up kitchen storage with accent lighting
“Accent lighting works particularly well in kitchens with in-cabinet lighting, because it balances practicality with a more polished look,” says Helen Pett from Arteriors. “Done well, it makes storage easier to use and shows off the cabinetry details.”
And Jamie Moxey from Dusk Lighting agrees: “Glass-fronted cabinets and open shelving are ideal spots for accent lighting, often using concealed under-shelf or in-cabinet LEDs. These kind of kitchen cabinet lighting ideas add depth at eye level, helping cabinetry and display pieces feel more layered and spacious.”
8. Don't forget to include accent lighting in a pantry
Don't overlook accent lighting when planning your pantry ideas. As this space is often packed with shelves, deeper shadows and “grab-and-go” storage, a little considered lighting here makes a big difference.
“A pantry or larder can be seen as second kitchen in many homes and is an ideal opportunity for accent lighting,” says Alex Main, director at MAIN. “Whether you're working with a larger walk-in space or a cosy breakfast nook with a coffee machine, integrated LED strips fitted under shelves ensure good visibility, while motion sensor lighting is also a popular option. For walk-in pantries, spotlights or a small pendant provides a stylish yet functional touch, making the space feel like a seamless extension of the kitchen.”
The best approach is to treat pantry lighting like a mini kitchen scheme of its own. Opt for subtle strip lighting to highlight shelves and include at least one decorative fitting (even a small one) to tie the whole scheme together.
Equipped with double-sided tape, these under cabinet strip lights are incredibly easy to install in a walk-in pantry and can even be controlled remotely.
Alex Main is director of The Main Company, specialising in natural, tactile interiors that celebrate reclaimed timber, thoughtful craftsmanship and the warmth of authentic, material-led design.
FAQs
Can you use accent lighting to make a kitchen look bigger?
Yes, when lighting a small kitchen the right accent lighting has the ability to make the space feel much larger than it actually is.
Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, Co-Founder of Dowsing & Reynolds, explains: "You can achieve this by choosing designs that project large and bright beams of light and positioning them so that the light is cast onto the kitchen walls and ceilings,” she says. “For example, a large porcelain wall light would be a brilliant option for vertically expanding your space, while strategically placed floor and table lamps can make kitchen rooms with low ceilings feel more inviting.”
What are the biggest mistakes homeowners make with accent lighting in a kitchen?
The biggest slip-up is treating kitchen accent lighting like something you add everywhere, rather than something you place with intention. When you have strips, spots and plinth lighting all competing at once, the kitchen can lose its focal points; everything is illuminated, but nothing stands out.
“Accent lighting can be overused and too much overlapping lighting creates a bit of a blur,” warns Jamie Moxey, lighting specialist at Dusk Lighting. “This can make your kitchen feel more like a theatre than a family space.” A good rule of thumb is to keep accent lighting to a few “moments”, then let ambient and task lighting do the heavy lifting elsewhere.
Another common kitchen lighting mistake is going too hard on floor-level lighting. “Accent lighting placed on the floor level – uplighting certain cabinets, islands and appliances – can also be a bit gimmicky and you end up with something that looks like a store display kitchen,” Jamie explains. If you do like plinth lighting, keep it subtle and warm, and consider putting it on a separate switch so it’s an occasional effect rather than a constant glow.
For a truly layered kitchen scheme, don’t stop at accent lighting. The best lighting for a kitchen ceiling will set the overall tone, then let task and accent layers add focus, depth and polish where it counts.
