Pendant lights above the kitchen island | HBellorin interior design guide

FLOW L Pendant Light — Aromas del Campo

Sculptural, circular light fixture with eight cylindrical textile shades. Available in antique gold and matte black finishes. AC Studio, 2024. Designed for larger spaces, where the hanging height plays a decisive role in the overall effect of the room.

The kitchen island has fundamentally changed the way we use our homes. In many Budapest apartments and family homes we work on, it is no longer merely a preparation surface. We have breakfast here, guests sit here while dinner is being prepared, and the family often gathers here at the end of the day.

This change in how the space is used also completely transforms how the lighting should be designed.

Based on our experience at HBellorin, lighting above the kitchen island is one of the design decisions that most strongly determines the final result. If it is not right, the overall look of the kitchen may seem unfinished, regardless of how thoughtfully the rest of the space has been designed. When chosen well, however, the kitchen island becomes the visual and social center of the entire space.

The number of pendant lights above the kitchen island is determined primarily by the length of the surface, not by personal preference.

For kitchen islands up to 150 cm long, two pendant lights are generally sufficient. They provide even illumination across the entire surface while creating a clean, symmetrical overall look. For longer kitchen islands between 150 and 220 cm, three pendant lights provide more even light distribution and a stronger visual rhythm along the full length of the countertop.

For the Zamárdi project, a Mid-Century Modern renovation on the shores of Lake Balaton, we worked with a kitchen island running parallel to a long, full-height window. We chose three pendant lights in a warm brass finish, creating the right proportions for the ceiling height while evenly illuminating the entire work surface. With fewer lights, the two ends of the kitchen island would have appeared visually unfinished.

IPON S Pendant Light — Aromas del Campo

Custom pendant light with a smoke-colored amber glass shade and antique gold metal structure. Item number: C1316/1/ORO/MARR. AC Studio, 2023. An ideal choice for a composition of two or three lights above the kitchen island.

The size of the light fixture is at least as important as the number of lights

Ideally, the lowest point of the pendant light should be approximately 75–90 cm above the kitchen island surface. This height allows the work surface to be illuminated effectively while maintaining a clear line of sight through the kitchen.

If pendant lights are installed too high, they provide less concentrated task lighting and function more as decorative elements. If they are positioned too low, however, they disrupt the visual continuity of the space and may also become uncomfortable for taller users.

In the Csúcshegy project, a three-storey family home in the hilly area of Budapest’s District III, the kitchen had a high ceiling and a central kitchen island that became the main communal space on the ground floor. We positioned the pendant lights 80 cm above the countertop, giving the kitchen island a strong visual character without competing with the generous proportions of the open space around it. With a larger lighting composition, such as the FLOW L, this hanging height is even more important, as the visual weight resulting from the size of the fixture is much more pronounced.

IPON L Pendant Light — Aromas del Campo

Linear system consisting of four IPON pendant lights integrated into a horizontal support bar. Smoke-coloured amber glass shades with an antique gold metal structure. Product number: C1316/4/ORO/MARR. AC Studio, 2023. Complete lighting solution for kitchen islands 150–220 cm long.

Material and finish - harmony between the kitchen island and the kitchen

In addition to the number, size, and hanging height of pendant lights, the material of the light fixture creates a connection between the lighting and the kitchen’s overall design concept.

In kitchens designed with natural stone worktops and warm wood tones, smoke-coloured amber glass and an antique gold metal structure blend naturally with the warmth of the materials without distracting from them. The tinted glass softly diffuses the light, while the brass tone harmoniously connects with the kitchen furniture hardware and the details of the tap.

At HBellorin, we never choose the finish of a pendant light in isolation. Before making the final decision, we always consider the kitchen furniture fittings, the tap finish, and other metal details throughout the space. The harmony between these elements is what makes the kitchen feel truly considered and cohesive, rather than the result of separate decisions.

Lights featured in the article

All three lights featured in the article are part of the Bazziko collection and are also available in our online shop.