Lighting Ideas for Kitchen Breakfast Bars

Size Matters

• The size of your kitchen has a significant impact on lighting choices at the breakfast bar. If the kitchen is large and has a high ceiling, the illumination from the overhead light has little effect on the bar. However, if the kitchen is small, the light fixture in the middle of the ceiling may provide sufficient light. In the former case, under cabinet lights combined with pendulum fixtures are advisable. Conversely, using both these light sources with a bright overhead kitchen light is overpowering and gives the bar a harsh, clinical look.

Types of Lights

• Recessed lighting under the cabinet above the breakfast bar creates a calm, soothing effect, especially if controlled by a dimmer switch. This lighting is preferable when the bar is occupied by people engaged in conversation and not being used for homework or reading. Pendulum lights hang from the underside of the upper cabinet and provide the more intense and direct light needed for tasks requiring visual acuity. They're available with clear or frosted glass shades or colored versions to match the kitchen's décor.

Pendulum Placement

• Pendulums are typically placed evenly above the breakfast bar. The number needed depends on the length of the bar. Although the typical placement of pendant light fixtures is between 30 and 40 inches above the countertop, the heights of the people who use the bar is a primary consideration. The goal is to place the lights so people can see each other from either side without leaning down or craning their heads. To ensure the best placement, have a few people sit on stools on one side of the bar and another group stand on the opposite side. Measure the best height at which both groups can easily see each other. Next, place dinner plates down the center of the bar. The pendulum fixture should be low enough to adequately illuminate the plates but not so low that it warms them up like a heat lamp.

Other Light Sources

• When configuring the light needed above the breakfast bar, don’t neglect the natural light entering the room from nearby windows or glass doors. For dramatic effect, consider installing lights underneath the edge of the bar on the side where the stools set. These under counter lights, typically controlled by a dimmer switch, add a dramatic mixture of light and shadows to the room.