Pendant Over The Kitchen Sink: Yay Or Nay?

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Over-the-sink lighting is often overlooked as most of us focus on the major light sources. However, it is very important for both style and functionality.

But since you’re here, I’m guessing you already know this.

Let’s see if using a pendant over the kitchen sink is actually a good idea, as well as some alternatives that might inspire you.

Before we get into the nuances of this topic, let’s simplify it.

Pendants are an excellent choice for illuminating your kitchen sink! They provide more-than-enough task lighting and look very stylish and modern. They look best over sinks that are not placed against the wall or under a window but can work in most kitchens (if you find the right pendant!).

Let’s see when they are most useful, how to choose them and where to install them, and some design ideas with pendants or alternative fixtures.

Pendants can be a beautiful and elegant way of lighting up your sink, which is important for washing stuff without a hassle.

You can often use a pendant over the sink, so long as you do it right. What do I mean by that?

Well, pendants come in myriads of different sizes, colors, and styles. Choosing the wrong one will not only make your kitchen look tacky, but it will also be impractical and borderline annoying.

So read carefully!

Pro Tip: Pendants should be used only when there are no cabinets over the sink.

Light designers usually advise against the use of a pendant over the sink if the sink is under a window.

That’s because the pendant will actually obstruct natural daylight. Remember, we always aim to maximize natural daylight as part of our lighting plan in all our spaces!

However…

If you really love the look of pendants and want one over your sink, it’s not the end of the world!

In the example below, you can see how small pendants with a glass casing and earthly colors like brown or beige would work best.

However, recessed can lights could be an even better option to allow full access to the view.

Try to avoid pendants that have a diameter of more than 6-7 inches (15-18 cm). Larger than that might result in head bumps. Ouch.

In case you want to install two pendants (preferably over a double sink), make sure the diameter is not more than 3-4 inches (7-10 cm). Larger than that will make the space feel too cramped.

The distance between the two pendants will depend on the size of your sink, but roughly 20 inches (50 cm) is a good start.

In general, the pendant should hang about 30-40 inches (75-100 cm) above the countertop (not the bottom of the sink). Of course, this is just a suggestion. You can position it exactly where you want it depending on your height and the height of your countertop.

This rough estimation can be followed regardless of your ceiling height.

If your sink is in a kitchen island, you can also read this guide, which goes more into depth about pendants over the island.

Finally, if the sink is against the wall, place the pendant no farther than 6 inches (15 cm) from the wall. You want it to be over the sink to avoid weird shadows but also make sure that it’s not in your face!

A single pendant with a focused beam over the kitchen sink does not need to exceed 700 lumens.

This might sound like a relatively small number but remember that the sink pendant is considered task lighting – lighting you need to perform a specific task. Therefore, the light is not diffused much and does not need to fulfill your ambient light needs.

If you are using two pendants, 500 lumens for each one should suffice.

Pro Tip: If you are unsure, connect a dimmer switch to your pendants so that you can control the brightness depending on your mood! Remember to use compatible LED bulbs.

Pendants over the kitchen sink are a definitive YAY!

They can provide focused task lighting and they look so stylish!

A big advantage is that they help you create natural-looking layers in the kitchen.

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know how much focus I place on layers.

Layering in light design is the use of different types of fixtures for different jobs, which leads to a balanced, convenient, and intense lighting scheme.

For example, a kitchen that has:

• A chandelier for ambient light
• Recessed can lights for both ambient and task lighting
• A pendant over the kitchen sink or kitchen island for task lighting
• LED strips around the kitchen counter or the toe stub for accent lighting
• LED strips under the top cabinets for task lighting

…or any other light source to make your life easier or to accentuate your kitchen’s design, makes the kitchen much more dramatic and interesting.

…or any other light source to make your life easier or to accentuate your kitchen’s design, makes the kitchen much more dramatic and interesting.

Not only that, a good electrician will give you independent control of each light source, so that you can adjust the light however you want it depending on your mood.

So absolutely yay but keep in mind that their use is a bit more complicated than some of the alternatives that we will see below. If you decide to install them, make sure to follow the above suggestions for the best result!

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A very common alternative to pendants over the sink. Although they are very practical and excellent for illuminating your space, they are not as stylish.

Consider them mostly for practical reasons.

If you already have recessed can lights in your kitchen, maybe you should try to avoid them over the sink. An interesting lighting scheme is one that incorporates many different fixtures.

Pro Tip: Your lighting fixtures should work well together but not match. Matching lighting takes away from the intensity of each individual light source.

Wall sconces are a very cool choice! I personally prefer them to recessed cans, although they have a few caveats themselves.

First, your kitchen sink would have to be placed against the wall (duh!).

Also, they match best more traditional and transitional style kitchens, so if your kitchen is more contemporary, you would have to choose your sconces carefully.

Also, they match best more traditional and transitional style kitchens, so if your kitchen is more contemporary, you would have to choose your sconces carefully.

Go for sharp corners and contrasting colors. For example, a white or gray wall would go well with a minimalistic modern black sconce.

Go for sharp corners and contrasting colors. For example, a white or gray wall would go well with a minimalistic modern black sconce.

Wall sconces are often used as ambient light sources. Make sure that the placement and light direction of your wall sconce will be good enough to act as task lighting.

Finally, I suggest you get an adjustable sconce to accommodate people of various heights!

LED strips are the best choice if you have cabinets over the sink and contemporary décor.

They look super elegant and they’re very practical!

The LED strips can be up to 500 lumens per foot (1600 lumens per meter).

If none of the above options seems right to you, consider track lighting. For example, the sink in the image below does not have many options.

If none of the above options seems right to you, consider track lighting. For example, the sink on the right does not have many options.

A pendant would obstruct access to the cupboards, while recessed can lights and LED strips would not look nice considering the aesthetic of this particular kitchen.

A pendant would obstruct access to the cupboards, while recessed can lights and LED strips would not look nice considering the aesthetic of this particular kitchen.

A track lighting rail placed either above the cupboards or to the left above the clock would fit just fine and would illuminate the sink perfectly.

A track lighting rail placed either above the cupboards or to the left above the clock would fit just fine and would illuminate the sink perfectly.

We would have to make sure that the distance of the bulb from the wall would be enough to maximize the light and avoid any weird shadows.

We would have to make sure that the distance of the bulb from the wall would be enough to maximize the light and avoid any weird shadows.

You had the awesome idea to put a pendant over your kitchen sink. I hope this guide helped you decide if it’s the right choice for you and how to go about it.

Just keep in mind the following:

• Applicability: Does your kitchen allow for one or more pendants over the sink?
• Functionality: Will a pendant make your cooking activities easier or just get in the way?
• Aesthetics: Does it fit in with the rest of your kitchen style?

If you answer these three simple questions and decide to go for one, follow the size and positioning guidelines I gave you above, along with some common logic, and you’re set!

Otherwise, consider one of the alternatives, which can look even greater in some kitchens!

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