We redid our kitchen lighting last year and went with mostly wafer LEDs—totally agree they're sleek and bright enough to handle the job. But I skipped pendants altogether because even small ones felt a bit cluttered for our space. Instead, we added under-cabinet strip lighting, which turned out amazing...makes food prep so much easier and adds warmth without crowding overhead. Still, I can see how a pendant or two could add personality if you've got the island for it. Guess it depends on your layout and style.
Under-cabinet lighting is such a game changer, isn't it? Smart move skipping pendants if your space felt tight...sometimes less really is more. Sounds like you nailed the balance between function and style nicely.
Under-cabinet lighting definitely helps, especially if you're working with limited space. When I remodeled my own kitchen a few years back, I initially went heavy on pendants because they looked great in the showroom. But once installed, they felt cluttered and intrusive. Ended up removing half of them and adding LED strips under the cabinets instead. The difference was night and day—cleaner lines, better task lighting, and the whole kitchen felt more open. Sometimes you just gotta learn by doing...
"Sometimes you just gotta learn by doing..."
Haha, this hits home for me right now. I'm in the middle of my first kitchen reno, and honestly, the lighting choices are stressing me out more than picking cabinets or countertops. I keep second-guessing myself because everything looks amazing in the showroom or on Pinterest, but I have no clue how it'll actually feel once it's installed.
Your experience with pendants is exactly what I'm worried about. They look so sleek and modern in photos, but my kitchen isn't huge, and I'm afraid they'll just end up feeling crowded or blocking sightlines. I've been leaning toward recessed lighting combined with under-cabinet LEDs, but then I wonder if that'll feel too sterile or clinical? Did you find the LED strips gave off a warm enough glow, or did you have to play around with color temperatures?
It's reassuring to hear that making adjustments after installation isn't the end of the world. I guess part of me feels like I have to get it perfect on the first try, but maybe that's unrealistic. Like you said, sometimes you just have to dive in and see what works. Glad to know I'm not alone in feeling this way...
I went through something similar when updating my historic home's kitchen lighting.
- Tried pendants first—looked great online, but felt intrusive in person.
- Switched to recessed LEDs (3000K) plus under-cabinet strips; warmer temp made a huge difference.
-
—exactly why I always test samples at home first now."everything looks amazing in the showroom or on Pinterest"
