Room Plans
A Three-Light Plan for Your Kitchen Island
One pendant over the island is not enough. Here is the three-light plan we use for every client project.
Sofia Hernandez · May 30, 2026 · 5 min read
A kitchen island is the workhorse of a modern home — cooking, homework, paperwork, a glass of wine with a friend. One pendant cannot do all of that well. You need three sources.
The plan
1) A linear pendant over the island for general ambient light. 2) Two recessed downlights flanking the island, aimed at the work surfaces. 3) A pair of wall sconces on the back wall, or a row of under-cabinet lights, for soft fill.
Spacing the pendant
If the pendant is 36 inches long, centre it 36 inches from each end of the island. For a 60-inch island, that puts it dead centre. For a 72-inch island, the same rule leaves 18 inches of pendant and 18 inches of island on each side — visually balanced.
Putting it on a dimmer
Wire all three sources to a single multi-location dimmer if you can. Bright during cooking, soft during dinner, off during the morning coffee.