Flush Mounts to Shine Light Over Your Kitchen Sink

A kitchen sink is often the heart of a home. It’s where we prepare meals, wash dishes, and gather water for cooking and cleaning. Good lighting over the sink is essential for these daily tasks.

Flush mount lights provide focused illumination right where you need it most. Unlike pendant lights or chandeliers, flush mounts have a sleek low profile that won't hang down and obstruct movements in your kitchen workspace. They give both style and function.

Choosing the Right Flush Mount Light

With so many flush mount options available, it’s important to choose the right fixture for your kitchen decor and lighting needs.

Size and Scale

Consider the size of your sink and surrounding countertop area when selecting a flush mount. The light fixture should be proportional to the space without overwhelming. Ideally, the flush mount width should be equal to or slightly smaller than the sink width. For depth, look for low profile fixtures less than 5 inches deep.

Oversize flush mount lights can appear clunky and heavy. Undersized fixtures won't provide enough illumination. The general rule is to choose a size that fits the scale of your kitchen.

Light Output

Look for a flush mount rated at least 1600-2000 lumens to light up food prep and wash tasks at the sink. Cool white light around 5000K gives good visibility without casting a harsh or sterile glow.

While ambient lighting is nice, the priority for a kitchen sink light should be focused task lighting. Flush mounts with down-facing lamps or LEDs direct light right where you need it.

Materials

Due to proximity to water splashes, moisture-resistant flush mounts made of metal or glass work best in kitchens. Look for durable materials like brass, nickel, or powder-coated finishes that resist fingerprints and stand up to cleaning.

Avoid fabrics or paper shades. While a plastic lens is inexpensive, glass or metal will hold up longer in kitchen conditions.

Style and Design

Choose a flush mount style that matches your kitchen's overall design aesthetic. Modern kitchens tend toward sleek metal fixtures like orb or cylinder shapes. Rustic kitchens may use domed glass shades or vintage filament bulbs.

Popular finish choices include brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, satin brass, or matte black. The finish should coordinate with your faucet and other fixtures.

Added Features

Handy options like dimmable lighting, motion sensor activation, and touch controls on your flush mount add convenience. Integrated LEDs last longer without bulb changes compared to fluorescent or incandescent lights.

Best Lighting for Kitchen Islands

The open space above a kitchen island is ideal for hanging pendant lights. Island pendants provide both beauty and functionality.

What are Island Pendant Lights?

Island pendants are adjustable hanging lights that descend from the ceiling over a kitchen island workspace. Unlike chandeliers, island pendants focus light right where it's needed most.

The exposed cords and visible hardware of island pendants add visual interest. Island pendants come in infinite styles from modern chic to industrial or vintage.

Spacing and Hanging Height

The ideal height for island pendants is 28-34 inches above the countertop. This allows sufficient clearance while directing light downward. Spacing pendants 30-50 inches apart provides even lighting across the full island.

Look for island pendants with adjustable cord length and pendant heights. This flexibility allows custom tailoring to fit your space.

Size of Shades

Larger pendant shades 14-20 inches wide give soft ambient lighting. Smaller conical or globe shades 6-12 inches in diameter concentrate light downward in a focused beam. Combining small and large pendants creates a nice balance.

Avoid oversized shades that obstruct instead of illuminate. The overall look should enhance your kitchen, not overwhelm.

Popular Island Lighting Styles

Current trends for island pendants include:

• Rustic filament bulbs or vintage-inspired cages
• Sculptural curved metal shapes
• Minimalist glass globes or cones
• Classic simple pendants like mini-chandeliers

Choose a style reflecting your personal taste. The right island pendants became a jewelry-like focal point.

Under Cabinet Lighting Benefits

Another way to add task lighting in a kitchen is with under cabinet LED strip lights. This versatile and affordable option brightens countertops and workspaces.

What is Under Cabinet Lighting?

Under cabinet lighting consists of LED light strips or puck lights installed beneath wall-mounted kitchen cabinets. Long LED strips mount directly to cabinet bottoms with adhesive. Discrete LED pucks screw in place and link together.

Benefits for Kitchens

Under cabinet lighting provides targeted task illumination without upper cabinet shadows. It’s ideal for kitchens lacking sufficient natural daylight.

The discreet under-cabinet placement keeps the focus on kitchen design. It creates ambient mood lighting in evening hours.

LED vs. Fluorescent Strip Lights

LED tape strip lighting has largely replaced fluorescent for under cabinet use. Thin LED strips give even distribution and are easily linkable. LEDs also emit less heat while lasting longer.

Some LED under cabinet lights include dimming capabilities and automatic shut-off. Look for UL-listed LED tape rated to last at least 20,000 hours.

Installation Considerations

Hardwired under cabinet LED strips provide permanent installation. Plug-in LED tape allows you to control placement. Look for damp-rated LED tape in kitchens.

Linkable puck lights work well spaced intermittently along cabinets. Continuous LED tape can mount behind a valance providing uninterrupted light.

Under Cabinet Lighting Ideas

Focus under cabinet lighting over key kitchen work areas like:

• Sink, oven, fridge, and stove
• food prep surfaces and cutting boards
• Upper cabinets for accent lighting

Task lighting the full perimeter is ideal. But even strategic lighting can make a dramatic difference.

The right lighting elevates both the beauty and function of a kitchen. Flush mount fixtures provide streamlined illumination over sinks when workspace lighting matters most.

Island pendants and under cabinet lighting supply focused task lighting for food prep areas and surfaces. Thoughtfully designed lighting creates a kitchen both stylish and highly usable.