Where to Put up and Down Wall Lights in a Kitchen

The best places for up and down wall lights in a kitchen are on walls without wall cabinets: above open shelving, either side of a window or range cooker, on a chimney breast or piers around a cooking alcove, along the wall beside a dining table, and on any wall that faces the room from the far end. Because they throw light both upward and downward, they wash the wall, add height and create gentle pools of light, which makes them better suited to atmosphere than to lighting a worktop on their own. Pair them with under cabinet lights or ceiling spotlights for task lighting.

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Up and down lights are among the most adaptable designs in our modern wall lights UK sale range, and they work best as one layer within a wider kitchen plan. Browsing our full modern lighting UK collection alongside them helps you think about the whole room at once. Here is how to place them well.

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How up and down wall lights behave

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An up and down wall light has an opening at the top and bottom, so it sends two beams along the wall in opposite directions. The result is a vertical stripe of light with brighter spots near the fitting and softer edges further away. The width of the beam depends on the design. Some have a narrow beam that draws a crisp line; others spread more widely and give a broader wash.

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This matters in a kitchen for three reasons:

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• The wall becomes a light source in its own right, which softens the hard surfaces typical of a kitchen.

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• Upward light makes ceilings look higher, helpful in the low ceilinged kitchens of many British homes.

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• Downward light highlights textures such as brick, tile, plaster or panelling below the fitting.

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What they do not do is light a surface evenly. If you place one above a worktop and rely on it for chopping, you will find bright and dark patches. That is why placement is about where light adds to the room, not where you need to work. Our modern spotlights UK range is better suited to the worktops themselves.

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Walls without wall cabinets

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The most obvious positions are walls that are not covered by cabinetry. In a typical kitchen, that might be the wall between two runs of units, the wall above a sink under a window, or a short wall at the end of a galley.

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Up and down lights need clear wall above and below to work. If a cabinet sits directly above or below the fitting, the beam will hit it and the effect is lost. Leave a clear stretch of wall in both directions.

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Either side of a window

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A pair of up and down lights either side of the kitchen window frames it neatly and replaces the dark rectangle you see after sunset with something more pleasant. This position works especially well over a sink, where a ceiling spotlight can handle the task light and the wall lights add atmosphere.

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• Set each light an equal distance from the window reveal so they look balanced.

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• Keep both at the same height, usually with the centre of the fitting somewhere between the top of the splashback and the top of the window.

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• Check that blinds or shutters will not catch the fittings when fully open.

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Around a range cooker or chimney breast

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Many kitchens in older UK homes have a range cooker set into a former fireplace or chimney breast. Up and down lights on the piers either side of the opening highlight the architecture and turn the cooker area into a focal point.

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Keep fittings a sensible distance from the hob and any heat source, and follow the manufacturer’s guidance on clearances. Choose a design with a sealed or easily wiped body, since kitchen walls near cooking pick up grease and steam over time.

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Above open shelving

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Open shelves are a popular alternative to wall cabinets, and up and down lights pair well with them. A light placed between two shelves, or above the top shelf, can wash the wall behind and pick out crockery and jars.

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For shelving, position the light so the downward beam lands on the shelf below rather than directly into the eyes of someone standing at the worktop. Narrow beam designs are better here, as a wide spread can make the arrangement look busy.

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Beside a dining table or breakfast area

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In a kitchen diner, up and down lights on the wall beside the table give you a softer light for eating while the task lighting over the worktops is turned off. A pair either side of a picture or a mirror on that wall creates a relaxed, almost living room atmosphere.

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If the table sits against a wall with a bench, mount the lights high enough that seated guests will not bump them. A common approach is to set the centre of the fitting around 1.7 to 1.8 metres from the floor in this position, but always check against your ceiling height and the furniture.

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On the end wall of a long kitchen

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Galley kitchens and long kitchen diners often have a blank wall at the far end. Lighting it with up and down lights draws the eye along the room and makes it feel longer and more considered. This is one of the most effective uses of these fittings because the light is seen from across the room.

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Around an island or peninsula

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Up and down lights do not usually go on an island itself, but they are useful on the wall that faces it. If your island has stools, the wall behind them is often a good spot. Our modern bar stools UK sale collection includes designs in finishes that coordinate with black, bronze and brass wall lights. For ideas on pulling the area together, our guide to coordinating bar stools in UK kitchens covers colour and material pairings.

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Planning the full kitchen lighting scheme

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Up and down lights are one part of a kitchen’s lighting. A practical plan usually includes:

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1. Task lighting under wall cabinets or as ceiling spotlights over worktops, so you can see clearly where you prepare food.

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2. General lighting from ceiling spotlights or pendants to light the room as a whole.

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3. Ambient lighting from up and down wall lights, plinth lights or shelf lights for atmosphere.

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Spotlights and under cabinet strips cover the task and general layers, leaving the wall lights free to do what they do best. Wire each layer on a separate switch or circuit so you can move from bright cooking light to a softer evening setting.

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Height and spacing

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There is no single correct height, but some principles help:

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• Keep the fittings above eye level for a standing adult so you see the light on the wall rather than the source.

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• In rooms with lower ceilings, set lights a little lower so the upward beam has room to spread before reaching the ceiling.

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• When using several lights along one wall, space them evenly so the beams create a rhythm.

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• Line fittings up with features such as window heads, shelf lines or cabinet tops where possible.

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Finish, materials and practical care

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Kitchen walls deal with steam, grease and the occasional splash. Choose fittings with smooth, wipeable bodies in finishes such as powder coated metal, brushed steel or sealed brass. Matt black remains a popular choice for its contrast against light walls, while brass and bronze add warmth to wooden or painted cabinetry.

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Check the IP rating if a light will sit near the sink. For most wall positions away from water, a standard indoor rating is fine, but near a sink a higher rating offers extra peace of mind. Take advice from your electrician for any position close to water.

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Bulbs and colour temperature

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For ambient wall lighting in a kitchen, a warm white around 2700K to 3000K feels relaxed in the evening. Many people prefer slightly cooler task lighting over worktops, but keep the wall lights warm so the room changes character when the task lights go off. Many up and down designs use GU10 bulbs, which makes it easy to swap the beam angle or colour temperature later.

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Wiring and installation

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Adding wall lights to an existing kitchen means running cable in the wall to new points. This is straightforward during a renovation but more disruptive afterwards. Plan positions before tiling or plastering, and mark the centre of each light carefully. Kitchen electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician who can advise on positions near water and heat.

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If you are renovating the whole room, you can bring together lighting, stools and dining furniture at Furniture in Fashion. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

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Frequently asked questions

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Can up and down wall lights be the main light in a kitchen?

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Not usually. They give ambient light and highlight walls, but they do not light worktops evenly. Use them alongside spotlights or under cabinet lights.

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How high should kitchen wall lights be?

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Generally above standing eye level, with the centre of the fitting often around 1.7 to 1.8 metres from the floor. Adjust for ceiling height and nearby features.

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Can I put an up and down light above a cabinet?

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Only if there is enough clear wall above and below. If the beam hits a cabinet straight away, most of the effect is lost.

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Are up and down lights safe near the sink?

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Choose a fitting with a suitable IP rating and ask an electrician to confirm the position meets current wiring regulations for areas near water.