Kitchen lighting: What do consumers really want?

Houzz’ 2025 Kitchen Trends Study delves into what consumers are willing to sacrifice for the sake of a larger kitchen (namely, square footage taken from the dining room and/or living room).

Lighting’s part in the renovation project means upgraded fixtures. After recessed (73%) and undercabinet (71%) lights, pendants are the next most popular option, chosen by 57% of those who upgraded lighting as part of their project. Less sought after were chandeliers, added by 19%; wall lights, 8%; and a fixture with a fan, 7%. A metal-glass combination was chosen by more than half of homeowners.

At 65%, pendants were the No. 1 choice for over-the-island lighting, outpacing recessed lights (30%), chandeliers (9%) and flush-mount lights (6%). It was a tight race between the number of pendants used to light in-kitchen islands, with two lights (36%) barely topping three lights (35%).