Recessed spotlights in the kitchen: how many do you need and where should you place them?

Recessed spotlights are an excellent choice for kitchen lighting. They provide a calm, sleek appearance and offer both functional task lighting and atmospheric illumination. But how many spotlights do you need? Where is the best place to install them, and which beam angle and light color are appropriate?

In this blog, we explain how best to position recessed spotlights in the kitchen and what to look for when choosing the right lighting.

1. How many recessed spotlights above the worktop?

A well-lit worktop is important when cooking and preparing meals. As a starting point, we recommend at least one recessed spotlight per linear meter of worktop. For a three-meter worktop, this amounts to three spotlights, for example. You can find suitable models in our kitchen recessed spotlights collection.

Proper placement is just as important as the number of spotlights. Ensure that the light falls onto the worktop and that you do not stand in your own shadow while cooking. This applies to both a worktop against the wall and a kitchen island. Also, take any upper cabinets into account during installation.

If you want extra light above a kitchen island or a long worktop, double recessed spotlights are a great choice. You will have two light points in one fixture, providing more light from a single location in the ceiling.

2. Which beam angle, light output, and light color?

The right specifications largely determine the final lighting result. For a kitchen with a standard ceiling height of approximately 2.60 meters, we recommend the following:

• Beam angle: approximately 36°
• Light output: approximately 500 lumens per spotlight
• Light color: 2700 Kelvin (warm white)
• Dimmable: always recommended

36° beam angle

With a ceiling height of 2.60 meters and a worktop height of approximately one meter, a 36° beam angle creates a light circle with a diameter of about one meter on the worktop. This is a good starting point for the spacing between the spotlights.

Light output of approximately 500 lumens

We recommend approximately 500 lumens per spotlight. A higher light output is also fine, provided that the lighting is properly dimmable. This way, you have sufficient task lighting when needed, without the kitchen being too brightly lit in the evening.

Warm white light of 2700 Kelvin

For the kitchen, 2700K is an excellent choice. This warm light color creates a pleasant ambiance and blends well with the lighting in adjacent living areas.

3. Always choose dimmable recessed spotlights

The kitchen is increasingly being used as a living space. While you want sufficient light during the day while cooking, you need a warm, cozy atmosphere in the evening. Therefore, we always recommend using dimmable recessed spotlights in the kitchen.

Combine the spotlights with an LED dimmer that matches the total wattage of the lighting. A reliable choice is the ION LED dimmer, which dims smoothly even with a small number of spotlights.

Tip: dim-to-warm lighting

With dim-to-warm lighting, not only does the brightness change, but the light color also changes during dimming. At full brightness, the spotlight might emit 3000K, for example. As you dim the lighting, the light color becomes warmer, for instance down to 1800K.

This allows you to have bright task lighting while cooking, while the same lighting transforms into pleasant, extra-warm atmospheric lighting in the evening.

4. Do not forget general lighting and tall kitchen cabinets

In addition to the worktop, tall kitchen cabinets and walkways also deserve attention. With additional recessed spotlights, you ensure the entire kitchen is pleasantly lit and prevent dark spots.

For tall kitchen cabinets, place the spotlights so that the light also reaches the front of the cabinets. This not only provides sufficient general lighting but also allows you to see the contents of the cabinets better when you open them.

For larger kitchens or a kitchen island, we recommend dividing the lighting into separately dimmable groups. This allows you to control the spotlights above the worktop and the general lighting independently of each other.

As a result, you can adjust the lighting to how you are using your kitchen at any time, from bright task lighting during cooking to subtle atmospheric lighting in the evening.

If there is little space above the ceiling, read how to lower a ceiling for LED recessed spotlights. If you are unsure between the two systems, we have outlined the differences in integrated LED vs. GU10 recessed spotlights.