Get The Right Farmhouse Kitchen Sink Lighting With This Quick Guide

The farmhouse style is all about creating a cozy, vintage-inspired kitchen with charming details like exposed beams, distressed wood cabinets, and antique-style lighting fixtures. When it comes to illuminating the hardworking kitchen sink area, farmhouse lighting can provide the perfect finishing touch.

From cute mini pendant lights to rustic wrought iron chandeliers, there are lots of great farmhouse kitchen sink lighting options to consider. Follow this guide to pick the perfect fixtures that will enhance your farmhouse sinks form and function.

Benefits of Proper Kitchen Sink Lighting

Before deciding on specific lighting fixtures, it's helpful to understand the purpose proper kitchen sink illumination serves:

• Increases visibility and safety when using the sink workstation for washing dishes, food prep, and more
• Provides attractive ambient lighting and decorative statement in the kitchen
• Contributes to the overall farmhouse style when coordinated fixtures are chosen

Kitchen sink lighting should brighten the main tasks while also complementing the cozy farmhouse aesthetic. The right fixtures act as both practical and decorative elements.

Farmhouse Lighting Style Overview

When selecting farmhouse kitchen sink lighting, opt for fixtures that align with the charm and personality of farmhouse decor. Main characteristics include:

• Vintage filament bulb styles
• Distressed metal finishes like rustic iron or rubbed bronze
• Aged brass, copper, or nickel accents
• Seeded glass, wire cage covers
• Exposed filaments, pipes, wires
• Wood elements like oak, pine, reclaimed barnwood

The key is incorporating antique-style elements into the lighting design to emulate the cozy, welcoming farmhouse aesthetic. Fixtures should feel nostalgic, well-worn and a little imperfect.

Best Light Fixture Options for Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks

From mounted sconces to pendant lights dangling above, what are the best types of fixtures to install over farmhouse-style kitchen sinks?

Pendant Lights

Hanging pendant lights are a popular choice for sink lighting. Opt for vintage-inspired mini-pendant styles on shorter cords, scaled appropriately for centering over the main sink basin without overwhelming the space. exposed filament bulbs, seeded glass shades, metal cages, and distressed wood detailing embody classic farmhouse charm.

Chandeliers

For a touch of ornate elegance over farmhouse sinks, petite chandeliers fit the bill. Look for single-bulb candlestick silhouettes or modestly-sized fixtures with that showcase vintage accents like cut glass, oxided metal, or curving arms. Mini-chandeliers boost the character without overpowering farmhouse sinks.

Sconces

For handy task lighting, sconces mounted on the wall to either side of farmhouse sinks provide illumination right where you need it most. Lantern-shapes with distressed wood and hammered metal finishes maintain the old-fashioned farmhouse look while increasing functionality.

Use wall sconces alone for focused light coverage or pair with an overhead pendant light for styling and general ambient lighting. This mixed lighting approach delivers both task and decorative illumination.

Design Considerations

Aside from style, here are some key considerations when selecting and positioning kitchen sink lighting:

• Scale and Size - Choose lighting sized appropriately for farmhouse sinks. Overly large fixtures overwhelm while very small styles get overwhelmed.
• Positioning - Center pendant lights or chandeliers directly over the main sink basin for optimal illumination placement.
• Mixed Heights - Experiment with staggering pendant lights at slightly different lengths for visual interest.
• Light Direction - Avoid glare by pointing bulb-light upwards and using opaque shades which diffuse and soften lighting.

Choosing Lighting Fixtures and Bulbs

When selecting actual farmhouse kitchen sink lighting fixtures, there are design factors like materials and bulb types to consider:

Fixtures

• Metal choices like oil-rubbed bronze, aged brass, rustic iron
• Weathered copper and nickel for patina
• Salvaged wood pieces in oak, pine, weathered gray
• Seeded, clear, or patterned glass light shades

Bulbs

• Vintage Edison-style filament bulbs
• Squat G25 shapes to mimic Edison lights
• Clear glassAllowing light to shine through
• Frosted, Opulent light diffusion

Additionally, determine if fixtures should have working bulbs emitting actual light, or if dummy lights provide enough decorative impact. Optimal illumination is key with kitchen task lighting.

Tips for Positioning and Hanging

To maximize both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality, follow these tips for placing farmhouse kitchen sink lighting:

• Hang pendants centered roughly 30'' to 36" above the sink basin
• Position lights directly over draining area if limited to one fixture
• Layer lighting styles at varying heights - chandeliers higher, sconces lower
• Point bulb light upwards to reduce glare and direct light where needed most
• Align wall sconces approximately 60'' to 66'' from the floor to illuminate sink counters

Aim for sufficient brightness without excessive glare. Supplement overhead lighting with task lighting as needed in key functional areas around the sinks.

Achieving Cohesive Farmhouse Style

For a holistic farmhouse kitchen design, seamlessly blend sink lighting with other finishes like:

• Faucets and plumbing fixtures
• Cabinet hardware
• Pendant lights over kitchen islands
• Barnwood open shelving
• Butcher block countertops
• Subway tile backsplashes

Create a unified look by coordinating the distressed metal and reclaimed wood elements of sink lighting with other kitchen features. Varying metal textures like antique brass pendants over the island and rugged iron sconces by the sink keep things interesting while pulling the whole space together through color tones and styles.

Installing appropriately scaled pendant lights, petite chandeliers or handy wall sconces with vintage farmhouse charm is key to illuminating kitchen sink spaces both beautifully and functionally. Carefully weigh design considerations like size, positioning, glare reduction and layering lighting for the optimum setup. Finally, weave fixtures seamlessly into the overall kitchen design for a cohesive farmhouse style.

Following these guiding principles simplifies selecting fixtures as unique as your sinks themselves. With the right ambient, task and accent lighting, your farmhouse kitchen sinks can shine while enhancing the vintage-chic style.