10 Reasons Why a Lamp in Your Kitchen Will Change Your Life + How to Incorporate one. Plus! All My Favorite Kitchen Lamps

I recently put a mini lamp in our new kitchen, and Instagram went wild. Most people did not understand this concept. And honestly, neither did I the first time I saw it.

The first time I noticed a lamp in a kitchen was a couple years ago in Jessie Decker’s kitchen (pictured below) via her stories. Not one, but TWO lamps…I was so confused! It was a pretty lamp, but why put a lamp in your kitchen?!

After seeing Jessie’s, I started noticing lamps in kitchens more frequently. I even saw them in a lot of my favorite director’s movies, Nancy Myers. I’ve drooled over the kitchens in her movies my whole life, so it made me wonder why I’ve never noticed them. They’re just really understated additions that contribute to the cozy, “homey” vibe she goes for.

Here’s some kitchen lamps from her movies:

So if you’re going back and forth on why the heck you would ever put a lamp in your kitchen…I’ll give you 10 reasons!

1. It’s just SO cozy

This one is from our kitchen. The vibes at night are unmatched.

It is just such a mood! I like to keep the kitchen lights on dim now and just have a consistent, dim level of light in the evenings. So moody and vibey.

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2. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to under-cabinet lighting; when you really need extra light

I never realized that I needed more light until I put a lamp in my kitchen. Wow, how I can see easier when I’m cooking! It also helps with reading cookbooks and washing dishes.

The first thing you would think about when it comes to additional kitchen lighting is to add under cabinet lighting or pendants. But that’s just not possible for a lot of people, as it requires expensive electrical work. A lamp is a GREAT option for more lighting when you can’t afford to hardwire it.

3. It can add quirk & personality

It’s hard to inject personality in a kitchen without investing tens of thousands of dollars into trendy cabinetry and countertops, only to chance them going out of style in 5 years or you being over them soon.

aA quirky lamp can be many things – a statement piece, a storyteller, and something that expresses your personal style.

4. It can tie all your finishes together

Multiple finishes is more common than you think. It’s rare to have all one finish nowadays.

This aged brass lamp pulls in the brass tone from the pendant lights and barstools, as well as the brown upholstery on the stools. It pairs perfectly with the polished brass faucet, flush mount and hardware.

5. It can create balance

If you’re a matchy-matchy kind of person, kitchen lamps are for you, too! Create balance in your kitchen by placing them on opposite ends of the counter or island.

6. It can add contrast to an all white kitchen

You know I love good contrast! A dark lamp in a light kitchen (or in my case, a light lamp on dark counters)…can be just what your kitchen needs.

7. It can be part of your decor

It’s difficult to “decorate” a kitchen. There isn’t much to decorate after all. And if you’re going for a certain “style”, it can be hard to convey it without repainting your cabinets or getting new countertops.

A lamp can be a great way to convey that style you’re shooting for. Take this one below for example – you can tell just from this little corner that she’s going for a light, vintage vibe.

Or this one – it adds to their eclectic vibe.

8. It can ground everything else in the kitchen

Take a look at this photo below, and imagine what the space would look like without the lamp. Just a random hodgepodge of a bunch of stuff, right?

The lamp in a way brings everything together so that it just all makes so much sense. The acrylic base grounds the glassware, and the white pleated shade grounds the white accessories. It’s a thoughtful way to bring everything together.

Here’s another great example – the blue vase just wouldn’t make sense without this lamp, and the wicker stools would be dark and out of place without the rattan lampshade.

9. It can add levels & dimension

It’s so easy to keep everything low in the kitchen, because most everything belogs on the counter. It’s just become an accepted thing.

But to take you kitchen to the next level, dimension and different levels are a must! They keep the eye interested and show that things have been placed intentionally.

Take these photos for example:

10. If this beauty doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will:

Shop my Favorite Lamps:

I included lamps of all sizes and pricepoints here. Other great places to look are Goodwill and IKEA