The kitchen is the busiest area in the most homes these days and kitchen lighting design is perhaps the most essential factor in kitchen interior design. The kitchen lighting needs to be able to generate the right amount of light for practical purposes like food prep and cleaning and at the same time that lighting also needs to be versatile enough to add just the right ambience for entertaining and dinners. 

It used to be that kitchen lighting was very basic and utilitarian in style. It often utilized harsh florescent light tube bulbs. The problem with these types of lighting is that they are just too stark and not very decoratively appealing. Lucky for today's DIY renovator and designer, the florescent tube bulbs are not the norm anymore. Some popular items for kitchen decorative lighting today include an iron chandelier and accent lighting with wrought iron wall candle sconces.  

If you have a nice large kitchen, there are a couple of different things you can do with a chandelier and accent lighting. A popular location for the chandelier is over the eating area. So over a full dining table, or over a medium or large island. Iron chandeliers come in a wide variety of sizes and styles, so really any size kitchen and décor style can be accommodated.

The chandelier will provide the bulk of the lighting for the room and there are a couple of ways to add accent and additional lighting. The most decorative option is to use wall sconces. They work nicely in pair and in sets of four, depending on how large the room is and how much or little additional lighting is desired. Other types of additional lighting that are nice for the kitchen are track and recessed can lighting. The best place for this type of lighting is typically over the sink.  

For installation, read the manufacturer's instructions closely first. Working with a buddy is also advised when working with heavy objects, like chandeliers. For the actual bulbs, consider using energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. If at any point during the project you feel uncomfortable at all, please consider hiring an electrician. Happy decorating!