The popularity of farmhouse style kitchens continues to grow, thanks to their cozy and inviting aesthetic. With their traditional layouts, natural materials, and vintage accents, farmhouse kitchens embody a timeless look that feels both nostalgic and highly livable.
One of the best ways to play up the vintage farmhouse kitchen look is through lighting. The right lighting fixtures can transform the space, highlighting charming details while providing much-needed illumination for tasks. Vintage-style lighting feels right at home in old farmhouse kitchens, adding loads of character without disruption.
Finding the Right Vintage Lights for Your Farmhouse Kitchen
When searching for vintage lighting, it’s important to choose fixtures that work with your existing kitchen layout and design. Carefully assess the current features of your farmhouse kitchen – take note of the cabinetry style, island size and placement, ceiling height, and any standout architectural characteristics. This will help you select vintage lighting that best complements the area.
Matching Lighting Style to Your Farmhouse Decor
Farmhouse kitchens come in different variants including traditional, modern, rustic and more. Determine which farmhouse kitchen style you have in order to choose vintage lighting fixtures that properly accentuate and enhance the space.
For a truly authentic, old-fashioned farmhouse kitchen with original wood floors and beams, exposed brick, and an ample use of raw materials, stick to genuine antique lighting pieces. Visit antique stores, salvage yards, and architectural relic shops to uncover one-of-a-kind vintage fixtures that feel historically accurate.
In a remodeled or new farmhouse kitchen with clean lines and predominantly white cabinetry, vintage-inspired reproductions often work better than genuinely old fixtures. Seek out lighting providers that recreate turn-of-the-century designs to add understated elegance.
Sources for Quality Vintage Farmhouse Kitchen Lighting
Finding authentic vintage lighting takes a bit more sleuthing than picking up reproduction pieces. Check antique stores, salvage yards, and even estate sales in your area for one-of-a-kind fixtures. Be prepared to thoroughly inspect each piece for safety and functionality.
For extensive selection and sensible prices with less risk, turn to reproduction companies for vintage-style lighting designed to today’s safety codes. Many boutique designers offer on-trend farmhouse fixtures crafted to mimic early 20th century charm.
Use Google searches to uncover antique vendors and small lighting brands in your region. Let your specific style preferences and budget inform how broadly to cast your net.
Use Layered Lighting for Maximum Impact
Employing thoughtfully layered lighting takes farmhouse kitchen illumination from dingy and dark to warm, inviting, and most importantly – functional. A good lighting plan combines several types of light.
Ambient Lighting Sets the Overall Brightness
Ambient lighting comes from basic light fixtures on the ceiling, along walls, and even inside some cabinets. It supplies a general wash of background lighting throughout the entire kitchen space.
Vintage pendants, chandeliers, and semi-flush mounts provide ambient lighting from above. Install these larger fixtures strategically over the main kitchen work area and gathering spots like the island and breakfast nook.
For a supplemental glow along kitchen walls, consider vintage wall sconces or antique brass uplighting. If desired, use dimmers throughout to control the ambience from overly bright daylight to a cozy glow for evening.
Task Lighting Highlights Specific Work Areas
While ambient light sets the mood, dedicated task lighting zeroes in on key work zones. Providing ample task illumination ensures you can chop, prep, and cook with precision.
Hang vintage pendant lights directly above sinks, stoves, and other food preparation areas where focused light is most needed. Mini-pendants work beautifully over islands and peninsulas. For smaller tasks, under-cabinet lighting comes in very handy.
Repurposed pharmacy lamps and vintage gooseneck designs make excellent task lighting. Use Edison bulbs or tubular filament options to complement the old-fashioned styles.
Accent Lighting Showcases Special Features and Details
Finally, accent lighting casts a glow on specific design details you wish to highlight within the kitchen space. This may include the interior of a glass-front cabinet displaying prized dishware, architectural elements like exposed ceiling beams, or wall nooks ideal for showing off decorative plates.
Small vintage wall sconces or library lamps work nicely to accent niche details. Above kitchen islands, try shapely vintage lanterns or a short run of track lighting. Use accent lighting judiciously to avoid overly spotlighting the space.
Creating Specific Lighting Zones Throughout the Farmhouse Kitchen
Thoughtfully arranged lighting zones help visually segment open concept kitchens into more digestible vignettes. Strategic illumination guides the eye naturally across various stations – from food preparation to clean-up to dining areas.
Upper Cabinets: Pucks, Rail Lights & Print Lights
It can be tricky lighting upper cabinets in farmhouse kitchens where wall space comes at a premium. Mini puck lights attach to undersides of wall cabinets and shelves for handy task lighting that frees up counter space below.
For more dramatic illumination, install small rail lighting on top edges of upper cabinets. Vintage print lights – flat lantern fixtures inspired by old toolbox lamps – mount directly to cabinet fronts. These slender fixtures light interiors while adding visual style.
Kitchen Island: Hanging Pendant Lights
Islands and peninsulas make natural focal points in farmhouse kitchen spaces. Vintage lighting draws further attention to these high-function areas.
Hanging pendant lights work especially well over islands where no overhead lighting exists. Go for singular statement-making fixtures like an antique cast iron lantern or eclectic metal cage chandelier. For longer islands, stagger matching mini-pendants down the length.
Opt for pendant lights with adjustable height and aim to properly spotlight meal prep zones. Fornon-culinary islands meant mainly for gathering and dining, lower hanging lights to eye level or position adjustable sconces around the edges.
Seating Areas: Wall Sconces & Floor Lamps
Carving out distinct seating zones within farmhouse kitchens encourages lingering with morning coffee, mealtime gatherings, and casual entertaining.
Use vintage lighting to define secondary seating areas adjacent to kitchen islands, banquettes, and built-in corner benches. Wall-mounted sconces keep tabletops clutter free while directing light precisely where needed.
To infuse farmhouse charm, opt for candlestick-style electric sconces. Portable vintage floor lamps like converted lanterns work nicely in flexible seating arrangements.
Incorporating Various Vintage Farmhouse Lighting Styles
When scouting vintage and vintage-inspired lighting, you’ll discover seemingly endless varieties to match any old farmhouse kitchen design. From bare bulb minimalism to crystal opulence – let your personal style shine through.
Here are some top vintage and reproduction lighting designs perfect for farmhouse kitchen updates.
- Pendant lights mimicking antique oil lanterns, milk canisters, Mason jars, and kerosene fixtures
- Filament bulb pendants and chandeliers for an Edison bulb effect
- Wrought iron or aged brass chandeliers and multi-pendant island lighting
- Rustic wagon wheel-inspired pendant and chandelier lighting
- Classic paneled glass pendants, chandeliers, and flushed ceiling mounts
- Cage lights: metal wire covering bare bulbs in modern rustic style
And don’t shy away from eclectic combinations and clustered displays for lots offarmhouse character. The layered mix is all part of the vintage kitchen charm!
Additional Farmhouse Kitchen Lighting Tips
Beyond choosing perfect vintage-style fixtures, follow these tips for installing and customizing your farmhouse kitchen lighting:
- Use dimmable LED bulbs throughout for ambience control and energy savings.
- Consider hardwired lighting over plug-in whenever possible for safety and minimal cords.
- Install lighting controls like dimmers and Wi-Fi connected smart lighting.
- Ensure adequate wattage and lumens for essential food preparation tasks.
By thoughtfully incorporating vintage and reproduction lighting throughout your farmhouse kitchen – highlighting key zones and architectural details – you can create a space that’s highly functional and visually warm and inviting for family and friends.
Vintage lighting sets the perfect tone in farmhouse kitchen designs, from early 20th century authentic to new interpretations of the classic style. The right fixtures can refresh an existing kitchen or provide a brand new space with loads of cozy character.
Layer ambient, task and accent lighting to illuminate workspace while showcasing charming details. Zone illumination guides the eye across various stations from meal prep to dining. Finally, don’t be afraid to mix various vintage styles for eclectic farmhouse charm.
You can easily create a farmhouse space with the help of the tips above.