Flush mount light fixtures are beautiful sources of light. The important thing to consider while using a flush mount light source on the ceiling of kitchen is its size. Below is detailed information on exactly what size is perfect for a flush mount light source in a kitchen with an island as well as in a kitchen without island.
Size of flush mount light fixture in a kitchen with island
In a kitchen with island the size of the island itself acts is taken as a reference for sizing the flush mount light fixture.
By simply dividing the length of the island in feet by 4 the width of the flush mount light fixture is obtained.
length of the kitchen island in feet / 4
= the width of flush mount light fixture (in feet).
In the above image, the length of the kitchen island is 4 feet.
From the formula,
Width of the flush mount light fixture (4ft/4) = 1 ft.
| Length of kitchen island | width of flush mount light |
|---|---|
| 4 ft | 1 ft |
| 5 ft | 1.25 ft |
| 6 ft | 1.5 ft |
| 7 ft | 1.75 ft |
| 8 ft | 2 ft |
| 9 ft | 2.5 ft |
| 10 ft | 2.75 |
| 11 ft | 3 ft |
| 12 ft | 3.24 ft |
Having discussed how to size flush mount light fixtures in a kitchen with island now let’s discuss how to size flush mount light fixture in a kitchen without any island.
Size of flush mount light fixture in a kitchen without island
Unlike in a kitchen with an island, the size of the flush mount light fixture in a kitchen without an island should be in accordance with the total sqft area of the kitchen.
| kitchen size | Flush mount light width |
|---|---|
| < 60 sq ft | 6 – 8 inches |
| 80 sq ft | 9 inches |
| 90 – 110 sq ft | 10 – 12 inches |
| > 120 sq ft | 18 – 24 inches |
Let’s see in detail what size flush mount light fixture is ideal for a particular size kitchen.
1. For a small size kitchen (<60 sqft)
For a small size kitchen, the flush mount light fixture should be around 6 to 8 inches wide. That’s because a smaller kitchen requires less amount of light which a small size flush mount light fixture can easily fulfill.
2. For medium size kitchen (around 100 sqft)
For a medium size kitchen, the flush mount light fixture should have a width of around 10 – 12 inches.
3. For large size kitchen (>120 sqft)
For a large kitchen, the flush mount light fixture should be around 18 to 24 inches wide.
The greater width of a flush mount light fixture allows a wider distribution of light throughout the kitchen.
How to size flush mount light fixture for kitchen in an open floor plan
In an open-plan kitchen, the size of the flush mount light fixture must be in proportion to the size of the kitchen area only and not the entire floor.
For example, an open floor plan area can be of large size i.e 350 sq ft. Now the kitchen in it may be covering only a small area let’s say 80 sq ft. Therefore, to size, the flush mount light fixture, the dimensions of only the kitchen area are considered.
Simply calculate how much area the kitchen covers and accordingly a proper size flush mount light fixture can be selected from the table above.
How to size flush mount light fixture in a galley kitchen
In a galley kitchen the height of the ceiling in ft is equal to the width of the flush mount light fixture in inches.
So if the height of the ceiling in the galley kitchen is 8 ft, the size of the flush mount light fixture would be around 8 inches.
The reason behind considering the height of the ceiling for sizing flush mount light fixture is that in a galley kitchen, the walking space is comparatively narrower to other kitchen types, and to meet the lighting requirement of general illumination, the flush mount light does not require to be of much larger size.
The lighting requirement is only over a small area and thus an efficient light fixture can be precisely determined by measuring the height of the ceiling.
How bright should the flush mount light fixture be in the kitchen?
The lighting requirement for general illumination in the kitchen is 200 lumens per sq m. Simply calculate the total sq m area of the kitchen and add 200 lumens to each sq area. After adding the total number of lumens on every sqm area of the kitchen the approximate brightness of a flush mount light source can be calculated.
The table below shows different kitchen sizes and their lumen requirement from flush mount light sources.
| Kitchen size (sqm area) | Lumens required from flush mount light |
|---|---|
| 4.6 sq m (50 sq ft) | 5000 lumens |
| 5.57 sq m (60 sq ft) | 6000 lumens |
| 6.50 sq m (70 sq ft) | 7000 lumens |
| 7.4 sq m (80 sq ft) | 8000 lumens |
| 8.3 sq m (90 sq ft) | 9000 lumens |
| 9.2 sq m (100 sq ft) | 1000 lumens |
What shape flush mount light fixture for the kitchen?
Flush mount light fixtures come in a variety of different shapes i.e circular, and squarish to name a few. Now when to use a particular shape depends on the layout of the kitchen.
If the kitchen is U shaped, the flush mount light fixture should be circular.
Whereas, if the kitchen is L shaped the flush mount light fixture can be of a squarish shape, and for a linear kitchen, the flush mount light fixture can be of either a circular or a squarish shape. However, if there is an island with a linear kitchen then the flush mount light fixture over the island should only be circular in shape.
The reason behind using a circular flush mount light over a U-shaped kitchen is to smooth out the sharp lines of the kitchen layout. To make a design look great there must be variations in certain elements. If a circular flush mount light is used in a U-shaped kitchen then design-wise, a circular shape helps to balance the squarish shape of kitchen.
Similarly, in a L-shaped kitchen, there is one side of kitchen that is left blank but still, there are 3 sides forming a square-like shape though incomplete. Therefore, a squarish flush mount light fixture may provide a sense of completeness to the overall design of the L-shaped kitchen.
Color temperature of flush mount light fixture in kitchen
Since the kitchen is a working area and working environment is favored during daytime the light in kitchen should have a color temperature that mimics daylight i.e 5500 k – 6500 k.
The color temperature of light sources used in general illumination in the kitchen sets the overall mood of the area. Hence, the flush mount light fixture should also have a color temperature of daylight white.
Can 2 flush-mount light fixtures be used in kitchen
Yes, but the size should be smaller compared to the size of the flush mount light if only one such light source was to be used.
Generally speaking there should be only one flush-mount light fixture in the kitchen. But if there are no other sources of light and the space on the ceiling is longer length wise then two flush mount light fixtures of small size can definitely be used.
