Renovating a Kitchen? Don’t Forget the Most Crucial Thing: Light.

When you’re renovating a kitchen, it’s easy to get swept up in choosing cabinets, counters and appliances. But there’s another element that matters just as much: lighting.

“The importance of lighting in a kitchen is twofold,” said Rush Jenkins, the chief executive of WRJ Design in Jackson, Wyo. “One is having sufficient light on surfaces to see what you’re doing. The other is decorative lighting, which can enhance a home in the same way that gorgeous jewelry enhances a beautiful outfit.”

And now that food preparation spaces double as gathering places, using lighting to set the mood is more important than ever, said Jenn Feldman, a Los Angeles-based interior designer.

“The kitchen isn’t just a place you go to cook,” Ms. Feldman said. “It’s livable space.”

She and other designers shared tips on how to light your kitchen.