Lighting for Different Uses of the Home

Ambient Lighting

• Ambient lighting provides a general illumination of an area and is key to setting the room's mood. Bright ambient lights will fill a room with light, while less-intense ambient lights will give it an intimate glow. Floor lamps might make a good option for ambient light, although you may need a number of them depending on how large the room is. Ceiling-mounted lights are good for ambient light, as they can cover the entire room. Suspended uplights placed around the walls can provide a warm glow, and pendant lights can give the area an artsy vibe.

Accent Lighting

• Accent lighting is somewhat similar to ambient lighting, but it has a more narrow purpose. Accent lighting helps to focus attention in the room on a particular feature, like an elegant sculpture or a piece of woodwork. Candles are a good example of accent lighting, drawing the eye to an area without overpowering the whole look and feel of the room.

Task Lighting

• Task lighting is almost the opposite of ambient lighting; while ambient lighting provides the overall light to the room, task lighting focuses on a small area. Desk lamps are good examples of task lighting. They are less for setting the mood than serving a functional role, such as giving you light to read by or helping you find your glasses in the middle of the night.

Natural Lighting

• You can also use natural lighting to your advantage when designing a room or living space. You can harness the natural light of the sun or the moon by using windows, doors and skylights. You will need to be careful with this type of lighting, however, as it can overpower other types of lighting in the room.