Lighting & Mood

Lighting changes a room more than almost any other decision, and most homes get it wrong by relying on a single overhead fixture to do every job. This section breaks lighting down the way professional designers do: ambient light for overall visibility, task light for reading and cooking, and accent light for highlighting art, texture, or architecture. You'll find practical guidance on layering these three types in a single space, choosing bulb temperature (warm versus cool) for different rooms, and picking fixtures that suit both your ceiling height and your style. We also cover common mistakes — under-lighting kitchens, over-lighting bedrooms, and forgetting dimmers entirely — plus how to use lamps and sconces to fix a room that photographs flat or feels harsher than it should in person. Good lighting is often the cheapest, highest-impact change you can make to a space, and these guides are built to help you get it right the first time.

Ambient, task and accent lighting ideas.