Lighting Design for Modern Homes
How to create a layered lighting plan for your home — ambient, task, and accent lighting strategies with fixture selection and energy efficiency considerations.
The Three Layers of Light
Professional lighting designers use a three-layer approach that creates depth, functionality, and ambiance in every room. Understanding these layers is the difference between a well-lit room and a beautifully lit room.
Layer 1: Ambient (General) Lighting
Provides overall illumination. Sources include recessed can lights, flush-mount ceiling fixtures, and chandeliers. Ambient lighting should provide approximately 20 lumens per square foot in living areas and 30-40 lumens per square foot in kitchens and bathrooms.
Layer 2: Task Lighting
Focused light for specific activities. Under-cabinet lights in kitchens, vanity lights in bathrooms, and desk lamps in offices. Task lighting should be 2-3 times brighter than ambient lighting in the work zone without creating glare.
Layer 3: Accent Lighting
Highlights architectural features, artwork, and creates visual interest. Includes picture lights, LED strip lighting, recessed adjustable fixtures, and uplights. Accent lighting is typically 3 times brighter than ambient light on the featured surface.
Room-by-Room Guidelines
Kitchen: The kitchen needs the most light of any room. Combine recessed lights on dimmers (ambient), under-cabinet LED strips (task), and pendant lights over islands (both task and design element). Plan for a minimum of one recessed light per 25 sq ft of floor area.
Living Room: Use dimmers on all circuits. Combine a central fixture (ambient), table and floor lamps (task/accent), and cove or LED strip lighting (accent). Avoid overhead-only lighting — it creates harsh shadows and feels institutional.
Bathroom: Vanity lighting should come from the sides of the mirror (not above) to minimize facial shadows. A single ceiling fixture plus side-mounted sconces at eye level is the recommended minimum.
Energy Efficiency
LED technology has made traditional incandescent and CFL bulbs obsolete for new construction. LED bulbs use 75% less energy, last 25,000+ hours, and produce negligible heat. The slightly higher per-bulb cost ($3-$8) pays for itself within months of use. Specify LED-compatible dimmers — not all dimmers work correctly with LED loads.