Most residential lighting design is done by building designers and home owners, who don't usually have the knowledge or skill to make the best lighting decisions.
Lighting is a highly technical field and one that's changing rapidly.
Even the terminology passes most people by. Bulbs are called lamps, fixtures are called luminaires. The humble on-off switch, while still widely used, is being edged out by dimmers, motion sensors and home automation systems. One good way to keep up with the latest ideas in lighting is to consult a copy of The Lighting Pattern Book for Homes . In 221 pages, authors Russell Leslie and Kathryn Con-way give an excellent reference on energy efficient lighting design.