There are three main types of lighting to choose from in your home: ambient, task, and accent. The best choice for your space starts with how you plan to use that lighting.
Ambient lighting, also known as general lighting, is used to illuminate an entire room evenly. This type of lighting can also be used outdoors, such as the front yard and patio. Both flush mount and semi-flush mount fixtures can add ambient lighting in a space. Flush lighting sits directly against the ceiling or wall and is a popular choice for low ceilings and small rooms. Semi-flush mount lighting leaves a small gap between the fixture and the surface it’s attached to. It may cast light downwards, or it may reflect off the ceiling.
Task lighting is mainly used to light a specific workspace (where you’ll be performing a task such as food prep in the kitchen). Task lighting include fixtures like table lamps, floor lamps, and pendant lights.
Accent lighting can play up a particular focal point in your home, like your prized art collection or decorative columns. Wall sconces, recessed lighting, and hidden fixtures are popular types of accent lighting and can be used throughout your home.
There’s no need to settle on just one type of lighting in your room. Often, interior designers mix and match two or three different lighting styles throughout a space. This gives you the option to switch from focused task lighting, say for reading a book in your favorite chair, to a more relaxed and cozy setting as you settle in for movie night.