A room lit from one point on the ceiling looks flat and feels tiring. Three layers of light fix most of that.
The general layer
This is the light you switch on as you walk in: a ceiling fitting, recessed lights or a pair of wall lights. Its job is to let you see the whole room and move about safely. It does not need to be bright enough to read by, and it is much easier to live with on a dimmer.
The task layer
Light for the things you do: reading, cooking, working, putting on make-up. It sits close to the task and slightly to the side, so your hand or your head does not throw a shadow. A reading lamp beside a chair, a light under kitchen cupboards and a desk lamp are all task lights.
The accent layer
The light that gives a room its mood in the evening: a lamp on a sideboard, a light over a painting, a strip along a shelf. It picks out a few things and leaves the rest in softer shadow, which is what makes a room feel calm after dark.
Bulbs and switches
For living rooms and bedrooms, warm bulbs of around 2700 kelvin give the familiar yellow-white glow; cooler bulbs suit kitchens, desks and bathrooms, where color and detail matter. Put the layers on separate switches where you can, so the evening can be turned down a layer at a time.
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