There is no right or wrong way to light a room, but it should be planned and consideration made for what the room is being used for, and what you would like to achieve or emphasise. Remember that bright lighting is not always good lighting.

There are three basic types of lighting to be considered when lighting a room.

1. Ambient Lighting also known as "general light", helps to create a mood and feel for a room. This is usually the starting point for lighting any room. It is essentially the lighting that replaces sunlight and is fundamental to a lighting plan.

2. Task Lighting focuses on a small area and will help you to perform tasks, improve clarity, keeps you focused on the job at hand and prevents tiredness, be it reading, computer work or knitting.Task lighting should work together with a room's general lighting and enhances the use of a room. It can be provided by adding portable lamps, undercabinet lighting as well as the addition of recessed lights at specific areas.

3. Accent Lighting used to highlight features within a room such as pictures or objects and is usually restricted to one area.

Some can be used individually, but combinations give the best results, as it allows lighting levels to be changed according to our mood and the function of a room.

A light source creates a pool of light but there is a second effect produced when this light is reflected by surfaces. It is this secondary effect which cannot be reproduced in the shop where you buy your lights. Consider where you are to put the light and the surfaces under and around it.