How to Choose the Right Lighting for Every Room

One light fitting is rarely enough.

Every room should include a combination of three types of lighting:

• Ambient Lighting provides the overall illumination for the room, such as recessed spotlights, ceiling pendants or concealed LED lighting.
• Task Lighting supports everyday activities, whether that's reading in bed, preparing food in the kitchen or applying makeup in the bathroom.
• Decorative Lighting adds personality and atmosphere through wall lights, table lamps, floor lamps or feature pendants.

When these layers work together, a room feels balanced rather than overlit.

The living room should feel warm and relaxed, particularly during the evening.

Instead of relying solely on ceiling lights, introduce several softer sources of light around the room.

Table lamps on sideboards, floor lamps beside seating areas and wall lights create pools of light that make a space feel intimate and comfortable.

Dimmers are essential, allowing you to adapt the mood from bright daytime living to cosy evenings.

The kitchen has to work hard.

General lighting should evenly illuminate the room, while task lighting focuses on areas where food is prepared.

Under-cabinet lighting, pendants above islands and concealed LED strips within shelving all improve both practicality and atmosphere.

Decorative pendants should complement the architecture rather than dominate it.

Lighting above a dining table should create intimacy.

A statement pendant or a series of smaller pendants positioned centrally above the table helps define the space and draws people together.

Hang fittings low enough to feel connected to the table, but high enough to maintain comfortable sightlines across it.

Adding wall lights or nearby table lamps creates a softer atmosphere once the main lights are dimmed.

Bedrooms should feel calm rather than overly bright.

Bedside wall lights or table lamps provide comfortable reading light while keeping bedside tables uncluttered.

Avoid relying solely on downlights directly above the bed, as these can create harsh shadows and an overly clinical feel.

Warm lighting and multiple circuits allow the room to transition effortlessly from day to night.

Bathrooms need to balance practicality with relaxation.

Task lighting around mirrors should provide even illumination without casting shadows across the face.

Ambient lighting softens the overall space, while subtle decorative lighting can make an evening bath feel far more luxurious.

Where possible, avoid placing a single spotlight directly above the mirror.

Hallways are often overlooked, but they're the first impression of your home.

Wall lights, decorative pendants and carefully positioned lamps create a welcoming atmosphere while drawing attention to architectural details, artwork or beautiful joinery.

Lighting can also help guide movement naturally through the home.

Not all light is the same.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is installing cool white bulbs throughout the house.

For most living spaces, warm white lighting creates a softer and more inviting atmosphere. Cooler temperatures are generally better suited to utility spaces where clarity is more important than ambience.

Consistency throughout the home also helps create a cohesive feel as you move from room to room.

Lighting shouldn't be left until the electrician arrives on site.

The position of every fitting, switch and socket should be considered alongside the furniture layout and architectural design.

Knowing where a sofa, dining table or bedside table will sit allows lighting to feel intentional rather than accidental.

Thoughtful planning also avoids expensive changes once walls have been plastered.

It's easy to assume that more lights will create a brighter, better home.

In reality, too many downlights can make a room feel flat and commercial.

Instead, focus on fewer, carefully positioned fittings combined with decorative lighting that adds warmth and depth.

Some of the most inviting interiors are actually lit quite softly.

At Six Walls Studio, we see lighting as part of the architecture rather than simply a finishing touch.

A well-designed lighting scheme should evolve throughout the day, supporting how you live while enhancing the materials, textures and atmosphere of your home.

When layered thoughtfully, lighting becomes almost invisible. You don't notice the fittings first—you simply notice how beautifully the space feels.