For the living room, you'll want to have enough general lighting for such a large space. This general lighting can come from one or more main ceiling fixtures, or perhaps several indirect lighting fixtures that reflect light down from your ceiling and provide soft illumination for the entire room.



However, you will also most likely want to include specific task lighting for certain activities that may be performed in the living room. This could include reading or sewing. Task lighting is usually best accomplished by a floor lamp or table lamp situated right next to the task area, and equipped with a sufficient bulb to prevent eyestrain while performing the task.

Living rooms can also have features like a fireplace, or perhaps a large painting on the wall. Why not install some recessed ceiling lights that are focused on these special features to highlight and bring attention to them?

In the kitchen, sufficient lighting is an absolute must to be able to safely cook and prepare food. Most likely a large ceiling fixture, perhaps equipped with energy efficient florescent tubes will do well to supply the overall general lighting for the room. But then consider installing strip lights underneath your cabinets that will clearly light up your countertops and work areas. And perhaps a few recessed lights in the ceiling can focus even more light on your sink area and range. Generally speaking, the more specific task lighting you can have in a kitchen, the better.

Bathrooms have their own specific lighting needs, including a recessed downlight in the ceiling over your shower or tub area. But perhaps the most common area for lighting fixtures in a bathroom is around the mirror. Here's where you want really soft and gentle lighting that leaves no shadows under your eyes, nose, and chin. Very often this is accomplished with lighting strips on each side of the mirror that contained several small wattage bulbs. Many people find that soft white fluorescent bulbs seem to work best in this area.

In the bedroom a general lighting fixture is very useful for illumination of the entire room. But then installing specific task lighting at the dressing table area can be very beneficial too. And recessed lighting on the ceiling placed on a dimmer switch can be used very effectively to set a romantic mood whenever you desire.

Hopefully these home lighting design ideas and suggestions can help you think about how you can better focus the available light in your home from room to room in the future.