most rooms do still have a hanging light fixture, but strategically adding wall lights and can lights, for example, can create interest and force the eye to work its way around a space. Lighting at various levels or angles (often referred to as “layered” lighting”) creates a balanced space, adding warmth and functionality to any room. Typically layered lighting is achieved using a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Because a house is to be lived in more than it is to be looked at it, it is important not to focus too much on ambient light. Ambient lighting is the primary source of lighting in a room, creating overall illumination. Focusing too much on this type of lighting results in “dead corners” the light doesn’t reach. Not lighting these corners detracts from your room’s aesthetics and even functionality.
One way to avoid dead corners is to add can lighting close to the walls, allowing that light to splash alongside the wall itself. Can lights also give the room a sense of depth as it takes away the dead corners. Also known as “recessed lighting” or “down lights,” can lights are installed flush in the ceiling. HEIGHT CONSIDERATIONS The height at which you hang your light fixtures impacts a room’s overall look. Pendant lighting, for example, is a “go to” for kitchen island lighting. But they are effective only if you hang the pendants at the correct height. Hanging them too low can create situations in which you are forced to work around them or try to see around them. On the other hand, hanging them too high will make them less noticeable and less effective as a source of light for the island. There are sets of rules to follow when it comes to hanging lights for each
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