Layered Lighting 101

Ambient: General fill. Ceiling lights, floor lamps. Base layer.

Task: Where you work. Desk lamp, under-cabinet, reading light.

Accent: Highlights. Art, plants, architecture. Adds depth.

Use all three in living rooms and bedrooms. Dimmers on each layer = maximum flexibility.

Warm vs Cool: Choosing Kelvin by Room

Living, bedroom, dining: 2700–3000K. Relaxing.

Kitchen, bathroom, office: 3000–4000K. Functional, alert.

Garage, workshop, security: 4000–5000K. Bright, focused.

Accent Lighting for Art

Track or picture lights. Narrow beam (15–25°) for focus. CRI 90+ so colours look right.

UV-filtered or LED to reduce damage to art. Avoid direct heat on canvases.

Dimmers & Zones

Zone by activity: entry, living, kitchen, bedroom. Control each separately.

Smart dimmers let you set scenes (movie, dinner, reading) without walking to the switch.