The Art of Layered Lighting

Ask us for the single biggest upgrade in most homes and the answer is rarely a sofa. It's light — and specifically, light at different heights.

Three layers, one mood

We plan every room with ambient light to see by, task light to work by, and accent light to feel by. Put each on its own circuit and dimmer and the same room can change completely with the time of day.

• Ambient: ceiling washes, cove lighting, large pendants
• Task: reading lamps, under-cabinet strips, vanity lights
• Accent: picture lights, candles, low table lamps

If you can see the bulb, ask whether you should.

Warmth matters

Choose 2700K bulbs for living spaces and keep colour temperature consistent within a room. Mixed temperatures are the quickest way to make an expensive room feel cheap.