Sure, good lighting can brighten up a home, but stylish lighting can absolutely transform it. Ditch your tired lamps and bring some inspiration to your space with our guide to the six main types of mood and ambient lighting.

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Ambient Lighting Types

Chandeliers

Chandeliers make a dramatic style statement and many models use crystals to give a dazzling light. There's no limit to modern chandelier design. Some designs are romantic and vintage-inspired, with lots of ornate scrolling and even fake candle bulbs, some are art deco or mid-century and there are plenty of modern, pared-down numbers available which are no less dramatic.

While they're most often found over dining tables, chandeliers have also become trendy placed in bedrooms, hallways and even bathrooms (it's all about that hit of glamour where you least expect it). A chandelier in the bedroom can also help lower the ceiling, making the room feel cosier and more intimate.

Tip: For more on chandeliers, check out our guides: The Only Chandelier Style Guide You'll Ever Need and Placing a Chandelier? Our Guide Will Show You How.

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lights, also known as downlights, are installed above the ceiling of a room and provide all-over lighting, as well as a modern look and feel. Recessed lighting comprises three main components: the housing, trim, and light bulb or lamp.

The housing serves as the actual light fixture: ceiling trim is the visible part and forms the decorative outer ring, and the bulb brightens the room. (Halogen and LED bulbs are the most common types for recessed lighting).

The trim can bring an extra stylish element to recessed lighting. Trim options include:

• Baffle trim - this features a ribbed interior
• Eyeball trim - this type moves around direct the light to a specific area
• Wall wash trim - this is shielded halfway to spotlight a feature in the room
• Shower trim - this type is crafted with a tempered glass lens (ideal for bathrooms and showers)

You can also add a finish to complement your design theme. A white trim will blend in easily with your ceiling, but you can also get nickel, black or bronze versions for a more refined look.

Track Lighting

Track lighting is just that; a series of smaller lights attached to a continuous track.Track lighting is an excellent source for accentuating a specific space or spotlighting a room feature, like a fireplace, wall art or bookshelf.

In the kitchen, track lighting can outline the island or highlight the sink and stove countertops. Use a straight standard track or a shapely monorail track for extra flair. Track lighting also looks great mixed and matched with pendants and recessed lighting, allowing you to put the focus on different areas of your kitchen when you need to.

Tip: Curious to know more about track lighting types? Our guide, Everything You've Ever Wanted to Ask About Track Lighting has got you covered.

Pendant Lighting

Pendant lights hang from the ceiling and have become massively popular in the last few years. Hang a single pendant light above your kitchen table, for example, to create a decorative focal point - or add identical pendant lights in a cluster or straight line above your kitchen island to make it the centrepiece of the room. In a hallway, staircase, bathroom or bedroom (positioned at the foot of the bed), you really can go for it with larger statement pendants.

The recommended height for hanging a pendant above a table is 70cm to 80cm. Typically, hang a pendant about 70cm to 85cm above a countertop, or as a general rule, 2m from the floor. If you're hanging a pendant in a hallway or above a stairwell, make sure to leave about 45cm to 60cm of clearance between the fixture and your tallest family member or guest. A single fixture or multiple pendants can be hung lower over a kitchen or coffee table in the middle of a room to create a dramatic effect and reinforce the interior-design theme.

That said, there's also a trend for hanging pendant lights low, which can look really modern next to a low bed or above a kitchen island.

Some styles to look out for? Coloured glass pendants can look stunning in modern homes. Copper alongside clear glass has an industrial chic edge, as do enamel versions. And some designers have played with big, sculptural pendants that can look really dramatic in an entrance or hallway.

Tip: Our 9 Ways to Style and Showoff Pendant Lights will give you all the inspiration you need.

Wall Flush Lights and Sconces

Elegant and sophisticated, wall lights look stunning along hallways spaced about 2m to 3m apart and 2m from the floor. They can also give your home a dramatic look placed either side of a mirror, painting or bookcase.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting can turn an ordinary garden into an enchanting alfresco hotspot in no time (and even on the most overcast evening).

Illuminate an outdoor table setting with lanterns to create a shimmering glow over an evening dinner. Torches light up even the most suburban garden with a beachy vibe. Colourful hanging solar lanterns hung from trees or a trellis charm the entertainment space with soft luminescence. String lights draped from tree to tree or along an awning have all the appeal of a starry night sky.

Tip: Discover more of our expert lighting tips with:

• Illuminate Your Outdoor Space With These Outdoor Lighting Ideas
• Choosing the Best Light Bulb Just Got Simpler
• Your Go-To Guide for Everything Lighting