Brighten up your kitchen with track lighting, give your living room a warm, cosy glow with a floor lamp or add a table lamp next to your bed for reading - lighting i your home is as mood-setting as it is functional. Our lighting buying guide explains how to light up each room at home, as well as tips on sizing and placement.

Lighting for Every Room at Home

Choose your lighting based on room or by the two main rules of thumb: first, you should have a mix of light sources at different levels to create a flattering ambiance and second, you'll also you need appropriate task lighting for whatever you do in that space (reading, cooking, getting dressed). Here are our tips for the four key rooms:

The Living Room

Light three of the four corners, using one to highlight an object (a piece of art, a plant, a striking chair). Choose a mix of lighting: floor lamps and table lamps, some that shine downward and some upward. Make sure any overhead lights have a dimmer, and that down-glowing lamps have three-way switches, so that you can easily create a warm ambiance.

The Dining Room

The table should be the brightest spot in the room. For a chandelier or pendant above the table, don't go any brighter than 100 watts. Indirect lighting is ideal for anywhere else in the room; for a subtle glow, try matching sconces or a pair of small table lamps on a console.

Tip: Thinking about investing in a chandelier but unsure what kind? Our chandelier style guide will help you out.

The Bedroom

For a cosy and welcoming atmosphere, place reading lamps or sconces on either side of the bed. Recessed or track lighting should be angled away from the bed and toward the dressing area.

The Kitchen

Focus on overhead lighting (on a dimmer that you can crank up when cooking). Supplement it with lower sources of light to illuminate work surfaces, such as pendants above an island, under-cabinet lights or a table lamp (but keep that one away from the sink).

Overhead Lighting Options

Ceiling Flush Lights

These fixtures are attached directly to the ceiling to provide whole-room illumination. For a less harsh overhead light, put in low-wattage bulbs adding up to around 60 watts.

Semi Flush Lights

These lights, with a bit more style than standard flush-mounts, usually hang down about a foot from the ceiling.

Pendant Lights

The term 'pendant' applies to any fixture that hangs from a chain or cord. Pendant lights are ideal for hanging over tables and counters or in rooms with ceilings nine feet or taller. To find the best size pendant for your space, add up the length and width of the room in feet and then use the same number in inches for the fixture's diameter.

Recessed Lights

These lights (aka high hats or can lights) are embedded into the ceiling for a modern but subtle look - smaller ones, about three inches in diameter, are sleekest. Recessed lights are a great option for low ceilings, and directional recessed lights can be beamed to accent certain areas in a space.

Track Lights

These adaptable features provide flexibility in terms of where you want the lighting. Slide the fixtures to concentrate light on a certain area, or angle the lights to accent an object or artwork. Choose small track lights in a finish that matches other metals in the space.

Tip: For more overhead lighting styles and ideas, check out our guide 'How to Choose The Right Type of Ceiling Light'.

Light Size & Placement

Bedside: For bedside lamps, the bottom of the shade should be slightly below your line of sight, or around 40cm to 45cm from the top of the mattress. A table lamp that's 66cm to 70cm tall in total works best.

Kitchen: Kitchen pendants should clear the head of the tallest member of the family (90cm to 120cm from the countertop should do it). Space multiple pendants evenly, starting 30cm to 38cm from either end of the island or table.

Dining area: Choose a chandelier that's one-half to three-quarters the width of the table. A good guideline is to hang it 90cm to 120cm above the table, but it's fine to go a little lower or higher.

Bathroom: Sconces on either side of the bathroom mirror should be 90cm to 120cm apart, and approximately 150cm from the floor. (Aim for the bottom edges of the shades to be slightly below eye level).

Choosing Light Bulbs

Now you've found your ideal lighting model, it's time to find the complementing light bulbs. Like lighting styles, bulbs also come in a plethora of designs and functions. Brush up on your bulb knowledge with our guides: How to Choose the Best Light Bulbs and Things to Consider When Buying LED Lights.

Tip: Exchange your usual switch for a dimmer. Dimmers not only allow you to easily adjust the ambiance in a room, they also save energy and extend the life of your light bulbs.