Have you noticed how much we’ve talked about layered lighting recently?
Is it a new concept? Or is it a new name for an old concept?! Or are we just doing it differently than we did before??
Lighting is layered to make a space feel “just right” in every situation. Good lighting is about more than the fixtures you select and install…it’s about giving you the flexibility to set the perfect ambience for each occasion and time of day, or to adjust for meteorological factors, too.
The way we layer lighting depends on the space AND on how you, personally, use it. That’s part of what we call lighting design.
Keep reading, and you’ll get an overview of everything you need to know about layering lights!!
Why’s layered lighting a hot topic now?
Professional interior designers and homeowners are talking more about layered lighting now because of new trends andpossibilities, like:
- A focus on wellness: we’ve learned more in recent years about how light affects wellness. There are physical reasons (i.e., circadian rhythm), and emotional reasons (harsh lights don’t feel “right” for a soirée). Lighting has the potential to fill each environment of your home with the right—or wrong—ambience.
- New technology: from dimmable LED lights to speaker-based controls, occupancy sensors, and smart light programming, lighting technology has made light layering SO easy…and so much more effective!!
- Lifestyle-first design: we spend more time in our homes now, and as a result we expect our home to provide more than just shelter. Layered lighting creates spaces that feel tailored to how you LIVE.
- Lighting as part of design: The light cast on the walls of each space is a design element, too. Did you know that your lighting selections can completely change the colors of your walls and furniture, too?! Use this in a deliberate and personalized interior design plan, and the result will feel like magic!!
What does “layered lighting” really mean?
Think of lighting layers as the recipe for each occasion ineach space of your home. What’s the recipe for a special dinner date? Or what’s the recipe for a family game night?
Here are the main ingredients:
- Ambient lighting: This is your main light source, like overhead fixtures or recessed lights. It’s the “base coat” of lighting in any room.
- Task lighting: This is focused light for specific activities, like cooking, reading, or applying makeup.
- Accent lighting: This is the cherry on top of your lighting design!! These are your statement pieces…think wall sconces, LED strips, or toe-kick lights. They’re all used to highlight features, show off your unique style, act as statement pieces, or create a mood.
What’s at stake if you don’t layer your lighting?
Poor lighting doesn’t just affect the look of your home…it impacts how you live in it.
Here’s what’s at stake without deliberate and thoughtful lighting design for your home:
- Decreased functionality. Imagine the spaces that are hard to use because the lighting is too low, or too impractical to use.
- Mood and wellness. Lighting directly affects your mood and energy levels! Too bright? A space will feel unwelcoming. Too dim? You’ll feel tired and drained.
- Design investments for naught. All the carefully selected pieces in your home—from paint colors to furniture to cabinet finishes—will look flat and unappealing without the right lighting in the right places.
- Safety. Insufficient lighting in key areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and stairs is an invitation for accidents. This isn’t just for y’all who want to stay in your “forever homes” and age in place, by the way!! This is for anyone who ever has people over with limited mobility…whether young or old, or with temporary mobility issues after surgery, etc.
How to Layer Lighting in Your Kitchen
The kitchen is the HEART of the home, we say. What’s that mean, though? It means you do tons there, whether solo or with family or guests. You stand there and chop veggies, you host friends, you eat breakfast with the family, you get holiday cocktails ready…you even get in some late-night work at the counter.
Your kitchen lighting needs to work HARD to be adjustable for all of that!!
Layered lighting in the kitchen often looks like this:
- Ambient lighting typically includes recessed ceiling lights installed strategically around the room.
- Task lighting might include under-cabinet lighting for the countertops or pendants for the islands or breakfast bars.
- Accent lighting like toe-kick LED strips or uplighting above the cabinets adds depth and a little drama!!
Important: Install dimmers EVERYWHERE in the kitchen. Bright light for cooking, soft light for late-night snacks…whatever you’re in the kitchen for, you need to have lighting perfection!
How to Layer Lighting in Bathrooms
The bathroom is where you start and end every day…and you want that to feel natural, comfortable, and relaxing. Your bathroom lighting should be perfect, whether you’re still waking up or winding down.
Layered lighting in bathrooms often looks like this:
- Ambient lights are overhead flush mounts or recessed lights.
- Task lights might include sconces, or the perfect 360-degree lighting around your vanity mirror.
- Accent lighting, like LED strips under the vanity or around a soaking tub, give your main bathroom a spa-like glow.
By the way…I have a quiz to pick your perfect tub type, take it now!!
Here’s a question for you: have you ever stood in your bathroom, looking in the mirror and feeling a little dismayed, and thought, Why do I look like this? It’s probably bad lighting!! FIX IT with layers!
How to layer lighting in other areas (especially where you entertain)!
When it comes to entertaining, lighting is EVERYTHING. It sets the mood, highlights the best parts of your home, and makes everyone feel comfortable.
Here’s how to layer in living and dining room areas:
- Ambient lighting includes recessed lights and some chandeliers.
- Task lighting includes table lamps (we call them “portables” in interior design lingo), standing lamps, or reading lights near seating areas.
- Accent lighting typically includes picture lights for artwork, wall washers, LED strips on shelves, etc.
Here’s how to layer in outdoor spaces:
- Ambient lighting often starts with overhead fixtures or string lights in outdoor areas.
- Task lighting includes step and pathway lighting, and lighting over any outdoor cooking area.
- Accent lighting outdoors includes uplighting trees and spotlights for architectural details.
You don’t need to go big on every layer, by the way. Even small accent lights can make a HUGE impact—it’s all about balance and deliberate lighting design.
So…are you ready for better and more personalized lighting design with an interior design consultation?! Lighting layers are the “secret sauce” for spaces that are as functional as they are fabulous.
And remember, this week I’ll be picking out the BEST lighting pieces I find at the Dallas Market Center! I was selected as one of the Dallas Market Style Eyes, so you can follow along on Instagram as I find the perfect pieces to bring all these ideas to life!!
Follow me to see all the pieces I select and the video demos I share of each!!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for nearly three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
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