If you're not an experienced home renovator or designer, the wide world of lighting can feel a little daunting. Accent lighting, ambient lighting, task lighting - where do you even start?
Layering your lighting is the secret to a home that feels warm, balanced, and beautifully lit. By combining ambient, accent and task lighting throughout your space, you can create a cosy atmosphere, while giving yourself the brightness where you need it most.
Surrounding yourself with light is far more relaxing than relying on overhead lighting alone, and layering allows you to balance comfort, function and style.
Layered lighting means using a mix of ambient, accent and task lighting in each space.
Ambient for overall illumination, Task for focus, and Accent for depth and mood.
When these three work together, your room feels complete - functional during the day and inviting in the evening. It’s the key to achieving a home that feels balanced and beautifully lit, no matter the time of day.
Ambient lighting transforms a room, creating a warm, even glow without harsh shadows or glare. It sets the perfect tone for any activity – from dinner parties to movie nights or quiet evenings at home.
Instead of focusing on one spot, ambient lighting fills the whole space with a soft, inviting light, as opposed to targeted task or accent lighting.
Our Favourite way to introduce Ambient lighting, is with Wall lights. Our collection of Opal wall lights create a nice even spread of light that will fill a room with a soft, warm light. Our faves are Mr Button, the Dott Wall Light, and our collection of Opal Apothecary shades on wall lights. Hanging Globe Pendant lights. The Mr Button and Dott lights can also be ceiling mounted.
If you're looking to emphasise particular elements in your space, like artworks or unique architectural features, then accent lighting is the way to go.
Accent lighting serves as the focal point in any room and is an easy way to create depth and interest. It’s especially effective when natural light is limited, adding warmth and elegance to the area.
Task lighting brightens the areas where you need extra light. It’s designed for activities that require focus, such as cooking, reading or working at a desk.
With dedicated task lighting, you can illuminate what’s needed without lighting up the whole room, giving you flexibility and control.
Our favourite Task Lights: We love a wall light that can be adjusted, and angled toward you for tasks like reading or crafts, but angled away for relaxation - the best of both worlds. the AJ Style Wall Light, and Mid-century Dome Wall Sconce are great for this!
When positioned in the right space, any metal shade can actually be brilliant for a task light, as the metal will direct the light directly down - great over a work bench! Click here to check out our range of Metal shades.
Start with ambient lighting to set your base illumination.
Add task lighting in areas where you work or read.
Finish with accent lighting to highlight features or create mood.
This mix helps you control the feel of your space at any time of day, bright and energising when you need focus, or soft and ambient for relaxing evenings.
By combining ambient, accent and task lighting, you can create a space that feels both practical and beautifully layered. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fixtures and placements to find what works best for your home, and if you need a little guidance, our team is always here to help - you can get in touch with us via the chat box on the bottom right, or emailing info@mrralph.co.nz.
