How To Create A Layered Lighting Scheme

Add style, depth and intrigue to every room with layers of lighting.

Lighting is a transformative component in any living space, setting the tone and creating pools of glow that highlight your surfaces and add a revitalised pop of intrigue to unloved corners. Layered lighting is your ones way ticket to creating a pad that looks as good as it feels.

❝More than a finishing touch, lighting is what brings a space to life. It highlights your most treasured pieces, softens architectural lines, and creates layers that make a room feel considered and complete. Get it right, and everything else falls into place.❞

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Lighting - The Basics

There are three different types of lighting to every scheme, ambient, task and accent. Use ambient lighting to create soft lighting that illuminates large spaces.Task lighting is great to brighten a space and is focused in one position while accent lighting will create little glowing pockets of light.

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The Different Layers Of Lighting

1. Ambient Lighting

These are your overhead lights, recessed, pendant or chandeliers. Don't make them the only lights in the room and ideally you need to have them on dimmers, so you can change the vibe of a room by lowering the light levels.

2. Task Lighting

These are the practical lights you need in the room, so desk lamps, reading lights and under cabinet lighting for preparing food in the kitchen. Task lights are practical and functional, but they also make a room feel more beautiful and harmonious because you get little pools of light dotted around the room.

3. Accent Lighting

These are the lamps that you can load up on everywhere in the room. Pop lamps everywhere and anywhere, on side tables, consoles, kitchen islands and the floor. These little glowing pockets of light create atmospheric, cosy, intimate spaces. As you enter a beautifully lit room you immediately get that feeling of squishy contentment.

A Layered Lighting Scheme

Lighting is the quiet luxury that defines every space. A layered scheme with light at different levels is key. If all your table lights are of a similar height, raise them on books or blocks - it makes the hugest difference. Candlelight with its flickering, flattering glow is also really important , adding movement to a scheme. Embrace shadows, they add such depth and intrigue.⁠

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How To Layer Lighting in The Living Room

The living room is where layered lighting really comes into its own. Rather than relying on a single overhead fitting, think about creating pockets of light that draw you in and encourage you to linger. A floor lamp nestled beside an armchair, table lamps highlighting nooks, side tables and consoles. These all work together to add depth and warmth. The interplay of light and shadow brings character to the space, highlighting textures, rich colours and collected pieces while making the room feel instantly more inviting, a living room that feels layered, intimate and full of atmosphere will entice you to relax and making it somewhere you want to spend time.

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How To Layer Lighting In The Bedroom

The bedroom should feel like a sanctuary, and layered lighting is key to creating that sense of calm. Instead of flooding the room with bright overhead light, combine a selection of softer light sources to build a relaxing atmosphere. Bedside lamps provide a gentle glow for evening reading, while extra table lamps smattered throughout the room or a floor lamp can add depth without overpowering the space. Warm-toned bulbs help create a restful environment, enhancing tactile textures such as linen bedding, velvet cushions and natural wood finishes, creating a peaceful haven. Thoughtfully placed lighting shapes the mood, making the bedroom feel intimate, comforting and beautifully cocooning.

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Lighting Myth Busting

One ceiling light is enough for every room - A single overhead light can leave a room feeling flat and uninspiring. Layering ambient, task and accent lighting creates depth, warmth and a more inviting atmosphere.

Bright lighting always makes a room look bigger - Overly bright lighting can make a space feel stark rather than spacious. A combination of soft, well-placed light sources helps define the room and creates a greater sense of depth.

Dark walls require brighter bulbs - Dark interiors thrive with warm, layered lighting rather than harsh, high-wattage bulbs. Soft pools of light enhance rich colours and create a cosy, cocooning feel.

Small rooms don't need multiple light sources - Even the smallest spaces benefit from layered lighting. Combining table lamps, wall lights or floor lamps with overhead lighting adds dimension and makes compact rooms feel more considered and welcoming.

Lighting The Seasons

Lighting should evolve with the seasons to keep your home feeling comfortable and inviting all year round. During the darker autumn and winter months, layer warm table lamps, floor lamps and candlelight to create a cosy, cocooning atmosphere. As the days grow longer in spring and summer, embrace natural light while using softer accent lighting in the evenings to maintain a relaxed ambience. Making small seasonal adjustments helps your home feel balanced, welcoming and effortlessly in tune with the changing light outside.