Best Lighting: A Room-by-Room Guide

Lighting is more than flipping a switch—it's the secret ingredient for setting the mood, boosting productivity, and making every space truly shine. The right light can transform a basic room into a haven, a workspace into a hub of creativity, and a bathroom into a personal spa.

But don’t worry—creating a well-lit, comfortable space doesn’t have to be complicated. We’ve put together a simple guide to help you navigate the world of lighting and find the ideal solution for every corner of your home. Let’s shed some light on the possibilities!

The Three Types of Lighting

Ambient or General Lighting is your main stage. This general, welcoming glow ensures a room is evenly lit, moving through a space effortlessly and comfortably the moment you flip the light switch on.
- Try ceiling fixtures, flush mounts, or chandeliers—let the whole room feel 'just right.'
Task Lighting is purpose-driven, designed to deliver concentrated illumination for activities you need it most. Whether you’re reading, chopping veggies, or perfecting your eyeliner, targeted brightness ensures you can focus with ease.
- Think under-cabinet strips, floor lamps, table lamps, or vanity lights.
Accent Lighting draws attention where it counts. This lighting can highlight a favorite art piece, textured wall, or bookshelf. It usually should be at least three times brighter than the ambient light around it to be effective.
- Wall sconces, spotlights, and LED strips do the heavy lifting here—visual interest = instant style upgrade.

Room-By-Room Lighting Made Easy

Living Room: Build layers—overhead fixture for ambiance, table/floor lamps for cozy corners, and spotlights for art. Add plug-in dimmers for instant mood shifts at movie time.
Kitchen: Lighting is your culinary tool! Under-cabinet strips illuminate prep work, while pendant lights above the island offer style and brightness. Don’t underestimate a well-placed recessed light.
Bedroom: Create your own sleepy-time haven with ambient lighting like soft-glow lamps and warm bulbs, and add task lighting to areas such as a nightstand where you read or a dressing area.
Bathroom: As with laundry rooms, bathrooms have ambient lighting that serves as task lighting. Bright, crisp overhead lights make mornings easier. Sinks and mirrors benefit from vanity lighting. Candles can add depth, too, as accent lighting.

Types of Bulbs

Incandescent

These traditional bulbs use a tungsten filament that heats up and glows to emit a warm light. Incandescent bulbs typically last about one year, do not contain mercury, and are fully dimmable. However, they are the least energy-efficient option and are now largely phased out or restricted in many regions due to energy standards.

LEDs

Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs produce light when an electric current passes through a semiconductor, illuminating tiny LEDs. They stay cool to the touch because excess heat is drawn into a heat sink at the base. LEDs come in a full range of brightness levels and color temperatures, use significantly less energy than incandescents, and can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years, depending on usage.

CFLs

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) use an electric current that excites gases inside a twisted or coiled tube, generating ultraviolet (UV) light. A phosphor coating inside the bulb then converts the UV into visible light. CFLs are more energy efficient than incandescents and come in multiple brightness and tone options—but do contain small amounts of mercury, so careful disposal is needed. They usually last about 7 to 9 years depending on use.

Halogen

Halogen bulbs are advanced incandescents that use a tungsten filament and a halogen gas to produce a slightly whiter light, greater energy efficiency, and longer life than standard incandescents. They last about one to two years, do not contain mercury, and are also fully dimmable.

Reading a Bulb's Label

The FTC requires bulb packaging to include a label, similar to a nutrition label on a package of food, that includes information about how long the bulb will last, how much energy it uses, whether it meets Energy Star requirements, brightness levels, and light appearance (warm or cool). This label holds key information on how to find the best lighting for each room in your home.

Brightness: Lumens are the measure of brightness for light bulbs. The more lumens the bulb has, the brighter the light is. A typical home bulb produces about 800 lumens, which is the equivalent of 60 watts.
- Living Room: 1,500 -3,000 total lumens
- Kitchen: 5,000-10,000 total lumens
- Dining Room: 3,000-6,000 total lumens
- Bedroom: 2,000-4,000 total lumens
- Bathroom: 4,000-6,000 total lumens
Correlated Color Temperature: Kelvins measure a bulb’s color temperature—that is, how warm or cool the light appears. The higher the Kelvins, the cooler and crisper the light; lower Kelvins mean a warmer, cozier glow. Research shows that warmer light tends to promote relaxation, while cooler light helps boost alertness, so always check the Kelvin rating to choose the best lighting for your space.
- Warm (orange/red) bulbs are usually between 2,700K and 3,000K.
- Medium white bulbs are usually between 3,000K and 4,100K.
- Cool (blue) bulbs are usually 4,100K and higher.

On table, left to right: Turned Finial Lamp, Chatham Table Lamp, Rockport Table Lamp, Caged Urn Black Table Lamp, Quartrefoil Uplight Gold, Segovia Table Lamp, Borreze Console Lamp, Antiqued Mercury Glass Table Lamp

Light Color By Room

Living Room: Choose a warm white bulb around 2,700K for an inviting feel, or if you prefer things a little brighter, go with a soft white bulb around 3,000K.
Kitchen: Kitchens should be light and bright, so look for bulbs around 3,500K-4,100K.
Dining Room: Choose a bulb around 3,000K for a pleasing ambiance.
Bedroom: You don't want a lot of bright, blue light before you go to sleep, so opt for a warm and cozy bulb around 2,700K.
Bathroom: Create a clean and neat feel with bulbs from 3,500K-4,100K.

Types of Light Fixtures

Table Lamps: This is one of the most decorative types of lighting. Sit an accent lamp on an end table, desk, nightstand, or dresser to light up your room.
Floor Lamps: Floor lamps give off light around standing eye-level and don-t take up tabletop space.
Ceiling Mount Lighting: Often built-in to your home, these lights are controlled by a switch and send light downward.
Chandeliers/Pendant Lighting: This Lighting hangs from the ceiling and often makes a room have a put-together feel.
Sconce: Sconces are attached to the wall and cascade lighting outward.
Recessed/Track Lighting: This type of light sheds light across an entire room.

Light Fixtures By Room

Living Room: table lamps, floor lamps, ceiling lighting, sconces
Kitchen: ceiling lighting, recessed/track lighting
Dining Room: chandeliers, pendant lighting
Bedroom: table lamps, floor lamps, ceiling lighting
Bathroom: ceiling lighting, recessed/track lighting, sconces

Don’t Miss: Our Lighting Deep Dive on the Seated Podcast

Ready for expert tips that make lighting simple? Tune in to the special episode of Seated with Furniture Row, where Interior Designer Barb Chandler and Marketing Director Jessa Murphy break down everything you need to create cozy, functional, and beautiful spaces (no electrician required). They demystify bulb shopping, share creative solutions for every room—including rental hacks—and explain why great lighting is the secret to loving where you live.

Quick Tips from the Episode

Try relaxing, warm light in bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms
→ Helps create a calm, inviting atmosphere.
Use cooler light in kitchens, offices, and garages for focus and visibility
→ Great for tasks that need clarity and attention.
Add dimmers wherever you can—for instant mood control
→ Easily shift from bright to ambient in seconds.
Don’t rely on overheads! Add floor lamps, table lamps, sconces, art lights
→ Layered lighting adds depth and comfort.
Amber-tinted glass and bulbs can cozy up any space
→ A simple way to warm up the tone of a room.

Happy decorating!