Lighting is an integral part in the mood and function of a room.
When you are decorating a room, take into account what activities you are looking to achieve in that room.
This will help to determine the type of lighting that will help to enhance the experience.
You will need to make sure that you have sufficient lighting overall so that people can see what they are doing.
In addition, take into account task specific lighting such as an area of the room where you would be reading or lighting.
This is typically referred to as task lighting.
Another factor to take into account is the general color of the items in the room, including the colors or the walls, carpet, and ceiling.
A room that has darker colors in it will require more lighting to achieve the same level of illumination that a room filled with light colored objects require.
Keep in mind that if you need to be energetic in a room, for instance a home gym or office, you will probably want to stick to lighter colors and additional lighting.
Studies show that a brighter room is more conducive to industrious behavior.
If you want to unwind and relax, softer darker colors, with the ability for lower levels of lighting can help you to achieve a getaway within your home.
Tip: In a darker, more relaxing room, you may want to incorporate 3-way lamps, and dimmer switches so that you can both achieve soft lighting and well as maintain the option to add a little extra illumination in case, for instance, you want to do a puzzle in the den.