Lighting is essential for a comfortable living space. You can create an inviting atmosphere with the right lighting solutions in your home or business. A balanced combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting are necessary making a space inviting and functional. Ambient lighting is, as its name implies, the general lighting ambience of a room. It helps to make a room feel cozy and inviting. Common forms of ambient lighting are recessed ceiling lights, overhead lamps, wall sconces, and other ceiling-mounted fixtures. They shed bright enough light for the room to be livable, but still remain soft and subtle. Task lighting is used as a supplement to the ambient lighting, to provide focused illumination. Task lighting is designed to highlight areas that need a specific amount of light to be associated with some specific activities. Common task lights include under-cabinet lights in the kitchen, desk lamps, and reading lights in the book nook or entertainment room. Accent lighting is used to draw attention to certain features in a room, such as artwork, sculptures, and drapery. It can also be used to downlight fireplaces and to highlight architectural elements. Common forms of accent lighting are track lights, recessed spots, and LED strip lighting. They provide a bright, focused light, traditionally in a low wattage, as not to attract too much attention. Lighting is an integral part of how we experience a space. Ambient, task, and accent lighting all provide their own essential elements to creating a cozy atmosphere. If you plan your lighting solutions well, your space will be both inviting and functional.