Lighting is an important part of any room design. Quality lighting not only adds style to your home, but also provides functional illumination to help you see and be seen. Different types of lighting are available to meet your needs, such as ambient, task, and accent lighting. Each type of lighting should be incorporated to create the best lighting design for your home. Ambient lighting is a softer, more diffuse light that creates a general illumination. It is usually the largest source of light in the room and is used to set the mood and ambiance of a space. Common sources of ambient lighting include ceiling fixtures, such as chandeliers, and wall sconces. Task lighting is used to highlight a specific area where a certain task is being performed, such as a kitchen countertop or a desk. This type of lighting should be bright enough for the job at hand, but not so bright as to create glare. Task lighting can be provided with a range of lighting fixtures, such as pendant lights over the countertop or a desk lamp for a workspace. Accent lighting is meant to draw attention to certain objects in a room, such as a painting or a decorative plant. It should be directional and well focused to emphasize the area without creating an overwhelming effect. Examples of accent lighting include track lighting and recessed lighting. When selecting lighting fixtures, consider the size, shape, and style of the fixture as well as the wattage of the bulb. Higher wattage bulbs provide more light, but also create more heat. The combination of the three types of lighting will be the most effective for creating the best lighting design for your home.