Lighting isn’t just a practical aspect of your home, it sets the mood. From table lamps and floor lamps to ceiling lights, there are lots of ways to brighten your space, but what makes lighting ambient?
Ambient lighting is the soft, all-over glow that makes a room feel calm, cosy, and lived-in. It’s the difference between a space that feels stark and one that feels like home. From lazy Sunday mornings to winding down before bed, the right choice of lighting immediately brings a different feel to your room.
In this blog, we’ll walk through types of lighting, how to style each room with ambient lighting, and which DUSK pieces can help you achieve that welcoming glow.
What’s the difference between ambient, task and accent lighting?
Thinking about upgrading your lighting? Before you dive in, it’s worth going back to basics - what are the different types of lighting, and how do they shape the way a room feels?
What is ambient lighting?
Starting with the main focus of this blog, ambient lighting. This is usually the main source of light that fills a room. It’s the soft, overall illumination that allows you to move around comfortably without needing any additional light. Think overhead lights, floor lamps, and table lamps that create warmth without glare.
It’s the foundation of your lighting scheme and helps everything feel cohesive and calm.
What is task lighting?
As the name suggests, task lighting ensures that there is enough light for you to perform a particular task. In the bedroom, it might be a reading lamp to stop you from straining your eyes. In the home office, a desk lamp to help you focus. And at the dining table, a soft sideboard glow that keeps things cosy well past dessert.
This lighting is important not only for aesthetic reasons but also for your own safety and comfort around the home. Without it, you end up straining your eyes, casting awkward shadows, or relying on lighting that’s too harsh or too dim for the task at hand.
The best bit? It doesn’t have to be dull or clinical. A beautifully shaped table lamp can be both practical and stylish.
What is accent lighting?
Accent lighting is where the extra magic happens. It’s not about filling a room with light, it’s about drawing the eye. Unlike ambient lighting which provides general illumination, accent lighting is directed towards a specific point or object.
Whether it’s highlighting your favourite artwork, adding a soft glow to a shelf, or showing off architectural elements in your home, accent lighting adds depth, interest and a little drama.
Why ambient lighting matters in every room
From calm evenings in the bedroom to softly glowing corners in the living room, ambient light shapes the way your home feels, not just how it looks.
Lighting isn’t one-size-fits-all, we know the kind of glow you want in the kitchen isn’t the same as the one you’ll want as you wind down in bed. That’s the beauty of ambient lighting since it adapts to each space, creating an atmosphere with just the flick of a switch.
Here’s how to get it just right in different corners of your home:
Bedroom lighting ideas
The bedroom should be your sanctuary and harsh overhead lighting has no place here. Ambient lighting in the bedroom should feel warm, cocooning and restful. It sets the tone for winding down and signals to your brain that it’s time to switch off.
Sleep Foundation explains the relationship between light and sleep, and suggests that your bedroom lighting can play a central role in preparing your body for rest. Warm light that’s similar to a setting sun may help to signal to your brain that it’s time to sleep. On the other hand, bright lights can inhibit melatonin production which helps to initiate drowsiness, making you stay awake for longer.
A pair of Connie Conical Table Lamps or a gently glowing Charon rechargeable on either side of the bed is perfect for winding down, reading, or simply setting the scene for sleep. If you need a little more brightness, choosing the right ceiling lamp shade can add some excitement to your bedroom’s aesthetic and dilute a bright light bulb. Our Fleur Petal Ceiling Shade, for example, adds a lovely floral accent to your room.
Living room lighting ideas
The living room is where most of life happens - morning coffee, lazy Sundays, midweek boxsets, and catch-ups with friends. And lighting plays a bigger role in all that than we often realise! The right ambient lighting helps your space adapt to the moment, supporting whatever mood you're in.
As daylight fades, you could pop on a sideboard lamp, like the Amber Glass Table Lamp or Cassie Striped Table Lamp, which both give off a soft, golden glow and add instant cosiness. When you need more coverage, whether you're hosting or just need to feel a little more awake, a floor lamp is a great option. The Dione Contrast Tripod Floor Lamp offers height and balance, casting an even glow across the whole room without feeling harsh or clinical. It’s ideal for spaces with high ceilings or open layouts, where a single side lamp might feel a little lost.
Having both options means you can move seamlessly from day to dusk, all without ever having to rely on that one overhead bulb.
Outdoor lighting ideas
Ambient lighting doesn’t stop indoors and our Outdoor Lighting range proves it. Here, a Sage Green Waterproof Rechargeable Lamp sits perfectly on the table, offering just the right amount of glow for evening drinks. Combined with classic string lights in the background, the result is warm, welcoming and effortlessly stylish. Our Outdoor Plug In Flower String Lights make patios and balconies feel just as considered as your interiors.
Let there be light!
Whether it’s the calm of your bedroom, the heart of your living room, or the quiet charm of your garden after dark, ambient lighting brings your home to life.
By layering your light sources and choosing pieces that complement the mood of each space, you’ll create a home that shifts effortlessly from day to night, season to season. Explore our full Lighting Collection to find your perfect glow.
