Lighting Types
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is the base layer of illumination that fills a room with comfortable, general light. Also called general lighting, it creates overall brightness that allows you to navigate safely and see the room's contents without harsh shadows or dark corners.
Effective ambient lighting sets the mood and provides the foundation upon which task and accent lighting layers build. The best ambient lighting is even and unobtrusive—you notice if it's insufficient or glaring, but well-designed ambient light fades into the background, letting other elements shine.
Key Characteristics
- ✓General, overall illumination
- ✓Creates base light level
- ✓Even distribution through space
- ✓Foundation for lighting layers
- ✓Sets overall room mood
- ✓Multiple sources often combined
Types & Variations
Overhead ambient (ceiling fixtures)
Wall-washed ambient (sconces, cove)
Natural ambient (windows, skylights)
Reflected ambient (indirect lighting)
Combined ambient (multiple sources)
Works Well With These Styles
Placement & Usage Tips
For even ambient light, combine multiple sources—overhead fixtures, wall sconces, and indirect lighting work together. Use dimmer switches to adjust ambient levels for different activities and times of day.
💡 Pro Tip
Calculate ambient lighting needs: multiply room square footage by 1.5 to get approximate total lumens needed. Distribute this across multiple fixtures for even coverage rather than relying on a single bright central fixture.