Lighting buying guide
How to choose lighting for a room
Start with what you do in the room. A useful lighting plan combines general light, task lighting and gentle accents rather than relying on a single powerful lamp.
Guide chapters â choose a topic
Three layers of light
| Layer | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| General | Helps you move around and use the room. | Ceiling lights and evenly placed luminaires. |
| Task | Lights an area for reading, working or preparing food. | A reading lamp, desk lamp or worktop lighting. |
| Accent | Creates atmosphere and highlights selected details. | Wall lights, picture lighting and subtle shelf lighting. |
Plan around the room
- Living room: plan the seating area, reading spot and table separately. Switching on part of the lighting is often more convenient than using every light at once.
- Kitchen: general lighting does not replace worktop lighting. Stand where you prepare food and check that your body will not block the light.
- Bedroom: consider access to switches from bed and the direction of reading light. Avoid shining an exposed source into another personâs eyes.
- Dining room: match the fitting to the size and position of the table. Check the view from a seated position, not only from the centre of the room.
- Hallway: leave a clear route and allow doors to open. Stair lighting needs an assessment of steps and approaches.
- Bathroom and garden: operating conditions and correct installation matter as much as appearance. See the relevant chapters.
What to prepare before shopping
- Room dimensions, ceiling height and a sketch of the furniture layout.
- Positions of electrical outlets, sockets and switches, and what can be changed.
- Wall and shade colours: dark surfaces and opaque shades affect the lighting result.
- Your preferred controls: a simple switch, dimming, a remote or an app.
Questions before buying
Should I choose the lamp or the bulb first?
Consider them together. Check the fitting, dimensions, required light output and controls before buying either.
Can one ceiling light illuminate the whole room?
It may provide general lighting, but reading, cooking or working can still need separate task lighting.
Prepared by Twoje-Lampy.pl · updated 24 October 2026.