To improve the look of your home, its best to know the types of lighting and how to use them. The first is ambient lighting. The purpose is to create evenly distributed light in a room. These can be ceiling lights, recessed lights, and lamps.
The next is accent lighting. These are secondary lights in a room. They help visually separate a room or highlight an architectural feature or art. They must be 3 to 5 times brighter than the ambient lighting. Examples of this type of lighting are spotlights, a sconce, or even candlelight.
The next is task lighting which is used for just that, performing a task. It needs to be 6 to 10 times brighter than the ambient light.
The next is natural light, which we spoke about in the previous blog post, and the last is outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting is important as it provides security and gives your exterior a nice look.
Try layering all types of lighting in a room for an impressive look.
Source: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/5-ways-to-light-up-your-home5.htm