Lighting--from ceiling fixtures to sconces to floor lamps--can make a dramatic difference in the way a room feels and functions. It can illuminate areas where we carry out tasks, from food preparation to homework and hobbies. It can provide mood and nuance in living and enterainment areas. And light can focus attention on art and special features in a home. And it can even lift our moods--a number of studies in regions with extremely abbreviated daylight hours have found that light can make a big difference in how we feel. Light, after all, is what the human eye sees when looking at all things.

Unfortunately, the lighting plan in a home is often given little attention. Many older homes and apartments have completely inadequate lighting—a single ceiling-mounted fixture at best. So lighting gets introduced as an afterthought. We install new ceiling fixtures, cabinet lighting, sconce, and chandeliers to provide better illumination and enhance room decor. And we buy floor lamps and table lamps for the same reasons.

In this section of HomeTips you can take a closer look at home lighting and how using proper lighting techniques can make all the difference in your home. You'll also find helpful DIY techniques for installation, repair, and care of home lighting.