How I Am Creating Layered Lighting in Our New Home

In this post, I’m breaking down how we’re using layered lighting in our new build, why I’m choosing warm dimmable lights over harsh blue-toned bulbs, and why I still prefer physical switches over app-controlled smart lighting.

Since breaking ground on May 4th, progress on the new house has moved at a near-breakneck pace!! Fueled by a (surprisingly) cooperative streak of beautiful Spring weather, it’s been a quick blur of updates that has us already finalizing appliances and plumbing fixtures. Next on the horizon is the lighting and at first I was so nervous for this phase but now, I’m approaching with a healthy dose of excitement for the vision I have in mind. 🙂

Ive noticed that majority of new builds handle lighting by riddling the ceiling with 6-inch recessed cans until the living room resembles a surgical suite. You almost can’t overstate how pervasive that is. Since the dawn of the open-concept floor plan, from suburban developments to custom estates, having a “well-lit” home has been knowingly associated with blasting 47 blindingly bright overhead LEDs. #ick

While totally acceptable for contractors to resort now and again to whatever is necessary to get the job done, the design world’s purists have always wielded the table lamp, a wall sconce, and/or hanging pendant. For casual homeowners with chaotic schedules, smart-home integration exudes modern efficiency: blast your retinas at 10 PM, but be technologically advanced about it. And, I don’t want any part of that – – as I clearly laid out in an earlier post; Friction-Maxxing Our Home Build: Copper Pipes, Ethernet, and No Carpet.

Why We’re Rethinking Lighting in Our New Build

Without sounding pretentious (I swear, ask anybody!), I happen to prefer the tactile magic of a heavy brass dimmer switch; a direct descendant of the physical dials used  in the 1960s, before sleeker slide dimmers and modern rocker switches became the standard for interior design in the late 1970s.

Physical dial, or rotary, light switches have been my dream design move since I stayed at an ACE Hotel in NYC about eight years ago, and I’ve never stopped romanticizing them.. 🙂 It’s pointless to wonder if the charm of a quiet evening has been blunted by app-controlled convenience, right? Smart lights are the future, so it’s time I just download the app and let the internet run my whole mood? Not likely. 😉

Why I Prefer Physical Light Switches Over Smart Wifi Bulbs

Because besides being a person who cares about good design and good health, I’m first and foremost a photographer, which means I care about light in a way that is probably annoying. I want as much natural light as possible, and when natural light is gone, I want warm, soft, human-friendly “fill” light.

Designing a Home That “Heals” Our Attention Spans

The goal with our new house has never been to make everything as automated as possible. At our inital meeting with our builders we made that evident and they were happy to help us create a gorgeous “green” home. The goal of our new home is to “heal” our attention spans and reclaim and enjoy genuine human experiences. My husband Caleb and I wanted rooms that change with the sun, a wood stove that requires attention and an audience, and an overall environment that encourages conversation and connection amongst our family … because that is far more interesting than whatever is happening on a screen.

I feel like I sound super old saying this, but the best parts of the human experience only yield themselves when you’re fully, inconveniently present – – psst: this is probably why I love photography and driving a stick-shift so much. 🙂 I’ve been talking about this a lot on our dauly morning coffee walks with the dog and I will probably talk about it a lot more on this blog. 

We made design decisions based on wanting a home that added to the human experience, and now, that we are selecting lighting, I am all about continuing with that intention and I don’t mind a little “friction” in my life. Give me physical switches, dimmers, and a real reading light beside the bed. I know myself, and I know I’ll forever enjoy reaching for an actual switch a whole lot more than troubleshooting a “smart” zero-latency one. 

I Think Cozy Layered Lighting Is the Real Luxury

Caleb and I have had so many conversations about our dream home selections and we believe that lighting a house, even a modern custom build, is about creating zones. Overhead lights are like a car with the high-beams permanently on versus one with fog lights and an ambient interior (and underbody) glow. **ask me about my first car, the eclipse that I modded **  Of the innumerable analogies that rush to mind, relying solely on overhead lighting is like playing an entire symphony using only a tuba. 🙂

You can make the argument that flooding a room with light makes cleaning the floors more efficient, but I’d rather do without it. You cannot deny that layered lighting makes actually living in the room a better experience. Same with a roaring wood-burning stove versus a space heater. Layered lighting simply is the natural progression of intentional design and anyone still using a single overhead flush-mount probably still balances his checkbook.

For the record, I’ve never balanced a checkbook ledger, but I can imagine how such awareness of one’s transactions promotes greater fiscal health. Regardless of how it’s wired, I think establishing three distinct layers of light and putting every single one of them on a physical analog dimmer might be the smartest money anyone with good taste can spend on interior lighting.

The Three Layers of Cozy Lighting We’re Using in Our Custom Home

Here is exactly how we are achieving the perfect ambience, without a single screen or wifi connection required:

1. The Ambient Layer (The Foundation)

This is your baseline illumination. Yes, we are installing recessed lights (I am not a complete pioneer woman), but they are strictly flicker-free, circadian-friendly, stylish lights tethered to an analog dimmer. Ambient light is the overhead wash. It’s the necessary evil for vacuuming up dog fur or finding Lake’s lost matchbox cars, but it will never be the only switch flipped when we are unwinding.

2. The Task Layer (The Workhorses)

Task lighting is the articulated brass sconce above the kitchen counter, the heavy table lamp on my desk for editing my clients’ photo galleries, or the dedicated reading light next to the bed. These are localized, purposeful pools of light.

3. The Accent Layer (The Magic)

If ambient light is the canvas and task light is the subject, accent lighting is the frame. These are the picture lights illuminating artwork, the subtle glow hidden under the cabinets, or the small, 15-watt bulb tucked onto a bookshelf. This layer exists purely to create dimension. It eliminates the flat, sterile look of a room and invites your brain to wander into the shadowed darker corners.

Warm, Tactile, Human-Friendly Lighting

At the end of the day, I truly believe your home shouldn’t feel like a control center. By stepping away from the glaring grids of smart-bulbs and embracing a layered, tactile approach, you get to actively participate in setting the tone of your evening. Plus, there is nothing quite like the soft, golden glow of a single lamp to remind you that it’s finally time to log off.

Shop My Favorite Cozy Modern Lighting for Your Home

BASA Pendant

GlowStream LED Flex

Circadian Bulbs from Healthy Home (coupon code LENHOF gets you 10% off your order)

Arc Mid-Century Sconce

Modern Solid Brass Up and Down Wall Sconce

Zolee Dimmable Glass and Brass Wall Sconce

Atelier Aged Brass Table Lamp by Todd Snyder

Atelier Aged Brass Semi-Flush Mount Light by Todd Snyder

Tens White Enamel Flush Mount Light

Aged brass flush mount by award-winning French design duo dach&zephir balances fluidity with clean rigidity. The result is a timeless fixture with a sensuous bell-shaped silhouette. Sheltering a handblown opaline glass globe, the shade is finished in a high-gloss white enamel to contrast with the aged brass interior. Brass is unlacquered, offering a living finish that will develop the patina of a vintage find. CB2 exclusive.

Mane White Marble Arc Floor Lamp with Linen Shade

Floor lamp’s sleek lines converge with beautiful finishes in a Jannis Ellenberger design. Made of iron with a champagne brass finish, it sits upon a base of white Carrara marble that is carved by hand and honed to a smooth finish. A telescoping, adjustable arm can be positioned to accommodate multiple uses and spaces. A crisp, clean white linen shade, complete with diffuser, softens the light.

Sculptural 7-Light Globe Chandelier

Dimmable Globe Wall Sconce

Weston Smooth Glass Indoor/Outdoor Sconce

FAQs About Layered Interior Lighting in a Home

What is layered lighting in a home?

Layered lighting means using more than one type of light in a room instead of relying on one overhead fixture. Most well-designed rooms use ambient lighting for general illumination, task lighting for specific activities, and accent lighting to add warmth, depth, and mood.

What are the three layers of interior lighting?

The three main layers of lighting are ambient, task, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting is the overall light in the room, task lighting helps you do something specific like read or cook, and accent lighting adds the cozy glow that makes a space feel finished.

Is blue light bad in a home?

Blue-heavy light is especially disruptive at night because it can send the wrong signal to your brain when your body should be preparing for sleep. I’m not interested in filling our house with cool, blue-toned light.

Why is warm light better at night?

Warm light feels closer to candlelight, firelight, and sunset, which is exactly the kind of light I want in a home after dinner. It helps the house feel softer and calmer instead of keeping everyone’s nervous system lit up like we’re still trying to send emails under office fluorescents.

What color temperature is best for evening lighting?

For evening lighting, I prefer warm light around 2700K or lower, especially when it’s dimmable. Cooler light around 4000K can feel blue, harsh, and clinical in the spaces where you’re supposed to be winding down, like the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and hallways at night.

Are recessed lights bad?

Recessed lights are not bad, but they become a problem when they are the only lighting source in a room. A ceiling full of recessed cans can make a home feel flat and harsh unless they are warm, dimmable, and balanced with lamps, sconces, pendants, and accent lighting.

Why use dimmers in a new build?

Dimmers let you adjust the light throughout the day instead of living with one brightness level all the time. In a new build, putting every major lighting zone on a dimmer is one of the easiest ways to make the house feel calmer, warmer, and more flexible.

How do I make my lighting feel cozy?

Use warm bulbs, softer lampshades, dimmers, and more lamps than overhead lights. Cozy lighting usually comes from multiple low, warm light sources around the room instead of one bright ceiling light doing all the emotional labor. Warm lighting is usually around 2700K. It gives that soft, golden feeling that makes a room feel calm and inviting. Cooler bulbs can feel too sharp, especially at night.

How many lamps should a living room have?

Most living rooms feel better with at least three sources of light. That might be a floor lamp, a table lamp, and a small accent lamp. It helps the room feel layered instead of blasted from above.