Although this may be a common design cliché, good lighting is truly crucial. Lighting impacts the ambiance and mood of a space - if done correctly, the overall appearance of the interior will be enhanced. Here are the top 10 tips and considerations from a designer for creating a well-lit home.

Professional home lighting offers you more choices.

1. Take ceiling height into account when choosing hanging light fixtures. Some fixtures offer adjustable cables or rods, while others do not. Avoid ending up with a light that hangs either too low or too high. Typically, the bottom of a light should be positioned approximately 12 to 20 inches below a standard 8-foot ceiling. For every extra foot of ceiling height, add 3 inches to this measurement.

2. Table Illumination. For pendant lights positioned over a table or kitchen island, it is advised to maintain a distance of 28 to 34 inches between the bottom of the light and the surface of the table or island. Nonetheless, the light's size plays a role. Typically, a smaller light can be lowered while a larger light can be raised accordingly. Find your pendant lights.

3. Design with Lighting in Mind. When starting a new construction project or renovation, think about your lighting preferences from the very beginning. For instance, if you prefer three pendant lights over your dining table instead of one or two, this should be planned out before construction begins.

4. Embrace the Swag. When incorporating new pendant lighting without wanting to incur the cost or inconvenience of modifying your home's electrical system, consider using cord swags as a chic alternative. Hang them casually over a bar or hook, like the setup in this picture, or fasten the cord firmly to the ceiling for an industrial vibe.

5. Brighten the Atmosphere. Expand your lighting options beyond just downlights. Depending on the space, think about incorporating wall sconces or uplighting to achieve a gentler ambiance and steer clear of harsh downlighting that may create unsettling shadows. Shop for wall lights on Houzz.

6. Understand the Illumination. When choosing lighting, don't just focus on the fixture itself -- the type of light bulb you use is also crucial. Halogen, compact fluorescent, and LED bulbs offer various warm or cool tones. Similar to selecting wall colors, the choice of illumination is largely subjective. If your walls feature cooler tones, consider using a light bulb that emits a warm glow to add warmth. Conversely, opt for a cooler glow to illuminate a darker area.

7. Illuminate Your Staircase. Enhancing stair risers with lighting is advantageous as navigating stairs can be risky, particularly at night. Staircases are typically enclosed, so consider lighting them from the sides or incorporating lights into the risers to serve as a decorative feature.

8. Toe-kick Lighting. Installing lighting in your toe-kicks is not just about aesthetics. Adding strip lighting under base cabinets can serve as a practical night light while also enhancing the overall look of the space.

9. Embrace Color. Don't be afraid to incorporate color into your decor. Introducing a brightly colored light fixture into a minimalist room can inject fun and visual interest into the space. Colored shades can have a transformative effect, particularly when the light is switched on.

10. Embrace Decorative Lighting. Incorporating lights as decorative accents can help create a specific ambiance in a room. If you already have general lighting in place, using lights as a decorative alternative to wall art can be a stylish way to enhance the ambient lighting.