Written for Malachain: the essentials, without the noise.
A single bright ceiling light tends to make a room look flat and unwelcoming. Designers instead combine three layers of light: general lighting for moving around safely, task lighting for reading, cooking or working, and accent lighting that highlights shelves, pictures or plants. Using several smaller sources at different heights adds depth and warmth.
Pay attention to colour temperature as well as brightness. Warm white bulbs suit living rooms and bedrooms, while cooler light helps in kitchens and work areas. Modern LED bulbs use far less electricity than older types and last for years, and dimmers allow the same room to feel bright during the day and relaxed in the evening without extra fittings.
There is more to learn on this subject, and the linked website goes into greater depth. Treat this article as an introduction rather than the final word, and check any important decision against up-to-date, reliable sources before relying on it.
If you try any of these ideas, start small and adjust them to your own situation. What works for one person will not suit everyone, and it is fine to keep only the parts that help. Writing down what you changed, and what happened, makes it much easier to see after a few weeks whether the effort was worthwhile.
The most useful step is usually the first one. Pick a single suggestion, try it for a couple of weeks, and then decide whether it is worth keeping. Small, steady improvements last longer than ambitious plans that are hard to maintain once everyday life gets busy again.