A: When it comes to planning lighting for your home, there are basically two important points to keep in mind: one is that light needs to be matched to its needs, and the second is that more light isn't necessarily better than less light.

I do hundreds of home inspections every year and one of the most frequent complaints I hear from people is that their home is too dark indoors. This often leads them to buying more table lamps, putting in bigger-wattage light bulbs, and leaving the lights on all the time, even during the day when the blinds are open and the daylight is pouring in.

The first thing you need to realize is that your need for light really dictates the fixtures and bulbs you use. If you just want some brightness in a room — ambient lighting that fills a room — then soft light from overhead bulbs in clear glass globes can make a room bright. During the day, use the basic principles of daylighting to cut out the need for electric bulbs — open blinds and drapes if the heat isn't too bad (or use light-colored, loose-weave curtains to allow daylight in while stopping some of the heat), don't block the light from skylights, and use controls like dimmers and 3-way bulbs to give off just the light you need.

This is a very different strategy from how you efficiently use task lighting. This is the kind of lighting that serves a purpose like making it easy to read a book, do some sewing, or other close-up activity. An overhead light probably won't be bright enough in many cases to give you the light you need for these tasks, and it frankly isn't designed to do this. Specific lights — like a table lamp on the desk when you're writing — are best for illuminating the area where you need it.

The bottom line is that the quality of lighting you home is just as important as the quantity of it. I write about CFLs a lot because they can provide this quality of light, just as incandescents have for many years, but at a lower operating cost and by putting out far less heat (it can get awfully uncomfortable having a table lamp with an incandescent bulb close to you while you're reading because so much of the energy that is powering that lamp is producing heat rather than light).

What can you do to improve the light quality in your home (and save energy, too)? Keep the bulbs clean — dust and dirt can cut down dramatically on the amount of light it produces. If a bulb is on a dimmer switch or has 3-way operation, use just the amount of light you need. Paint the walls in your rooms light colors to reflect light rather than absorb it, greatly affecting the brightness in the room.

Even washing walls on a regular basis will get rid of dirt that is cutting down on how much light is being reflected off the walls. Focus light where you want it — the popularity of under-cabinet kitchen lighting lets people light sinks and countertops rather than have to light the entire room.

One other benefit of proper lighting is that it helps reduce glare. Too much light, light coming from your side, light shining in your eyes and other conditions can all cause annoying glare, making it difficult in some cases to even read a newspaper or watch TV.

Obviously, using lighting and the right kind of bulbs properly will save you money on electricity. It's important to note, though, that the quality of that light has a great impact on your indoor comfort and ability to do many tasks in your home. Saving money is great, but enjoying your home more can be even more important.