Our houses, like our lives, are all about multitasking. Take the living room: It can be the scene of a cozy tête-à-tête or party central, the place where your family watches football games or you curl up in an armchair with Jane Austen. Changing our decor like stage sets to suit these many moods would be a tad impractical, but a simple solution is just the flick of a switch away. On the following pages are some easy changes in lighting fixtures — from using those you have more effectively to adding a few new ones — that can help you see your home in a whole new light.

To accommodate the many moods, as well as the practical functions, of a house, there are three basic types of fixtures to choose from. Ambient lighting — a chandelier, recessed ceiling spots, the lamp on a ceiling fan — provides uniform illumination for the whole room. Task lighting focuses a beam onto reading and work surfaces. Decorative lighting — a glowing table lamp or a spot of brilliant, crisp white halogen light illuminating a favorite piece of art — adds warmth and drama or divides and defines spaces. Some inexpensive lighting solutions work perfectly; on the other hand, an investment in a great lamp or two will pay dividends in beauty and service for years to come. Here’s how to put it all together, room by room.

Table Lamp (shown) A clear glass table lamp is at home in any decorating scheme, from modernist to traditional. Jamie Young Egg Lamp, $200, and Large Open Cone Shade, $120, www.jamieyoung.com for store locations.