Walk into a hotel lobby at night and notice the lighting. It is rarely bright. The light comes from multiple sources at different heights. This is layered lighting.
Start with colour temperature. Warm white (2700K) mimics the golden tone of sunset. Neutral white (3500K) works well in kitchens and bathrooms.
Next, consider light levels. Use dimmers to create scenes: bright for daytime, medium for evening, low for watching a film.
Finally, use light to define zones. A pendant over the dining table creates a visual boundary. A floor lamp beside an armchair creates a reading nook.
These notes are part of the studio archive: small observations that help us return to the discipline of looking before deciding.