Lighting can make or break a space.  If you have a beautiful room, but can't see it... What's the point?  Not only does it supply the light to see, for safety, and also functionality... It add's visual interest.  So in a Nut Shell lighting is probably just as important as selecting your color scheme, and furniture.  You can make a room feel light and airy, soft and romantic, or dark and mysterious.  You typically have 3 layers of lighting.  General, overall light.  This helps with shadow play and ability to see what is in the room. Task lighting, used for reading, cooking, or crafting.  The functionality of the area.  The second type of lighting is Accent Lighting.  This brings visual interest, and textures into a space.  The third type of lighting is task lighting.  You can achieve this with Can lighting.  Other types of lighting you can do with can lighting is up lighting, low lighting, and lighting specifically for art on your walls. Complicated?  Not really.  You just need to get an idea of what you want and or need for your environment.

Some favored vendors:  Kichler, Hubbardton Forge,  Liton, Hinkley, Franklin Iron works, just to name a few.