Lights play an important role in interior design, both in the practical aspects of home illumination and the aesthetic concerns related to beautification. While lighting is needed throughout a home, there are a few key areas where people often design and install multiple lighting solutions.

The modern bathroom is a good example of one particular space where lighting plays a very important role, both for practical and aesthetic reasons. Some of the types of lights for bathrooms include alcove lighting, track lighting, recessed lighting, soffits, and neon lighting. The kind of lighting that is used in bathrooms depends, mostly on its intended use, although style and design also plays an important role for many people.

In general, interior lighting is classified according to its intended use. The three different kinds of interior lighting are known as task lighting, accent lighting, and general lighting, and each category of light distributes light in a different way and is therefore used for different purposes. Task lighting is used a lot in bathroom settings, and is designed mainly as a functional and concentrated lighting solution. Task lighting is often used in bathrooms in areas such as directly in front of mirrors or showers, to provide people with light when they are performing certain tasks. Task lighting is normally stronger than more general lighting, and is also more focused on a certain area. Accent lighting is also knows as localised lighting, and is a style of lighting that is normally decorative in nature. In a bathroom, accent lighting might be used to highlight certain areas of a room for aesthetic effect.

The third type of lighting is known as general lighting, and is also sometimes referred to as ambient lighting. General lighting is intended for the general illumination of a space, such as most ceiling fixtures of domestic lamps. Bathrooms sometimes have general lighting fixtures installed alongside task lighting and accent lighting fixtures, all of which can be accessed from a single switch panel. Some bathrooms are designed with dimmer switches as well, so that mood lighting can be created when people are relaxing and taking baths.