In the last century, the lighting industry has focused on two metrics to evaluate the quality of light. Correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI) indicate the fidelity of color, which is the way objects appear in the light. The lighting industry is currently evaluating a new metric, saturation, to measure how well light sources render colors. Light sources with higher CCT and CRI are generally considered acceptable for most residential crystal lighting applications.

A lighting design process begins with a conversation with the owner or designer to determine the goals of the space and organizational and user needs. A lighting design supports the owner's business and communication goals by using the appropriate layering of general/ambient, task, and accent lighting. General/ambient lighting provides adequate light for visual tasks and is typically provided by overhead equipment. This type of lighting is often uniform and diffuse, and it is used when it is not possible to provide sufficient lighting.

General lighting fills the space between task and ambient light and is intended to provide an overall glow. It gives the space sufficient light for safe movement, as well as creating a general overview of the room. General lighting may be as simple as a table lamp or blue dragonfly tiffany lamp lamp base ceiling fixture. General lighting is important because pedestrians will need very little light to cross a parking lot. However, tiffany style lamp lamp base there are certain types of lighting that should be used in specific situations. If you want to make the most of general lighting, consider adding more task-specific light sources in strategic areas.