There are three main kinds of lighting: ambient, task, and accent. Each type serves a different purpose and can be achieved through different lighting pieces. Below, we describe each type and explain its function.

• Ambient Lighting is the main source of light in a room, and it can be natural light or provided with electric overhead fixtures. It allows people to see and move around easily and comfortably.
• Task Lighting allows your customers and staff members to perform functions that may need a more concentrated light source, like reading a menu or cooking. It can take the form of overhead lamps, bright fluorescent lights in your kitchen, or a small table lamp on your hostess stand.
• Accent Lighting adds drama to your space. It is used to construct focal points around your front-of-house area. This can be done by using light to highlight pieces of artwork or menu boards, or you can use colorful lighting behind a bar or water fixture.

Sometimes light fixtures fit into more than one category of lighting. For instance, having lanterns on an outdoor patio could be considered accent lighting during the day but ambient lighting at night, when there is less natural sunlight.