Managing lighting, glare and contrast at home

Good lighting is personal. Position, glare control and contrast can matter as much as simply making a room brighter.

Five practical ideas

Make the environment easier to interpret

Use adjustable task lighting for reading, cooking or personal care rather than relying only on general room lighting.

Reposition lamps, use blinds or curtains and avoid exposed bright bulbs in the direct line of sight.

Contrast can help identify edges, switches, handles, work surfaces and everyday objects without changing the whole room.

Moving between bright and darker areas can temporarily reduce useful vision. Pause and allow your eyes time to adjust before moving on.

A bulb or lamp that works well in one place may create glare elsewhere. Test lighting where the activity actually takes place.