"A good lighting design is the greatest complement to an interior. It makes colours look better and blend better. It creates different levels of lighting in the same room - light and dark areas - and this makes spaces look a lot more interesting," says Mr Ndegwa Wokabi, director of Design Corporate Limited, an interior design firm.

As more consumers search for that perfect lamp or light fixture that will add to the room's decorative elements, the choices in the market galore from the ultra-traditional to the most contemporary.

The ethnic, cultural look is in with lamp bases made from gourds, calabash or wood adorned with shells and beads, topped by shades in sisal, leather and burlap (gunia). Chandeliers are also hot right now with designs and materials ranging from the ethnic to the modern contemporary look (aluminum and crystal).

"Sisal and gourd lamps are really popular right now not just with tourists, but also locals. Sisal is popular because it is very versatile and can be made in any colour, it's vibrant and funky and gives a room spunk," says Ms Noor of Noor Lampshades Limited, a family business located in Westlands that has supplied light fixtures for 22 years.

The store gives customers the flexibility to mix and match lamp bases with different shades of their choice with prices starting at Sh2,000. Contemporary lamps are also available like the pebble lamps with a base that resembles stones piled on top of one another which go for Sh2,500, antique lamps from Spain which start at Sh6,900, cane lamps perfect for patios and chandeliers.

Other suppliers of light fixtures in Nairobi are Powertechnics and Tile & Carpet Centre both on Mombasa Road, and Lighting Mania at Nakumatt supermarkets. Monicah Kyalo, Marketing Executive at Creative Innovations Limited, says chandeliers are the fastest moving lighting fixtures."People like them because they are fancy yet give enough light," she says.

The crystal ones are popular in commercial or public places like temples while the smaller ones made out of materials like wrought iron and aluminum light the homes. Creative Innovations Limited specialises in lighting and runs the Lighting Mania nooks.

The popularity of chandeliers has extended to the ethnic look where wrought iron and crystal gives way to gourds, bamboo and woven sisal.

Babu Pindolia, an electrical engineer, who ventured into interior décor and design after retirement, says domestic demand for lighting fixtures following ethnic tastes, has really gone up. He has provided lighting solutions for over 40 hotels and lodges including the Serena and Sarova groups of hotels."Previously many people would go to Dubai to buy lighting fixtures but now more people want hand-made designs that are unique," he says. One of the pieces he's just finished for a lodge in the Mara is an eight-piece calabash chandelier with a Maasai rungu on each side of the calabashes.

He has used aluminium strips on the calabashes to break up the dark colour and the metal frame is painted yellow and green with cracks to give it an inviting antique look. The chandelier costs Sh50,000 and took four weeks to make. He also designs wall lights and lamps, drawing inspiration from different Kenyan communities.

What goes into succcessful lighting of a room? Mr Pindolia says the secret is in balancing the furniture with the lighting fixtures used. "If the living room overlooks a beautiful garden or pool, the chandelier should not obstruct this view during the day. It should be high or to one side depending on how you have placed your furniture," he says.

The general rule with chandeliers is to match it to the room's size. "We usually recommend the small ones with three arms for living rooms and bedrooms while larger five-arm chandeliers are good for spacious living rooms," says Ms Kyalo. When lighting a home it is very important to think of each room's function and what the light will be used for. Nowadays, lighting is used to create moods using different colouration in the same room. "In a sitting room, one can have ceiling lights, wall lights, and floor standing lights which are switched on singularly or together depending on the levels of illumination required," says Mr Wokabi.

There are four main types of lighting. Ambient or general lighting is usually provided by a central bulb or fluorescent and is the source of most lighting problems as it creates a bland, flat effect and often too glaring. But wall lights including ceramic or frosted bowls which diffuse light towards the ceiling provide softer light.

Mr Mwenda Kinyanjui puts final touches on a light shade, also made from locally available materials.

Accent lighting illuminates a sculpture, artwork or architectural element in a room such as the fireplace, and creates a stunning effect when combined with general lighting. Accent lights include stand alone or desk lamps, halogen spotlights, downlighters and uplighters.

"Spotlights emit beautiful light and may also be used with dimmer switches to reduce or increase the levels of illumination depending on need," says Mr Wokabi. Downlighters are usually recessed into the ceiling and cast distinct pools of light onto the surface below. But without wall lights the effect can be gloomy, and their rows can make you feel as though you're in a shop.

Uplighters throw light onto the ceiling which then bounces off creating a soft look. They work best in rooms with light coloured ceilings, particularly in studies because there is no glare. Task lighting is needed for specific jobs such as reading, cooking, and shaving.

"Different areas require different types and amount of lighting. The kitchen should be generally bright, while a dining room needs to have cool lights to create a mood. Study areas are also generally bright and need some task lighting to give good levels of illumination," says Mr Wokabi. And for your security lights, which are left on for longer hours, you need energy-saving lights areas like the staircases that need more light for safety.

A lighting scheme should be flexible so as to take you from dawn to dusk, creating different atmospheres along the way. Experts say that changing the lighting can alter the way a room looks just as much as changing the colour of the walls.

For instance, to make a room appear larger, use uplighters to bounce light onto the ceiling and walls or create panels of light at one end of the room - your eye will be pulled along towards it, making the space appear larger. Lighting all four corners of the room has the same effect. To make a room appear cosier, use several table lamps, singularly or in clusters to create lots of little low pools of light in a large high room and hang a chandelier low to prevent light falling onto the ceiling.

To prevent monotony Mr Pindolia recommends using different materials for the light fixtures throughout the home. "Aim for harmony which can be achieved through having some similarity in the type of materials used or the finishing," he says. For the living room having lights directly above the TV is a no-no, so is watching TV in total darkness because the contrast between the bright screen and dark room causes eye strain. "Have side lamps away from the TV or on either side because they cast a soft glow on the wall reducing glare," he says.

Overhead lights are not advisable in bedrooms especially for couples who sleep at different times. "If one partner wants to read, turning on the light should not disturb the other who is already asleep," he says.

The solution is individual bedside lamps or wall brackets with the switch controlled from the door as well as the bed so you don't have to get up to turn it off. A dimmer switch on the central light or wall light is also useful for creating an instant romantic atmosphere.

In the kitchen, direct lighting above the cooker is great for enhancing visibility but the vapour from the food destroys light fixtures quickly he says. It is better to have ceiling lights on two opposite sides spotlighting the cooker and this also has the advantage of canceling shadows. Gardens are best lit with low lying covered lights so that light pools from below as opposed to tall lights which have a naked bulb.

"When the bulb is covered it keeps away insects and because it is low you can see the pathway clearly and not be blinded by the glare from naked bulbs at eye level," he says.

While swimming pools have traditionally been a challenge to light well given that most light fixtures are not safe to use in water, fibre optics has revolutionalised pool lighting. Its versatility, use of colour, ease of maintenance, efficiency and above all, the safety of this system is incomparable. They are plastic fibres connected to a colour changer and generator so every few seconds they change colour and can also be hung from ceilings to create a star effect.

"Fibre optic lights are easy to work with to create artistic effects in pools because you can create characters, illuminate edges or waterfalls and create magical colour effects," says Mr Pindolia.