With our Book Club series, we hand over the proverbial mic to our Experts—letting them share their work, their thought process, and their best tips, all in their own words. The following is an excerpt from Rose Tarlow’s The Private House, published last month with Rizzoli.

Do you remember how as a child the light from the hallway could be seen under the door of your bedroom, giving you a feeling of comfort and safety?

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Light is so enormously potent and evocative that it is not surprising that many religious cultures have referred to their all-­powerful deity as the Light. No matter what we call the phenomenon that illuminates our lives, it has the power to invade or enhance, to coldly expose, to softly blend, or warmly dramatize.

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It is not by chance that a ray of sunlight through a cathedral window enters in such a way that it has the power to lift us to another realm. As we create and design the lighting in our lives, we are engaging in addressing its quality, color, direction, and intensity, how well it helps us to see, and how it makes us feel.

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Rooms facing east will receive the morning sun, and those facing west will have sun in the afternoon. If it is your pleasure to wake up in a light, bright room, you may want to face your bedroom to the east. In the warm months, the best place to dine is in a room that faces west, as the sun sets there, whereas rooms facing south will have light all day long.

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From the very outset of designing any space, ask your­self: Where are the windows placed? Are they the right size? Is it necessary to add more windows? Is it possible to change windows into French doors to allow more light into this space? Should skylights be considered? How will the light fall, at what angle, and at what time of day?

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Creating the look of natural light with artificial lighting remains a challenge. A room may be marvelous in the daytime, but at night some­thing unexpected can occur. If only it were possible to get the feeling of true candlelight with electric lighting. Candlelight makes everything golden, which is why the mood it creates is so romantic.

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There are times when it is necessary to expose the bulbs on a chandelier because shades are not the right solution. In such a case, I use tiny rounded, bullet-shaped bulbs or small, very thin frosted bulbs. The most unpleasant-looking bulbs imaginable are the big faux-flame-tipped ones. Not only have I never seen flames that look like that, but clear bulbs cast unattractive shadows on ceilings and walls that will cast on the faces of the people around the table.

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Light will fall differently from every type of shade. Vellum shades give a soft, amber glow and are translucent. Opaque paper shades allow the light to flow only from their wide bottom. In bed­rooms, silk shades with small thin pleats are elegant and give a soft, warm glow. Years ago, we were taught to line shades in rosy silk to cast an especially flattering and romantic light; it may be time once again for a bit of soft pink light.

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If we can harness light by calibrating its location, it will reward us by gracing our lives.

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Buy The Private House and shop Rose Tarlow’s collection to make a lasting impact in your own home.

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