Seems like all the major retailers are creating education sections on their websites these days, particularly on the subject of lighting your home well. We took a look at three of these How To's (EQ3, Room & Board, and Ikea) to see what there was to see.

EQ3's guide is essentially a product catalogue that urges us to "consider aesthetics" when choosing lighting and to see it as an opportunity to "add glamour." Um, thanks.

Room & Board's guide is much more helpful, pointing our useful design features like pivoting arms and providing placement guidelines ("A good rule of thumb is to position the bottom of the pendant shade 30 inches above the table.")

Next, Ikea. Our hunch was that the Swedish giant would have the best advice. (Swedes need artificial light to stay sane, so they're experts)

True to expectation, they've broken things down room by room, leaving no shadow un-illuminated. Best tip we'd never heard: place wall-mounted reading lamps close to the center of a shared bed and direct light outward to avoid disturbing your partner.

Plus, they installed a chandelier over a clawfoot tub. EQ3 could learn a thing or two about glamour.

Check it out.