If you're looking for an easy way to adjust the lighting in a room - perhaps to make the space brighter when working at your computer or darker when watching television - a dimmer switch could be the perfect choice.

These electrical accessories come in a range of attractive designs, with finishes ranging from white plastic through to chrome or brass, and they generally incorporate a button that can be pressed to turn the lights on and off or twisted to adjust the brightness.

However, before you change every switch in your home to a dimmer, it's important to make sure that they will work with your existing light fixtures and bulbs.

For example, fluorescent tube lights are not suitable for use with a dimmer switch. These are sometimes installed as under-cabinet lighting in kitchens and they can occasionally be found in other rooms in domestic properties.

Light fixtures with three-way switches should also not be controlled with a dimmer, but these are fairly rare in anything other than table or floor lamps, so are unlikely to be an issue.

In rooms where there are multiple switches controlling a single light source, perhaps because there are two entrances, only one dimmer should be installed. The other switch should remain a standard on/off product.

Installing a dimmer is an easy task. In fact, it's not much different from putting in a normal switch. Just make sure that the electricity is turned off before you carry out any work.

Finally, it's important to check that the bulbs you are using in the light fixture are suitable for use with a dimmer switch.

In the past, most energy-saving bulbs, particularly compact fluorescents, could not be used with dimmer switches. However, the latest technology has enabled many CFLs and LED bulbs to be compatible, so just check the bulbs before you buy to see if they will work with your switch.