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Lighting ideas for living room with no ceiling light


9 Lighting Ideas For Rooms Without Ceiling Lights – BlissLights

If a room in your house has no overhead lights, you might think that you’ll never be able to properly light it. That couldn’t be further from the truth – with lights designed for rooms without ceiling lights, you can completely reinvent your room’s aesthetic and have more control over its mood and decoration. The nine below lighting ideas for rooms without ceiling lights are prime examples.

Explore these ways to light a room without ceiling lights

If you’re lighting a room with no ceiling lights, try these easy-to-install alternatives that shine just as brightly.

1. Floor lamps

In a dark room, floor lamps can bring the night to life. Screw your light bulb into the floor lamp’s socket, then plug it in (unless it’s battery-powered) and let there be light! Just rotate the switch to power your lights – or, if you bought smart bulbs, use your phone or smart speaker to control your floor lamp’s brightness and power.

You can use especially tall and bright floor lamps in any part of your room to entirely replace ceiling lights. You can also use several floor lamps evenly distributed throughout a room or one lamp near a mirror for maximum lighting.

2. Plug-in wall sconces

The word “sconce” is the fancy interior design word for those eye-catching floating lamp posts that you’ve seen beautifully branching out from walls. You might think that since sconces are affixed to walls, you’ll need to call the electrician to install them, but with plug-in sconces, you get gorgeous wall lights without all that wiring. All you have to do is mount the sconce – after that, just plug and go!

Sconces are best arranged as a pair with one on each side of your bed, or you can evenly space several sconces throughout a hallway. You can also use them as decorative flair in your living room, but you might need additional fixtures for full room lighting.

3. Plug-in ceiling pendants

Here’s a mount-and-plug option that pairs nicely with living room sconces: Ceiling pendants. Plug-in pendant lights are super modern, plus you’ll often need just one or two for full room lighting.

To install your ceiling pendants, attach a hook to your ceiling, then wire the pendant’s cable through this hook. Run the pendant’s wire around your room so it blends with your walls and doesn’t run across your floor (lighting shouldn’t mean tripping hazards). Once you’ve got your pendant installed, just flick the wire’s on/off switch whenever it’s time to go dark. Keep the switch easily accessible but located just out of view.

4. LED strips

LED strips are great for accentuating darkly lit rooms with dim light for movie night or romantic dinners. If your kitchen lacks lighting, LED strips are especially good for under-cabinet lighting that illuminates your countertops.

You won’t have to drill holes or install hooks to mount LED strips. Just peel the adhesive backing off, gently affix your tape, and boom, you’re done. However, as easy as installation sounds, fully lighting a room with LED strips is close to impossible – they should be secondary, not primary, light sources.

5. String lights

Like LED strips, string lights typically work best as secondary light sources rather than your primary light source. That’s because, as pretty as they are, they’re not designed to be the main light in a room. They’re usually best for accentuating door and window frames or spaces above couches, beds, and large furniture pieces.

That said, some string lights work for full-room lighting. String lights with large, circle-like bulbs instead of the tiny, cylindrical bulbs often comprising string lights can provide ample room lighting, especially if you hang them from exposed pipes.

6. Table lamps

Another secondary light source, table lamps placed on side tables can fill spaces your floor lamps and pendants might not reach. They’re also great for task lighting if you’re reading or working. However, since their role is to illuminate smaller surface areas with modest amounts of light, you might want to consider some other lighting ideas for rooms without ceiling lights.

7. Portable lights

Why commit to lighting just one part of your room when you can use fixtures you can easily move? With portable lights, you can take your lighting with you from one dark room to another. Our StarPort Laser USB is a great example of a portable light for secondary lighting: It plugs into your laptop, wall port, or mobile charger, so you can easily move it between rooms. Wherever you go, it’ll fill your room with a brilliant backdrop for watching TV, gaming, or just lying back and relaxing.

StarPort USB Light

$19.99

One tiny light. Thousands of stars!

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8. Star lights

Here’s a novel idea: Why go for just light when you could get patterns too? Enter star lights, a BlissLights specialty.

With star lights, your room becomes your own colorful utopia of not just an engrossing green, red, or blue but projections of stars and galaxies too. Our BlissBulb, for example, screws into any standard-base light fixture (that means floor lamps, ceiling sockets, table lamps, and even some pendant lights) and projects starry patterns from whichever direction it’s facing.

Our most popular item, the Sky Lite Laser Galaxy Projector (which you’ll see all over TikTok), goes a step further. It doesn’t just project stars – with this projector that’s not much bigger than your hands, you’ll get stunning visuals of full-on galaxies. Whether you go for a green Milky Way or a blue nebula, your room becomes a fully immersive space without ceiling lights, but with patterns that standard lights just can’t achieve.

Sky Lite Galaxy Projector

$59.99 $49.99

Shine a galaxy of moving stars and a blue nebula cloud.

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9. Laser projectors

If you’re wondering how we can possibly give you both full room-lighting and beautiful patterns, well, just thank lasers. The Sky Lite and BlissBulb are both laser projectors.

Save money on replacing ceiling lights with BlissLights

Laser lighting isn’t just beautiful – it’s better for your budget too. At BlissLights, all our indoor home lighting options are affordable, and since lasers use far less energy than other forms of lighting, your electric bill will drop too. Plus, we offer free shipping on all U.S. orders over $50 – that means when you buy a Sky Lite directly from our website, you don’t pay for shipping. Browse all our lights to transform your darkest room into a well-lit sanctuary!

13 Bright Ideas for Living Rooms with No Overhead Lighting

From Pottery Barn on PinterestOur living rooms serve as gathering places, reading spots, TV binge zones and so much more.

Striking the right balance of lighting to serve all of those needs is challenging enough.

Trying to light your living room with no overhead lighting can really put a damper on things.

But, it is possible, and not as hard as you’d think.

Here are 13 ways to light a living room with no overhead lighting.

Natural Lighting

The first step in lighting any space is maximizing your natural light. 

Don't worry. There's no need to make a new window.

Simply swapping dark curtains for lighter colors and fabrics will invite more light into the room.

Also, if it’s been a while, it’s worth giving your windows a good cleaning.

The dust and dirt that builds up over time trap a lot of light.

 

From Sophia Smith on Pinterest

Reflect Natural Light

Natural light is the ideal way to brighten your living room during the day.

But, depending on how many windows you have, there might only be so much to play with.

Make the most of your natural light by using reflective surfaces to bounce it around your living room.


Mirrors

Not every space is blessed with a whole lot of natural light.

Yes, I’m talking about you, apartment with windows on only one side. 

Mirrors are a great tool to maximize the amount of natural light in your living room.

Place a mirror (or a few) across from a natural light source.

Not only will these help bounce light around during the day, but they’ll also help you direct light from fixtures after the sun goes down.

Reflective Vases, Bowls, and More

Mirrors aren’t the only accessory that can help brighten a room. 

Dance light around the walls with a crystal suncatcher.

Glance rays off the metallic vase on your end table.

Watch the colors pool on your coffee table from the glass bowl filled with warm stones and shells. 

These items will help redirect natural light throughout your living room in small ways that can add texture to your space.

 

Light Fixtures

While natural light is fantastic, there’s only so much you can do with it.

Eventually, the sun goes down and you’ll need another light source. 

These light fixtures and items offer a variety of approaches that you may not have considered.

We’ll even offer some overhead options to illuminate your living room.

 

Floor Lamps

After you’ve exhausted your natural lighting, try experimenting with floor lamps.

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making it easy to add light sources to any dim corner.

Arc Lamps

If you still want the feel of overhead lighting in a specific area, then a large arc lamp is your best bet.

Place an arc lamp over a chair or the corner of a sectional to create a snug reading space!

 

Tree Lamps

Adding a tree floor lamp to your living room grants you more lighting and more control over that lighting.

If you need more focused lighting in your living room than your average floor lamp, give a tree lamp a try.

 

Table Lamps

Table lamps are another valuable resource for room lighting.

Small pools of light in select spaces allow you to direct the light where it is most needed. 

Try combining table lamps of different sizes to add visual variety as well as light.

Using different lampshades can also help you control where light is thrown, its intensity, and tone.

If you’ve got a spot that’s perfect for a table lamp, but far from any outlets, try a battery-powered lamp to add some sleek lighting without wiring.

From Pottery Barn on Pinterest

Wall Sconces & Lamps

If the perimeter of your living room needs some light, but you don’t want to tuck a giant lamp in the corner, wall sconces and lamps are a great alternative.

Plug-in wall sconces are affordable and easy to install since they don’t need any rewiring. Some even offer cloth or metal cords to keep things tidy. 

Wall lights come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and shades to accent your space.

Hanging Lamps & Pendants

If the floor and table lamps still have you wishing for overhead lighting, a plug-in pendant or statement bulb is your best bet. 

From ornate chandeliers to simple bulbs, there’s a variety of stylish lighting fixtures to help you achieve your desired look. 

Most pendant lights come with a long cord that can be swagged back to the wall and the nearest outlet.

All that’s needed, assuming your landlord is cool with it, is to install a simple hook to hang the fixture and then a second hook to catch the cord.

From there, you can run the rest of the cable tightly along the wall and tuck it away. 

Worried about unsightly cords?

Like the wall sconces we mentioned earlier, you can get pendants with cloth or colored cords to help it blend more easily into the background.

From Apartment Therapy on Pinterest

Hanging String Lights

If you’re looking to spread your light source over a larger area, try hanging some string lights.

Despite their size and affordability, string lights can be surprisingly powerful. 

They’re incredibly lightweight, so all you have to do is screw a few hooks into your ceiling or wall and drape them across.

Drawing the eye from one light to the next, string lights excel at crafting a cozy, dreamy ambiance to your living room.

From IKEA on Pinterest

Led Strips

If string lights aren’t really your thing, but you like their versatility, give LED strips a try.

They’re fairly inexpensive, but can be a little tricky to install. 

People usually tuck these into the grooves between their ceilings and the wall or under cabinets or shelves.

They come in a variety of colors, and you can even place some colored film over them to change their glow. 

LED strips come in plug-in and battery-powered varieties, but since they’re designed to stick to a wall, replacing battery-powered strips can be cumbersome.

If you’re looking to add a tech or sharp modern vibe to your living room, LED strips might be the right option for you.

From Modern Lantern on Pinterest

Battery Lights

We’ve mentioned battery-powered lights a few times in this article, and they are definitely a versatile option.

With no wires and an array of available shapes and sizes, battery lights let you put lights in places unsightly cords won’t reach.

The main issue with battery lights, however, is that they eventually run out of juice and need to be replaced.

This will happen, of course, when you least expect it and depending on where the light is, swapping batteries can be a nuisance.

If you’re considering battery-powered lights, place them in easy-access locations and have some replacement batteries on hand.

From Pottery Barn on Pinterest

Flameless Candles

Flameless candles are a simple, safe option to add some warmth to your living room.

You can cluster them on end tables, lay them across a mantle, or scatter them around an entertainment center. 

The soft glow of the candles won’t be enough to illuminate the entire room, but they will help create a cozy ambiance that’s perfect for curling up on the couch.

 

Switching to You

As you can see, when it comes to lighting a living room with no overhead lights, there are many bright solutions at your disposal.

In fact, we bet that those of you reading this have some good ideas we didn’t mention.

So please, enlighten us. Leave your ideas for lighting a living room in the comments below. 

Your tips might just brighten someone else’s day!

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Popular Articles on Lighting Your Living Room

60+ photos, placement rules and selection of fixtures

How to arrange lighting?

Before choosing lamps, it is necessary to determine their functional purpose.

Which lamps are suitable for the hall?

With different types of fixtures, you can create several types of lighting in the living room.

Spotlights

Individual objects (paintings, collections of objects) or specific areas can be effectively emphasized with spotlights. They are suspended, built-in or movable on a rail. Swivel lights can be adjusted horizontally and vertically. Whether the spots will cope with the main lighting (for example, built into a stretch ceiling) or serve as directional sources depends on their number and location.

The photo shows a living room with combined lighting, where ceiling spots play the role of the main lighting.

Chandelier

Chandelier is a traditional lighting option in the living room. When choosing it, it is worth considering not only the style of the interior, but also the dimensions of the lighting fixture, as well as the degree of light scattering. For a small living room, a ceiling chandelier fixed close to the surface is suitable, and owners of spacious rooms and high ceilings can choose a classic pendant product on a long stand or chains.

Pictured is a loft-style living room with low ceilings illuminated by a chic chrome chandelier and LED lighting.

Wall sconces

Wall sconces are often located in the seating area - behind the sofa or headboard, if the living room includes a bed. They can be a pair or act as an independent light source. In a country cottage, lamps are hung on both sides of the fireplace or above it. The light directed upwards is visually able to raise the ceiling.

Floor lamp

Book lovers will appreciate the floor lamp on a high stand - the soft diffused light of the lampshade directs the light downwards and does not allow the eyes to get tired. That is why floor lamps are often placed in the recreation area. In addition to the function of lighting, they can play the role of an object zoning space.

The photo shows a small living room with a floor lamp, which acts not only as a directional side light source, but also as a kind of interior item.

Lamp

Due to its compactness and mobility, the lamp can be placed on any horizontal surface: cabinet, chest of drawers or coffee table. Its position can be changed depending on the needs of the owner.

The photo shows an emerald living room, where an additional light source is a lamp mounted on a slab table.

Suspension lamps

Today, such products with a variety of shades are at the height of fashion. For high ceilings, this is the best option, as the light from the pendant lamps can be directed to a specific area or create the desired mood.

Options

Living room lighting is a combination of several light sources. Let's take a closer look at the main scenarios.

Central

General lighting is usually used for utilitarian purposes: including a chandelier or ceiling lights, we achieve a room that is evenly flooded with light. This scenario is perceived by people in different ways: someone prefers an abundance of lamps and feels comfortable at the same time, while someone feels discomfort. During the reception, it is customary to turn on as many lighting fixtures as possible - this sets you up for an open and friendly conversation.

Central lighting can be realized as a single chandelier or in combination with ceiling lights. In the living room, it is better to give preference to warm light - the most pleasant for the eyes is 2600-3500K (Kelvin).

Lighting of functional areas

Locally highlighting a certain area of ​​the room with lamps, we not only achieve comfort by illuminating the desired piece of furniture, but also zone the space. If the dining area is not adjacent to the wall, but is located in the center, the lamp is hung directly above the table. This technique has been very popular lately. The same applies to a sofa placed in the middle of the living room - it is illuminated either by a floor lamp or a pendant lamp.

The photo shows a clear example of light zoning: in the living room-studio there is a seating area (blue armchair), a dining table and a place for cooking.

Another option for functional lighting is to illuminate the wall around the TV. This is not only beautiful, but also useful: the LED strip reduces eye strain, and besides, it is easy to install it yourself.

Decorative

Decorative lighting is easy to do without, but the interior can lose a lot. Spotlights or ribbons, revealing the texture of objects, can turn ordinary things into works of art. The play of light emphasizes what needs to be highlighted. Among other things, designers make up whole compositions from unusual lamps.

The photo shows a luxurious symmetrical living room with illuminated paintings located on the sides of the fireplace.

Smart lighting or smart

Smart lighting allows you to control electrical appliances remotely. Special lamps are equipped with a sensor that reads movement or sound (the famous turning on of light by the clap of the palms). Now devices that can be controlled using gadgets are gaining popularity. In addition to bringing originality to the environment, the intelligent system also saves energy.

Interior styles

Let's consider the features of living room lighting in different styles.

Modern Style

Lighting in a contemporary living room is about both beauty and convenience. When furnishing a room, you must first ask yourself the question: why do we need this or that light source? If he plays to maintain style, as in a high-tech living room, then decorative lighting with a cold tint comes to the fore. Its task is to create a special mood, for example, to transfer it to the "interior of the future".

If functionality is a priority, then the owner of the room should plan what he will do in this or that zone (rest, read, work), and then mistakes can be avoided.

Pictured is a small living room, where the LED strip on the shelves highlights the decor and serves as a light source for reading, and the LED lighting on the ceiling makes it seem higher.

If a modern living room is decorated with minimalism, then there should be a lot of light. The concept of minimalism is, first of all, an abundance of air. Natural lighting, as a rule, is not enough, so the walls are painted in white tones, and light sources are chosen in unobtrusive, simple forms.

The photo shows a spacious minimalist room filled with light. Sources are ceiling lights, spotlights near the TV, wall sconces and a chandelier over the dining table.

Classic

The chandelier plays the main role in the lighting scenario of a classic interior. Additional sources are sconces, floor lamps and table lamps. Lighting fixtures should be detailed, richly decorated, with carved or crystal elements. You can also use candlesticks or their imitation.

The photo shows an elegant living room in a classic style. The purpose of lighting here is not only to illuminate the room, but also to impress.

Loft

Living room lighting in loft style, despite the rough finish, must be of high quality. Lamps are what helps to maintain a balance between "industrial" elements and airiness: after all, a loft involves a lot of free space.

Perfectly fit into the loft:

Metal and black create contrast and pair well with wood and brick.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian-style multi-level lighting of the living room, which will provide lightness and comfort, should be conducive to relaxation. In this style, you can combine all types of lamps: laconic wall sconces, floor lamps with thin legs and even massive chandeliers. Do not forget about functionality - it is recommended to choose products with the ability to adjust the light (lamps with a dimmer).

The photo shows a Scandinavian-style living room that combines several lighting fixtures at once.

Design options

Let's take a look at some more interesting ideas for unusual lighting in the living room.

Living room lighting with stretch ceiling

Today stretch ceiling will not surprise anyone, but unusual designs are still popular in many interiors. A curious solution is the floating ceiling: the effect of the canvas "hanging" in the air is achieved through the use of illumination between the surface and the structure itself.

Stylish interior with floating structure and purple lighting.

Stylish and modern looks lighting from lines that can only illuminate the ceiling or go to the walls.

The photo shows linear lighting that makes the interior attractive and distinctive.

Romantics and connoisseurs of original lighting will choose a ceiling with an imitation of the starry sky. It will create an atmosphere of magic and tranquility. This design is created using light-conducting threads.

The photo shows a magnificent living room with a soaring ceiling that imitates the starry sky.

Examples of lighting the hall without a chandelier

If you use ceiling lights as the central lighting of the living room, it is important to correctly calculate their number and the distance at which they will be located from each other. This question is best addressed to professionals.

Wall sconces, pendants and spotlights will do the job of illuminating the entire living room.

Multilevel lighting

The idea of ​​mixed lighting is to support several lighting scenarios in the hall at once. Ideally, if each site can be adjusted "for itself. " To do this, you need to have several switches, as well as the ability to adjust the power and direction of the light.

Light zoning ideas

Light zoning is especially relevant in combined living rooms, such as a studio or Khrushchev, where the kitchen is connected to the room. By highlighting one zone, we shade what is not currently used.

In the photo there is a living room where several zones can be distinguished by light: a work surface in the kitchen, a dining area and a place to relax.

Zone lighting will be useful if the hall is equipped with an office, a place for needlework or a table for applying makeup.

The photo shows a small living room with a multifunctional table, which is highlighted by light.

Photo gallery

Proper organization of lighting in the living room will allow the interior to look harmonious, and the owners of the house - to spend time comfortably in it.

Top 10 Living Room Lighting Tips - INMYROOM

Every home's living room does several things at once. functions. It can receive guests, watch TV, chat, read. This is the main reason why lighting is important in this room. multifunctional. Also important is the correct location of the switches and each outlet.

Main lighting

In most cases, general lighting in the living room is used when the main part The premises is a place for guests. This requires a chandelier, single-lamp hanging lamps and plafonds.

According to the size of the room, it is important to choose ceiling lamp. At the same time, the interior and your taste are taken into account. Main attention when placing must be paid to the geometric center of the ceiling. AT in some cases, the lamp is installed directly above the table for eating.

Chandeliers in the style of classics. They are very diverse due to the advent of technical innovations. To for example, some of them have mounts for the ceiling to change light direction.

Local

To make it easier to highlight some interior details and perform light zoning, apply local lighting in the living room. There are no more lamps for ceiling. The recreation area should be equipped with local lighting. After all, here most often they read books, communicate in the family circle and spend evenings. For maximum comfort, it is necessary to choose a good local lighting. To in the seating area was nice to sit in, needed a floor lamp, table lamp or sconce.

Soft and subdued light is best aimed at the place where the TV is. If the room has a fireplace, then it is better to use sophisticated table lamps. Also suitable are lamps made of bronze material and having the shape of a candlestick.

Spot

To make a painting, an original figurine and others art objects did not go unnoticed using spot lighting in the living room, which will emphasize their beauty. Also, spotlight can play the role of additional lighting.

One of the varieties of spot lighting the appliance is spot on. Its design can accommodate either one or several lamps. They provide rotation in a given direction, and this allows you to favorably emphasize one of the fragments of the interior.

A variety of directional light fixtures. They can perfectly illuminate objects and those places where space is limited.

Intelligent

lead to some inconvenience. After all, they are difficult to manage. This problem solved with smart lighting systems.

This system makes it easier to control everything lighting fixtures at the same time. To do this, use the control panel, which can be wall-mounted or purchased portable.

Such "smart" lighting has the function of reacting to the appearance of a person. At the same time, immediately the light is on. In addition, you can set the required brightness. 4 minutes after being turned on, this appliance will turn off by itself if there is no movement.

Zoning Basics

When developing a living room project, they allocate certain zones. Basically, you need to pay special attention to the dining a table, chairs, a resting place where a sofa and a TV are placed.

Areas worth paying attention to can be be more, it all depends on your preference. And just in order to highlight or darken, use general, local and decorative lighting.

Design

Care must be taken to ensure that place wall lights. To do this, pay attention to the following recommendations:

1. TV. This can ruin the visibility of the screen due to unwanted glare from lamp.

2. Room proportions, ceiling height and the design of the sconce should affect the height of the luminaire. Dimensions should vary from 1.2 to 1.6 m.

3. If you have a classic interior, then luminaires must be placed symmetrically.

For determining the hanging height of the ceiling lamp, you need to know the height of the ceiling. Here are some tips:

1. If the ceiling is low or the lamp located in a passageway, then the height of the lamp should be 2. 1 m and above.

2. If necessary, hang the lamp over the table for food or a table for reading, then it is allowed to lower the lamp a little lower.

For those who plans the lighting of the living room, then special attention must be paid to the degree of illumination, which should be in area 200 lux. You can see the lighting options in the living room, photos of which are presented below.

Design tips

Before starting design and design, to achieve the best effect and result, without errors - use practical recommendations from professionals in this sphere.

No. 1

Decided to choose a light source with an original design? It is important to remember the sense of proportion. Indeed, in this case, it is worth avoiding the use of other spectacular elements - it will not be beautiful.

№2

If the walls in the living room are pastel and the furniture is made in light colors, then the room will be bright even without additional lamps. But here it will not do without the original floor lamp.

№3

Different types of living room lighting will help to ozonize the room. To do this, use decorative lighting and spotlights. It is better to hang an original chandelier in the dining area.

No. 4

If you want to do it in the living room minimalist style, then a round metal lamp will help with this.

№5

If the living room is spacious and has a lot of glossy surfaces, it is better to hang one large chandelier, which is worth place in the center of the room.

№6

If the room is small, you can apply three types of light. So, you can divide a small room into three parts: dining room, living room and hallway.

No. 7

Place next to the sofa a table lamp, if they work there.

№8

To make the living room elegant and solemn, you can install crystal chandeliers.

No. 9

Suitable for TV LED lighting for a cozy atmosphere.

Learn more