Living room lighting guide
Living Room Lighting Guide - How to Light a TV Room
The most versatile room in your home, the living room still benefits from a methodical approach to …
Valeo LED Floor Lamp by Nick Sheridan for CernoWhile the living room is easily the most comfortable and versatile space in a home, its broad convenience can make it difficult to design and reach the pinnacle of form and function—especially when it comes to lighting. It is important to evaluate what you’re using the room for and structure the lighting to serve those needs.
Here, we’ll walk through some bright ideas to make sure your living room can accommodate its many functions.
If You Use the Room to: Watch Television
ELEMENTS Media Storage Cabinet by Al Glass, Jason Guidry for BDIIf your living room is used primarily for TV entertainment, consider the following layers of light for your space (brush up on layered lighting basics here):
- Ambient Lighting: For avid television watchers, dimmable overhead lighting is the way to go for general illumination.
This will ensure that distracting hotspots stay out of your eyeline. Be sure to dim those overhead lights above or just in front of the television to prevent off-putting, over-lit surfaces. Offset wall sconces and floor lamps are a less expensive way to go, but are much more likely to cause glare on the television set.
- Task Lighting: Minimal task lighting is needed. A reading or table lamp positioned behind your seat might be useful when navigating your remote control, but they likely won’t be used once the TV is in use.
- Accent Lighting: Accent lighting should be kept to a minimum as the wall washes and shadow-casting they create are attention-grabbing by design and will hinder your otherwise immersive experience.
If You Use the Room to: Read
Equo Gen 3 Floor Lamp by KonceptFor those who prefer to get lost in a good book or magazine, think about the following layered lighting approach:
- Ambient Lighting: As with most living spaces, general ambient lighting is needed.
But in this case, you don’t have to worry about television glare, so your options regarding fixture type and placement are quite vast. You don’t have to be shy about floor lamps, torchieres and sconces. Just make sure they are dimmable, as bright lighting can potentially overwhelm the eye no matter what you’re doing. - Task Lighting: Task lighting is essential for the reader. And so, reading lamps, both floor and table, are crucial when crafting your lightscape. Consider fixtures that not only light your page, but also offer a broad range of adjustability in both positioning and lumen output. That way, you’ll be able to craft the most comfortable environment for those long hours spent reading cover to cover.
- Accent Lighting: Accent lighting is fine, but unnecessary. It could be used to light your bookshelves in creative ways in order to draw interest, but offers little in regard to the reading itself. If you do decide to use accent lighting, make sure it’s dimmable.
If You Use the Room to: Entertain and Socialize
Crown Multi Chandelier by Jehs + Laub for NemoWhether during the holidays or year-round, many of us love to be the host with the most. Here’s how to layer the light if you’re focused on putting the “living” back in living room:
- Ambient Lighting: It cannot be overstated that ambient lighting is the foundational layer of an effective lightscape. For social gatherings, you have all options available, including floor and table lamps, sconces and overhead lighting. It is a good idea, though, to keep the atmosphere as warm as possible. Think frosted shades and dimmable lighting, which will reduce hotspots and glare while opening up your entire space for interaction. For an extra design element, add a pendant or chandelier as a centerpiece, especially if it offers warm, dimmable lighting.
- Task Lighting: Task lighting is less important when it comes to socializing; however, a well-placed table lamp, downlit sconce or row of mini pendants can effectively illuminate counters and surfaces that might be useful.
Again, make sure the fixtures are either low-output or dimmable. - Accent Lighting: Accent lighting is a perfect opportunity to use standout pieces that emphasize design over function. As long as you keep the lumens low and the hotspots to a minimum, you really can’t go wrong. Consider decorative pendants and portable fixtures in a style you love, picture lights and overhead spotlights to illuminate the artwork and architecture you treasure most. With the functional lighting layers accounted for, the design layers are entirely up to you.
While the concept of “living room” seems obvious enough, its actual use varies from person to person. And so, in building an effective lightscape, it is crucial to establish what it is you think “living” entails. The answer to that question will help you build the right layered lighting approach and a living room you love to spend time in.
(Visited 5,205 times, 12 visits today)
Decorative Lighting Guide for Your Living Room
Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off.
Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site.
- Blog
- How-To's
- Decorative Lighting Guide for Your Living Room
Ideas and Inspiration
Decorative Lighting Guide for Your Living Room
Decorative lighting can completely transform the living room, not just by its style but also by where they are placed and the type of light they emit. Decorative lighting for the living room is the most eye-catching type of lighting. But, it is more than just a pretty chandelier or trendy table lamp. Choosing the right kind of lighting can dramatically change the look and feel of the living room.
What Kind of Lighting Is Best for the Living Room?
The living room, like any room in the home, requires layered lighting: ambient, accent, and task. Each layer is responsible for specific lighting that works with the other types to enhance the living room’s design.
Getting the layers right can make the entire home feel warm and inviting.
But beyond that, decorative lighting fixtures for the living room add personality, identity, and style to the décor. It can function as any of the requisite layers or be a focal point standing on its own merits.
When designing on a grand scale, it’s go big or go home, and the Umura 6 Light LED Multi Light Pendant by Eurofase Lighting goes big with style. The neutral colors and reflective surfaces in this space are the perfect foil for this delectable multi-pendant light’s polished, rich composition.
How Do Wall Lights Add Warmth to My Living Room?
Wall sconces bring additional warmth, mood, and ambient lighting to the living room. They sprinkle small amounts of light throughout the space and can be used as accent lighting to highlight artwork or special features. Low-level lighting is relaxing and can make the living room feel inviting and serene. Their artistic shapes add an enticing layer to your interior design.
Stunning wall sconces can instantly level up living room décor. And that’s exactly what you see in this room, featuring a pair of Visual Comfort and Co. Kelly Wearstler Piel 19 Inch LED Wall Sconces. They create a captivating focal that is in perfect proportion, adding warmth, elegance, and style to this chic living room.
The Different Types of Decorative Lights for the Living Room Area
The living room is the most important room of a home, host to so many activities, from relaxing after a long day to entertaining to spending quality time with family. Living room lighting should be functional and able to handle all these activities, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be decorative and stylish. From pendants to chandeliers to table lamps, living room lighting can help create a living room you’ll love to show off.
Pendant Lights
Adding unique pendant lighting to the living room creates a simple and elegant focal point.
It offers downlighting as well as ambient lighting when placed in the center of a seating area. They come in various styles to go with almost any interior aesthetic. Living rooms with high ceilings can handle oversized pendants or even a group of pendants. For rooms with lower ceilings, hanging the pendant over the coffee table offers style and illumination while keeping it out of guests’ way.
White walls and warm wood flooring make the perfect backdrop for the cozy aesthetic of this transitional living room. The Serenity 34 Inch LED Large Pendant by Corbett Lighting takes center stage, bathing the room in a welcoming glow. The result is perfectly balanced and pleasing to the eye with just the right amount of complementary cool and warm tones.
Sfera 20 Inch Large Pendant by Hubbardton ForgeIf one pendant is good, three are better, as seen with this eye-catching trio of Sfera 20 Inch Large Pendants by Hubbardton Forge.
Their light and airy look makes a dramatic and functional lighting statement. This modern living room exudes sophistication and class, with carefully-selected colors and finishes.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers add a dramatic, decorative element to living rooms. In addition to aesthetics, they provide ambient lighting throughout the area. This is the foundational layer of any lightscape. A chandelier creates a spectacular centerpiece that offers warm, dimmable lighting.
Selva 12 Light Chandelier by EichholtzIf you are looking for rich opulence, look no further than the Selva 12 Light Chandelier by Eichholtz. Lit or unlit, this unique chandelier radiates lightness and elegance into the living room. The light radiating through mouth-blown globes spreads soothing illumination when lit. Created by skilled artisans, it’s the perfect addition to this stunningly dramatic room.
Menlo Park 41 Inch 12 Light Chandelier by ArtcraftIt’s not how far the feet can go that give the feeling of spaciousness, but how far the eyes can travel.
The Menlo Park 41 Inch 12 Light Chandelier by Artcraft draws the eyes upward, highlighting the pitch of the ceiling and adding visual space to the room. It gives an immediate boost that completes this gorgeous design.
Track lighting
Track lighting’s most desirable features are versatility and flexibility. It can be integrated into the living room design in many ways. In smaller rooms, it can be used as ambient lighting or accent lighting for artwork or architectural features. Track lighting can also be used for task lighting or to highlight an entire wall. Each head can move along the track and swivel, allowing you to customize how the light casts down into your room.
Table Lamps
Table lamps are one of the most economical ways to add decorative touches to your lighting design. Their versatility lets you place them anywhere in the living room. And by merely changing their position in the room, you can switch up the entire look of the space. They can be used to highlight specific pieces of furniture and add a layer of task lighting where needed.
A beautiful, brightly lit table lamp can lift up the aura of the living room.
Task lighting doesn’t get any more exquisite than with the Kate Spade New York Ellery 22 Inch Table Lamp by Visual Comfort and Co. The soft brass finish and cream linen shade add subtle, elegant playfulness to the room’s decor. Get ready to settle in with a good book next to this whimsical table lamp.
How-To's Inspiration Lighting by Room Living Areas Tags:
Finding the Perfect Lighting Guide - ARTEFACTO.RU
Lighting is one of the most important characteristics to consider when designing a space, both for functionality and atmosphere. Whether you're looking to upgrade your interior or just start from scratch, let's shed some light on what lights to use for each room and where to place them best.
DINING ROOM
The centerpiece here is the dining table, but lighting is just as important.
The most common type of lighting in a dining room is a chandelier, as it provides enough light for the food and still emphasizes the style of your interior. nine0003
Tip: Try using a dimmer to adjust the light to suit your mood.
Rectangular/oval table chandelier
Rectangular dining room table lighting
For a 2 meter ceiling, leave 75-90 cm from the top of the dining table to the bottom of the chandelier.
For higher ceilings, raise the chandelier 7 cm for each additional meter (ie leave 80-100 cm of free space for a 3 meter ceiling). nine0018
Round/Square Table Chandelier
How to Light the Round Dining Table
For a 2 meter ceiling, leave 75-90 cm from the top of the dining table to the bottom of the chandelier.
For higher ceilings, raise the chandelier by 7 cm for each additional meter (i.e. leave 80-100 cm of free space for a 3 meter ceiling).
Sconce over sideboard
If you have a sideboard, place a pair of sconces on the side of the sideboard at a height where the light bulbs are out of sight.
Dining room sconce
Leave 1.5-1.8 m from the bottom of the sconce to the floor.
KITCHEN
From cooking to cozy brunches, kitchen lighting deserves careful consideration. To illuminate the kitchen island, we recommend pendant lights. They hang low enough to create a lot of functional light, but at the same time high enough that you don't hit your head. Depending on the size of your island and your style, choose one or more options. A single fixture will create an accent over a small island, while a few will balance out a longer island. nine0003
Several lamps above the island
Island lighting in the kitchen
Maintain a distance of 75-80 cm between the lamps. Leave 75-90 cm of free space from the top of the island to the bottom of the lamp.
Single lamp above the island
Island lighting in the kitchen
LIVING ROOM
creates the right cozy atmosphere in the living room. Place ceiling lighting, such as a spectacular chandelier, in the center of a room or above a main group of furniture to diffuse ambient or general light evenly. Add floor or table lamps next to your seating areas, or use them instead of ceiling lights. nine0003
To find the right size chandelier, follow the general rule: add the width and length of the room in meters and convert this number to centimeters to get the exact diameter of the lamp. For example, a room measuring 12 meters by 6 meters would have a chandelier with a diameter of 180 cm. lamp. nine0018
If you have a higher ceiling, raise the chandelier 7 cm for every additional meter.
BEDROOM
Like the living room, the bedroom needs several different light sources.
Start with a chandelier for general outdoor lighting. For reading, bedside table lamps (or even bedside lamps!) will provide you with the amount of light you need. Do you have decorative ornaments on the chest of drawers? Here you can also light a table lamp. nine0003
Wall sconces or small chandeliers are a great alternative to bedside lamps because they free up surface space - just place them so that the light switch is within easy reach of your bed.
Bedside Sconces
Bedroom Lighting Ideas: Sconce Over Bed
Bedside sconces should be centered above bedside tables/tables. Keep a distance of 115-150 cm from the top of the sconce to the floor. nine0018
Chandelier
Bedroom Lighting Ideas: Chandelier Over Bed
Place the chandelier in the center of the room or directly above the bed. If you have a higher ceiling, raise the chandelier 7 cm for each additional meter.
Bedside Chandeliers
Bedroom Lighting Ideas: Bedside Chandeliers
Bedside chandeliers should be placed exactly above the bedside tables/tables.
Keep a distance of 50-75 cm from the top of the furniture to the bottom of the luminaire.
HALL / HALLWAY
A lighted lobby makes a good first impression. Try hanging a lamp above the front door (at a distance that allows you to open the door without obstruction), or a hidden mount. Wall sconces will help increase the brightness in the hallway. Hang them at such a height that the light bulbs do not fall into the field of view.
Pendant lamp in the hall
Hallway lighting recommendations
For a 3 meter ceiling, leave at least 2 meters from the floor to the bottom of the luminaire.
If you have a higher ceiling, raise the chandelier 7 cm for every additional meter.
Wall lamp in the hallway
How high to hang the wall lamp in the hallway
BATHROOM
We recommend positioning the sconces on either side of your mirror at eye level, or mounting just one sconce above it.
Choose fixtures with the same finish as other fixtures for a cohesive look. For softer, diffused light, install a concealed overhead mount. nine0003
Double science
At what height to hang a sconce in the bathroom
Observe the distance from the floor to the lower part of the lamp of 150-165 cm.
at what heights to place at what heights to place bathroom wall sconce
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Outdoor lighting adds curb appeal and greets your guests with a warm glow. Choose one or two outdoor sconces that can withstand the elements (like wind, rain, and sun), but if you only have one, be sure to mount it on the side of the doorknob so you can see who's at the door. nine0003
Double sconce
How to position street sconces for outdoor lighting
Keep a distance of 150-165 cm from the ground to the bottom of the luminaire. The length of the sconce should be ¼ of the height of the door.
One wall sconce
How to position outdoor wall sconces
See also:
- It's all about the light
- "Tame" light in handmade lamps
POPULAR ARTICLES
| Donabe: the miracle pot of boil! | Original interior of the house Lily Oldridge | “Time” light in handmade lamps |
A single chandelier in a large living room is not enough - everyone seems to know about this, except for those who are not at all interested in design. As well as the fact that different lighting scenarios and different lamps are needed. nine0003
However, even after we have learned these important thoughts, we rarely remember important details.
For example, which additional lights should be paired with a chandelier and why, as well as which bulbs to turn them on. Well, let's talk about everything in order: we analyze the lighting options in the living room.
Griffin Enright Architects
Script Needed
Generally, a common room is spacious. And the lighting in such a living room should be carefully thought out. Make a list of everything you plan to do here. Watch TV, check your child's lessons, have dinner, read a book in an armchair, play music on the piano, dance - and you never know what else. You will get your own list of tasks to complete in the hall. The rule is simple: in addition to the general light in the living room, consider a separate island of lighting for each task. And the ability to turn it on and off at the same time or independently of other tasks. nine0003
Consider options for lighting a living room combined with a kitchen or dining room.
Design Duo
In the photo: in the dining room combined with the living room, the dining table plays the main role - create your own lighting for it
Lighting above the table ceiling lamp.
The ideal height is 0.6-1 m from the surface. In this position, the light does not hit the eyes and perfectly illuminates the feast, whether it is a festive dinner or a poker game. The ability to change the height of the lamp allows you to use it in different lighting scenarios. As a general lighting and as a local. nine0003
For example, to receive guests, it is easy to turn the table from the corner of the room to the center. Think over different tasks and plan lighting in the living room combined with the dining room for them.
Freiman Gallery || Freimann Gallery
In the photo: the right lighting in the living room should contribute to comfortable rest, creating a cozy atmosphere in the room
and a chandelier from the same collection.
Create a living room lighting design based on the idea of the unity of materials and the similarity of forms: combine lamps from different collections in one room (living room, bedroom, nursery, office). nine0003
Of course, there are exceptions. For example, in the "variegated" country style, it is customary to arrange accessories that differ in color.
Barbara Rooch Interior Environments, Inc.
Create light accents
Light in the living room and other rooms starts to work one hundred percent when there is a surface that reflects it. The closer the surface is to the bulb, the brighter the effect. It is worth remembering that the lamps are hung not only for the sake of lighting, but also for a decorative effect, especially if the walls have a textured finish. nine0003
Architales
In the photo: lighting options for the living room should take into account the various needs of the people living in the apartment
Use special devices with care
For example, a lamp with a reflector can enhance the illumination of the space.
But the place for it must be chosen in such a way that the light does not dazzle, so that sharp shadows or highlights are not created, especially on glossy surfaces.
Studio V Interior Design
Romantic mood - add shadows
Amazing effects can be obtained by passing light through the most ordinary objects. For example, indoor plants, crystal and carved vases, figurines.
When choosing objects, surfaces and lighting fixtures, you can experiment endlessly.
SEE ALSO
Home Shadow Theatre: Learning to Use Decorative Light
Peter A. Sellar - Architectural Photographer
Hide repair errors
Place luminaires wisely: the light directed along the wall highlights the relief and also emphasizes the uneven walls. Direct light falling from the central ceiling chandelier, on the contrary, hides defects. Proper lighting of the living room will help to easily correct the existing shortcomings of the room.
Rikki Snyder
Enhance the effect of backlit paintings
Collections and travel memories are priceless. Vases, figurines, paintings, framed photos are usually located in the most significant places in the living room and, as a rule, need to be illuminated. The main rule sounds like this: if warm shades predominate, it is better to highlight them with warm light, cold ones with cold ones. nine0003
Marka Interior Factory
It is also believed that it is better to use warm light to illuminate interior scenes of paintings, and cold light to illuminate exterior scenes. The same principle that has been formed in nature for thousands of years works: cold light comes from the blue sky, and warm light comes from the hearth in the cave.
Arnaud Rinuccini - Photographe Architecture
A contrasting background enhances the impression of a work of art.
CID Interior
Colored illumination will emphasize an important detail
Colored illumination is often created along the contour using LED tape, which is attached to furniture or structures due to a self-adhesive base: the tape practically does not heat up, does not pose a fire hazard.
RGB LED strip gives you the ability to change the color of the backlight. Matched to the tone, it is able to enhance the impression of furniture or decoration. Management is also possible remotely, from the remote control.
Ibarra Rosano Design Architects
Use colored light to add depth
Theoretically, because the blue part of the spectrum (the shortest wavelength) scatters four times more than the red part of the spectrum, red objects appear to be closer than blue ones .
But the photometric characteristics of light - the balance between color and illumination - are perceived subjectively. There are even age and gender patterns: for example, in youth people are more susceptible to bright colors, in old age they better distinguish the blue region of the spectrum. Women prefer warm colors. nine0003
Simply put, a blue-lit TV wall will appear farther away than a red-lit one.
Grand Woodworking
TV is better to watch with side lighting
When choosing lighting options for the living room, please note that TV cannot be watched in the dark - the pupil expands excessively, which leads to increased pressure inside the eye.
