5 Tips for Lighting your Living Room

Our lounges are normally the most versatile room of our homes. Having a well lit living room will help to easily transform the room. One moment it may need to be well lit for a family board game session. Next, it becomes a cosy place to enjoy a film on the sofa.

An over lit living room will have you feeling like you’re at a sport stadium and can even leave you with a headache. A dingy lit living room will have a gloomy feel which is not good for us.

The 2 common problems with lighting, is either there is too much or too little.

There are three different type of lighting to think about.

General/ Ambient Lighting; This is our main central ceiling light.
Task Lighting; These are practical lights which are needed for work areas, reading or any other task.
Accent Lighting; These are lights used to create atmosphere and mood in the living room.

Here are a few tips to ensure you make the most out of our lighting and lounge.

1- Start with the Central Ceiling Light

Its always best to start with the central light. Once you fit the central ceiling light, you can easily identify any gloomy areas that may need additional lighting. Don’t hesitate to choose a larger central ceiling light, as it will naturally become the focal point of your living room.

2- Finding the Balance between Style and Functionally.

Its easy for us to be drawn to a particular look of a light as its personal taste. But the next thoughts needs to be the technical side of lighting.

– What is the light source? LEDs are more energy-efficient than traditional light bulbs; however, light bulbs can create a warmer, more homely feel in comparison to LEDs. Therefore, consider your priorities when choosing the right lighting for your space.

– Light temperature and colour? The colour of light ranges from warm to cool. For living rooms it is best to pick a light which is between warm to warm white. In technical terms this is between 2700 kelvins to 3000 kelvins.

– Dimmer? A dimmer is not essential on all lights.Consider whether you need a dimmer for that particular light source so that you can achieve the right atmosphere in your living room. Additionally, a dimmer allows you to adjust the brightness depending on the time of day or mood you want to create. Therefore, it can be a practical and stylish addition to your lighting setup.

3- Add Task Lighting

Have a look at your living room and identify the areas which will need to be well lit. It may be a reading nook, a homework space or even part of your sofa where you may enjoy sitting and knitting. Pick out practical lights, such as a table lamp or an adjustable spotlight, as they provide both functionality and style. Additionally, these options allow for focused lighting, making them ideal for reading or creating a cozy atmosphere. Remember the natural light throughout the day changes. Your task light may need to adjust with this. A dimmer is a great option for task lighting.

4- Add Atmosphere with Accent Lights

Once you have most of your lighting for your lounge, it is now time to look for any dark spots which need softening up. Wall lights are great to fill voids or even add a bit of drama with shadows. Select lights which will help change the mood of your living room. A dimmable floor lamp is an easy choice; however, wall lights can be highly effective. On the other hand, they may not be ideal if wiring them in is not an option. Therefore, consider your installation possibilities before making a decision.

5 – No Such Thing as Too Many Lights

Don’t worry about overdoing the amount of lights in your living room area, the more options you have the better. Ideally, you need to be able to independently turn on each light. This will give you more options to light your living room depending on what you need it for at that time.