Living room lighting ideas and recommendations

The living room is the most versatile room in the house. Here family members and friends meet, relax, watch TV, do hobbies. Therefore, the lighting in the living room must meet the most varied requirements. The central light should cover the entire room, and additional luminaires are designed to perform other - specialized functions. Due to the many factors that need to be considered, arranging lighting in a living room requires a thoughtful approach.

The basics of correct lighting

To organize effective lighting in the living room, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

One lamp is not enough for a living room. In addition to it, additional light sources must be present. The main option for placing the main luminaire (pendant, chandelier) as the central part of the ceiling. Auxiliary light sources can be placed anywhere - depending on the needs.
A focal point in the living room (such as a sofa and table) should be well lit.
In the living room, the main light should be soft. This allows you to create coziness and harmonize the space. Halogen lamps are not suitable for the living room, as they give too harsh light. To soften the lighting, matte shades, textile or fabric lampshades are used. A cozy atmosphere is also created by means of bottom lighting in the corners of the room.
Do not install spotlights on the ceiling in one row. This type of lighting does not have to form a single ensemble.
Properly organized lighting hides the living room defects and emphasizes its dignity.
If the living room has low ceilings, a pendant chandelier is the wrong decision. Better to choose compact shades, pressed against the ceiling, or spot lighting.
For certain pendants and other lighting models, the ceiling will have to be slightly lowered to mask the wiring. In order not to reduce the height, you can purchase recessed lights.
In oblong living rooms, you should not place a single pendant in the center. It is better to install several lamps, evenly distributing them around the room. There should be no dark corners in the room. Moreover, you need to achieve good illumination as much through the main light as possible. Additional sources are intended to perform only special tasks (for example, local reading lights or bar lighting).
If the living room ceilings are covered with fabric or stretchy plastic, they can be equipped with a section of lamps with adjustable glow intensity.
A fireplace (bio- or wood-burning) is able to act not only as a decorative element, but also as an additional lighting source. So, if you have or plan one, it is important to take it into account.

Types of lighting in the living room

Lighting in the room is usually divided into general, local and decorative. The so-called "smart" or intelligent lighting can also be used in certain scenarios.

General lighting - used as the main light source in the living room. It covers the entire area of the room. Usually, a chandelier in the center of the room is used in this capacity. However, in recent years, the popularity of spotlights, track systems and LED strips has increased. Chandeliers are most often offered in a classic design - in the form of pendant devices. There are also extraordinary models of unusual shapes or ultra-modern designs (for example, LED lamps). In addition to chandeliers, overhead luminaire models are offered as a light source. They are especially useful in rooms with low ceilings.
Local lighting - designed to illuminate individual sections of the room. These include floor lamps, wall sconces, table lamps. It is recommended to set the limits when installing local lighting sources - there should not be too many of them. As a rule, for a medium-sized living room, one floor lamp or wall lamp above the sofa or desk is sufficient. Spotlights are offered not only in a static version, but also in the form of pivoting systems that can be directed in different directions
Decorative lighting - used to accentuate a particular area of the room. Thanks to decorative lighting, the living room takes on a zest and becomes more interesting. With the help of decorative lighting, niches in the wall, figurines, paintings, aquariums, etc. are accentuated. Neon bulbs and LED strips are most often used as luminaires for decorative illumination.
Smart (intelligent) lighting - allows you to program the light control in the living room depending on the needs of it's residents. For example, the lighting can be turned on as soon as a person appears in a certain area and turned off after they leave.

Sources of light in the living room

Various lighting devices are used in the living room. These include chandeliers, wall sconces, table lamps, floor lamps, pendant lamps, and spotlights.

Floor lamp is a floor structure with a lamp and shade. The latter is usually made of fabric. Lampshades are installed near armchairs and sofas and are used as local (local) lighting.
Pendant . Suspension systems are usually divided into ceiling, double, multi-lamp and ball systems. Luminaires are suspended on ropes or strings. The colors are chosen in accordance with the design idea. For the living room, catchy bright colors are undesirable; it is better to give preference to pastel colors.
Wall sconce . Like hanging systems, wall sconces should match the style of the living room. For a classic interior, artsy crystal or glass light sources, gilded trim are appropriate. For devices in a modern style, laconic forms and practical materials (plastic, metal) are used.

For a divided area, it is recommended to use wall sconces with bright lighting. Dim light is appropriate over sofas, as the lighting in these areas should not be dazzling.

Chandelier . It is used as a source of general light. Most often used in classic interiors. However, there are chandeliers in other styles (gothic or rustic).
Desk lamp . Usually it is being installed on a coffee table between the armchairs. A table lamp is the best reading light option.
Spotlight . Designed primarily for accentuated lighting of specific areas of the living room. Also, spotlights are used as an additional light that amplifies the main one. Spotlights are a subtype of spotlights. Devices contain one or more bulbs. Spots are able to rotate in the desired direction. They are usually installed in the corners of the room.

Styles and design

Light sources in the living room should not violate the harmony of space and overall interior design. Each type has its own unique characteristics. A combination of styles is also possible, but it should be noted that over-mixing does not always look aesthetically pleasing. Here are the typical features of the most popular styles:

The classic style is characterized by regular forms, solemnity. Can be lush or discreet in performance. Often with elements such as crystal or glass. In classic chandeliers, not only traditional lamps are used, but also a less common, but very effective option - decorative candles.
Lamps in a modern style (hi-tech, minimalism) are distinguished by maximum functionality and laconic forms. There are square, rectangular, triangular and polygonal luminaires available in a modern style. The most common materials are steel, aluminum, glass and plastic. In addition, these are also decorative lamps.
The Gothic style involves the use of forged metals. Dark (black, brown) colors are popular. Gothic can be displayed not only in massive chandeliers, but also in stylish wall sconces in the form of medieval candles.
The loft style is characterized by deliberate roughness of execution, the presence of roughness, large details, and industrial themes. Metal, wood, plastic parts are used as construction materials.
Provence style implies lightness, airiness of the design solution. Rustic motives and natural landscapes are used for that decoration. In the Provencal style, light colors are widely used. Chandeliers have multiple arms.
Art Nouveau is characterized by intricate shapes and color saturation. There are no angles or straight lines. Instead, there are spherical, rectangular, cylindrical silhouettes. Natural motives are widespread.
Japanese-style lamps are characterized by imitation of natural forms, laconicism, light shades and natural materials (textiles, paper, bamboo).
The Chinese style is bright colors (red and gold are especially popular), an abundance of details, functionality, natural materials, adherence to feng shui traditions.
The floristic luminaires imitate plants both in shape and decoration. Images are applied to them in the form of flowers. Such lamps add extra comfort to the living room.

Choice of light for the living room

When choosing a lighting fixture for a living room, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

The brightness of the lamps and the color temperature should be close to that of natural light. LED light sources are most suitable.
The power of lamps for additional luminaires should be lower than for the general lighting.
Lampshades made of light-colored fabrics transmit the light better.
Darker lampshades make the light more subdued.
It is not recommended to place an oblong chandelier over an empty area in the room. Such a lighting fixture is appropriate over a table, sofa or other furnishings.
The size of the chandelier is largely determined by the area of the room. There is a formula that allows you to choose the correct diameter of the luminaire. To get the desired value, add the length of the living room to it's width, and multiply the result by 10. For example, the width of the living room is 4 m, and the length is 5 m. Calculate: (4 + 5) × 10 = 90. The result is the most suitable chandelier diameter in centimeters to accommodate these dimensions.
Wall sconces are not only additional sources of lighting, they also save valuable floor space.
The lighting built into the floor looks very impressive. However, it is recommended to approach the choice of a place for installing light bulbs with full responsibility. If in the future you need to move the light sources, it will be unrealistic to do this without damaging the finishing materials.
For decorative lighting purposes, soft light bulbs are best suited.
Don't be too zealous with the amount of decorative lights. For a medium-sized living room, three to five such elements are enough.
If the room has an elongated shape, it is recommended to choose two or three instead of one lamp. You can arrange them sequentially one after another. This ensures uniform illumination of the room.
You might consider buying different lighting fixtures for different rooms. This deprives the premises of originality.

Lighting zoning recommendations for a living room

Division into zones is especially important for large rooms. In huge living rooms (over 50-60 square meters) Several mini-rooms can be organized. For example, we can talk about a fireplace, dining and music area. Moreover, each site will need not only general, but also local lighting.
However, even relatively small living rooms can be zoned according to the principle: one common light plus local lighting devices for performing specialized tasks. A desk lamp is sufficient in the work area. A floor lamp with a dim light may well illuminate a seating area or sofa. For areas where pronounced intense light is needed (for example, a dining area in a kitchen combined with a living room), LED lamps are the best option.