The living room is probably the most important in the house. We spend a lot more time there than in the other rooms. We also try to relax. And therefore the lighting of this living room should not be thought of in a hurry. I assure you, there is nothing impossible in the mission of lighting the living room. There are just a few things to take into account before (re) thinking the light atmosphere of your room. And this is what we will see in the rest of this article.
CHOOSE THE LIGHTING ACCORDING TO THE SURFACE OF THE LIVING ROOM
The size of your room will define the type of lighting you choose, at least for the main fixture. Lighting a large room or a small room does not require the same installations.
THE LIGHTING OF A SMALL LIVING ROOM
Let’s start with the scenario where you have a small living room. The small spaces are super intimate. They are also quick to light. A pendant lamp with a lampshade, for example, is enough to light up the whole room.
For other lights, when you have a small space the question is to save space or at least not to lose it because of the lights. Some lights are less bulky than others: wall lights, floor lamps in the reading style… We can also think of lights with articulated arms that adapt to your needs. If they are placed intelligently, they can be used to illuminate several spaces in your room and you will, therefore, avoid multiplying the light sources in your small living room.
THE LIGHTING OF A LARGE LIVING ROOM
A large living room is not lit in the same way as a small one. There is more surface to be lit and so you have to choose the main luminaire that can cover your entire surface. We can think of spotlights, XXL ceiling lights, chandeliers with transparent globes … When you choose your new main lighting for the living room, you must keep in mind the question of light scattering. Does this fixture allow enough light to diffuse in my living room?
Besides, knowing your lifestyle in the room will allow you to improve your lighting. No need to light the 4 corners of the room just to say to fill the space. If you have an office area in the living room, an auxiliary light (desk lamp) will be necessary to work in good conditions. If you have a library in the living room, why not enhance your book collection with an adjustable floor lamp. The idea is to make sense of your lighting. What will the light be used for in the room?
LIGHTING A LIVING ROOM WITH HIGH CEILINGS
Another scenario, you have a very high ceiling. Aesthetically, it can be an asset for the decoration of your living room, especially if you have chosen the right light. And in this case, you can play with large formats: in height or width, with several bulbs… Whether we like the classic or the design, there is a wide choice available to you. You can multiply the shades and arrange them at different heights to create volume. Auxiliary lights will also be important in the bright atmosphere of your living room. They will allow you to work the light throughout the volume of your room.
EACH LIGHT IN THE LIVING ROOM HAS ITS LIGHT
To finish this article, here is a list of luminaries that correspond to a need, a situation that generally takes place in your living room:
- Receive friends
Functional and bright lighting. Generally, the main light and an auxiliary light are enough to see correctly. - Playing with children
Like when receiving friends for a drink, children need to see clearly when they play. In addition to the main luminaire, we can think of a deported floor lamp that will provide additional light on their playing surface. - Relax in complete privacy
A few table lamps that will diffuse a dim light in the room without attacking you. Make sure you can move around the room without having to turn on the main light. - Watching TV
To avoid lighting reflections on the screen, you can place a floor lamp with a blue light nearby. It has the characteristic of resting the view. - Reading and doing crossword puzzles
A floor lamp next to or behind the sofa, a reading lamp, a table lamp on a side table. The idea here is to bring a light source that will prevent you from tiring your eyesight. If you tend to type on the computer at night, you shouldn’t just use your computer lighting. An extra lamp will give you better comfort.
