The living room is the soul of every home. It is where you and your loved ones wind down and relax after a day’s work. Lighting plays a great role in creating the perfect ambiance to meet these needs. It also enhances the room’s functionality. However, it has to be done correctly to enjoy the best effect.
This article provides expert advice on where to place your living room lighting fixtures.
Types of Living Room Lighting to Consider
Before you decide where to place your living room lighting, you should understand the different types of lighting and their effect on this space. Here are three lighting options you should consider for your living room.
- Ambient Lighting: These living room lighting fixtures typically provide general illumination in the space. A good example is recessed ceiling lights.
- Task Lighting: An ideal choice for homeowners looking to light up a specific section of the living room. Involves adding light fittings like floor lamps and table lamps in the space. These living room lighting fixtures support activities like reading.
- Accent Lighting: If you want to highlight decorative elements in your living room, this is the lighting option to go for. They’re typically installed on the wall for the best effect.
The Formula for Lighting Your Living Room Correctly
Creating the right atmosphere in your living room ensures that you enjoy the comfort you deserve. And, good lighting is necessary to achieve this. The formula below will help you to determine how much light you need in your living room.
Length x Width x 1.5 = Total wattage required in the space
However, this formula alone isn’t enough. How you position your lights in the living room can significantly affect the ambiance. Here are some lighting design options and a guide on where to place them for optimal illumination.
Where to Place Ceiling Lighting in a Living Room
Recessed lighting is a popular choice for most homeowners who prefer modern living room lighting fixture designs. Its clean lines and minimalist style is ideal for homes that have limited space as it sits flush on the ceiling. For a proper recessed living room layout, you should create zones in the room. Remember, it is a multifunctional space.
The spacing between these ceiling lights is also a factor to consider as it helps to avoid glare. Experts recommend that you divide your ceiling height by two to determine how far apart they should be. Don’t place your recessed living room lighting fixtures too close to the walls as it can create ideal lights. Install them at least 3 feet from the wall for the best effect.
If working with standard ceiling lights like pendants and chandeliers, you should hang them at least 70 inches above the floor. If positioned above a table, it should be at least 28 inches above the table’s surface.
Where to Place Wall Lighting in a Living Room
Using layered lighting in your living room is the perfect way to make a statement and elevate your interior design scheme. Wall lights provide accent lighting which helps to highlight other décor elements in the room. It can also be used for task lighting in living rooms with a study desk.
The ideal placement of wall lights in a living room depends on several factors like:
- Size of the space
- Style of the light fixture
- Size of the light fitting
- Ambiance you desire
However, the general rule of thumb suggests that you position your wall lights at least 152cm above the floor. When installing multiple wall lights, you should place them at least eight feet apart for even illumination and reduced glare.
Pro Tip!
If you’ve installed ceiling fans in your living room, ensure that your recessed lights are three inches away from the edge of each fan blade. This helps to avoid the strobe effect which can cause eye fatigue.
Where to Place Floor Lamps in a Living Room
You can use floor lamps for task lighting or to accentuate other textured décor elements in your living room. Placing it on an empty corner space also helps to add dimension to the space.
The general rule of thumb is that you should position your floor lamp at least two feet away from the edge of the chair or sofa where you’re seated. This helps to avoid eye fatigue from resulting glares and shadows. Homeowners with sectional sofas can place the lamp behind it to add a soft glow and create a lively atmosphere perfect for hosting game and movie nights
Additional Tips and Tricks for the Best Living Room Lighting Layout
You have to consider some basic aspects when selecting a living room lighting scheme for your home. These include:
Incorporate Layered Lighting
Modern living rooms are multifunctional spaces. For this reason, you need to incorporate different lighting options in the room as each serves a different function. Apart from enhancing the living room’s visual appeal, layered lighting helps optimize functionality.
Opt for Dimmers
Control is one critical aspect of quality lighting. Installing dimmers ensures that you can conveniently adjust your living room lighting to match the ambiance you want to create.
Assess the Room’s Purpose
Skip the table lamps if you don’t carry out any focus-based activities in your living room. Only incorporate living room lighting fixtures that are practical.
Choose the Right Bulbs
Warm white lights are the ideal bulbs for your living room. Measuring about 2700K, they help to create a warm, cozy, and inviting atmosphere. However, you can tweak this to match your needs. If you want to create a lively ambiance, you can go for cool white bulbs. These measure about 4000K and tend to be brighter.
Understanding the impact of light temperature on room ambiance is key. Seus Lighting provides a variety of lighting options to suit different moods and settings. Learn more about choosing the right light for your needs by checking our comprehensive guide to lighting color temperature, full of useful tips and information.
Enjoy Perfect Illumination by Positioning Your Living Room Lights Correctly
Homeowners should learn how to strategically place their living room lighting fixtures for the perfect ambiance. This ensures that you don’t strain your eyes and enjoy personalized comfort in your home. By following this guide, you’re well on your way to becoming a design pro and creating the living room of your dreams.