One lamp is not enough

The living room is where you spend much of your time, and you need different types of lighting depending on the time of day and the mood you want to create: bright light when you're tidying up or entertaining, and softer light when you're relaxing on the sofa in the evening. One ceiling light can't provide everything you need. The key to good living room lighting is layering, with several light sources that you can switch on and off separately to create the right atmosphere for every moment.

The layers at a glance

Living room pendant lights create a focal point above the coffee table or seating area. Dining table pendant lights provide atmospheric light above the table. And living room floor lamps provide reading light beside the sofa or in a corner. You can complement these with wall lights for light at eye level, a table lamp on the sideboard, or spotlights to highlight a painting or bookcase.

How to approach it

Start with the places where you need light for specific activities: the dining table, reading chair or sofa. Make sure there is a light source in each area. Then brighten up dark corners with a floor lamp or table lamp, as an empty, dark corner can make a room feel unwelcoming. Finally, consider whether you want an accent light, such as a wall light by a painting or a lamp on a bookcase. Make sure you can switch the lamps separately, as that gives you the flexibility to create different lighting for different moments.

Light and atmosphere

For the living room, choose warm white light (around 2700K) for a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. Dimmable lighting is particularly useful here, as no single brightness level suits every moment. You can use a dimmer, or keep it simple with a 3-step dimmable light bulb that you control using the ordinary switch.