Illuminating the living room can be a tricky task since they’re usually one of the largest rooms in the house. You also need to consider several factors such as the amount of natural daylight that flows in the room and the different activities that often happen here.
It’s important to consider these factors because these will give you clues as to what types of lighting fixtures are needed.
If you want people to linger, incorporate the right lighting to make the living room inviting. A perfectly-lit living room also sets the tone for the rest of the house.
Related: Lamp Alternatives | All the Types of Home Lights
Types
Ceiling Fan with Light
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One of the most popular ways to light up a living room is to install a ceiling fan with a light. Most ceiling fans will come with a light fixture attached to the bottom.
You can certainly find ceiling fans without them, but they’re more commonly seen along with the light fixture. This is great, as it provides a convenient light source that can brighten up any area.
Depending on the size of your living room and how bright you want things to be, the ceiling fan light may be sufficient for your living room. It should be able to provide an ample amount of light that will make your living room seem much more cheerful.
The light fixtures that come on your ceiling fan will vary in size and style, though. You might have multiple light fixtures that take normal-sized light bulbs, or your ceiling fan may feature globe lighting of some kind.
Whatever type of light fixture the ceiling fan has, it should work well for your purposes. Take your time to pick out the ceiling fan style that is going to appeal to you the most. There are a lot of different types, and you should be able to find something that suits you to a tee.
The way the light fixture looks is definitely a part of the entire package, so be patient, and you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.
Ceiling fans can be very beneficial for your living room in other ways, too. This is going to provide circulation for your living room, and that will make everything much more comfortable than it would be otherwise.
Even if you have a central air conditioning unit, it can be nice to have a ceiling fan. It moves the air around and keeps a room from getting stuffy.
Ceiling Lamps
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Ceiling lamps are an incredibly convenient way to light up your living room when you don’t have a lot of space. These lamps can be installed on the ceiling and can be pretty bright overall.
Depending on the type of light bulb that you install in them, you might be able to light up your entire room with just one ceiling lamp. The cover of your ceiling light will often be a globe of some sort, and this will help the light to seem less harsh.
These types of lamps can be really stylish as well. Some of them will even come in a chandelier style. You will be able to play around with the types of ceiling lamps, and you will want to create some truly interesting designs.
Your ceiling lamp is going to be a prominent feature in your living room, so it is sensible to take your time to pick out a good option.
You are going to be able to find different ceiling lamp options at all of the major retail spaces. There is a lot to consider, so it makes sense to look at many different styles before making a purchasing decision.
You will find ceiling lamps that look very modern and others that adhere to more classic design choices. It won’t be difficult to find a ceiling lamp that will look like it fits in perfectly with your style.
Matching up your ceiling lamp well with the other design choices you have made in the room will allow you to create a very stylish living room area. This makes it so that you are very proud of the look of your home.
You’ll be spending a lot of time in the living room, so having it be just how you like it is important. Ceiling lamps will give you just the right amount of lighting in most cases, so you will be ready to host guests in no time at all.
Multiple Ceiling Lamps
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If one ceiling lamp simply is not enough to light up your entire living room properly, then it is a good idea to consider installing multiple ceiling lamps. You’ll be able to enjoy all of the same benefits that a single ceiling lamp is able to provide, but they will just be amplified.
One of the most prevalent reasons that people choose these ceiling lamps is that they don’t take up floor space. You can install multiple ceiling lamps without having to worry about them being in the way.
This is great when you have other ideas for what you want to do with space. You will be able to have plenty of room for your furniture and decorations when the lighting is all placed on the ceiling.
It’s convenient, and you won’t have a difficult time accessing the lighting, either. One flip of the switch and you will have all of the light that you need.
Some ceiling lamps will be operated by a normal light switch, and others may have a pull cord. There are different types that you can buy, and it is even possible to find ceiling lamps with dim settings.
Being able to set the right mood by dimming the lights is a good option, so it is worth looking into if you like that idea. The ceiling lamp being shown off here is perfect for providing vibrant light, and it will be easy to install multiple lights.
Standing Lamps
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Standing lamps are a tried and true way to light up a room. If you want to have a lot of light in your living room area, then buying a nice standing lamp is going to make that possible.
Generally speaking, these standing lamps can get quite bright. Part of the brightness is going to depend on the type of bulb that you put in the lamp, but it has the potential to really provide a lot of light for you.
One of the neat aspects of purchasing standing lamps is that they are so varied in their styles. You will be able to find so many different styles of standing lamps to consider.
You will see many ornate lamps that are absolutely beautiful to look at. No matter what type of design style is your favorite, you will be able to find a standing lamp that will work for you.
Modern style standing lamps have become really popular in recent years. You will see a lot of sleek black metal or steel standing lamps on the market.
It is also common to find Victorian-inspired designs that will look great in a classically decorated living room. Find the perfect standing lamp to go in your living room, and it will add to the overall aesthetic appeal.
If you want to use multiple standing lamps, then it might be a good idea to consider keeping everything balanced in your living room. Buying an even number of lamps is going to make it easier to maintain some level of symmetry in your living room area.
You don’t want your living room to feel like it is lopsided with too much light in one area and not enough in another. Balance the lighting out properly with these standing lamps, and your living room will look great.
Windows
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Natural light is something that should not be overlooked. If you want your living room to have plenty of natural light, then you will want to ensure that you have good windows. Depending on the location of the living room in your home, this will either be simple or impossible.
If your living room already has a window, then you could consider adding another window or widening the window that already exists.
This will allow more natural light to come into your living room when you open the curtains. Natural light feels completely different than the light from a lamp.
It has a nice warm glow, and it is something that all humans need in order to maintain their happiness. It can be good to bring a little sunshine into your living room to brighten up your day.
The best way to go about this would be to install bay windows in your living room. These types of windows are really wide and will allow a lot of natural light to come into the living room.
Bay windows are also very gorgeous and will make your home look that much nicer. This isn’t going to be the most cost-effective option, and it won’t help you with lighting the room at night, but it is something you will want to consider.
Unless you are really handy, it might be a good idea to get a professional to come in and install this new bay window for you. It isn’t a job that can’t be done by a DIY enthusiast, but it might be too much for an average person.
Think about your skills and whether or not this would be too challenging for you. Either way, it will be nice to get the new window installed, and you will enjoy having more sunshine in your life.
Skylight
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Another excellent source of natural light would be a skylight. Admittedly, living rooms aren’t the most common room that people install skylights in. There are still many people who love having a skylight in their living room, though.
It makes for an excellent opportunity to allow natural light into your home, and you will be able to gaze up at the stars at night with your loved ones when the mood strikes you.
Installing a skylight isn’t too difficult either. You will need to do some preparations, and there are options you will need to consider.
Like most lighting options, there are going to be different styles for you to choose from. You can go with smaller skylights or large skylights that will allow you to see a good chunk of the night sky.
Some skylights are also very appealing from an environmental perspective. You can find skylights that are solar powered, and this will give you a good feeling as you’ll know that you’re reducing your carbon footprint.
A solar powered skylight will be able to open and close using the solar energy that it has stored, so this is very convenient overall. You can also buy skylights that function more similarly to a normal window that is just placed on your roof, so you have choices.
Whatever your decision winds up being, it will be a very interesting feature in your living room. You can buy skylights that have remote controls as well.
This is great for when you want to close it off and get the sun out of your eyes. Skylights can be convenient and very romantic, so keep them in mind if you want to add some natural light sources to your living room.
Ceiling Accent Lighting
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Interestingly, many people are starting to add ceiling accent lighting to the trim around their ceilings. This isn’t something that is typical in many design schools, but it is an idea that people have been toying around with.
It creates a unique lighting opportunity that can give off an interesting vibe. This type of lighting is achieved by using LED rope lights and stringing them around the perimeter of the ceiling.
This can actually light up a room somewhat well, but it isn’t going to be enough to provide really bright light. This is more of an option to consider as mood lighting.
If you want to have lighting that is slightly dim for when you are hosting a laid-back party, then this type of lighting is going to be perfect. It definitely has a charm to it, and it is really easy to do.
These LED rope lights are very inexpensive, too. You won’t have to pay out much money at all when you choose to install them.
LED rope lights like this are available at most major retailers as well, so you’ll be able to buy them just about anywhere. There are different options for the color of the lights too, so there are things to consider before you move forward.
Standing Arc Lamp
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Standing arc lamps have a similar appeal to standing floor lamps, but they offer their own unique style. These lamps stand on the floor just like a normal floor lamp, but these lamps don’t stand straight up.
They arc, and the light hangs over the top of an area. You can purchase standing arc lamps that are quite tall, so the light will be hanging a fair distance above your head while you’re seated.
People like to place these standing arc lamps off to the side of their seating area in the living room. This allows the lamp to be positioned in such a way that the light is hanging above the couches. It will provide you with an exceptional amount of light, and you will love the way that it looks.
This isn’t a lamp that you will see in everyone’s home, so it is an option that gives your living room more of a unique feeling.
If you are bored with many of the traditional lighting options, then a standing arc lamp might be just the thing to freshen up your environment. These lamps are priced fairly reasonably, and they come in many styles.
You will be able to purchase one that matches up well with your furniture and the other decorative pieces that are placed in your living room. Once you have purchased one of these lamps, you will be able to have access to the light that you need while keeping things very interesting.
Lighting Sconces
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Lighting sconces are usually light fixtures that you see people using in outdoor environments. You might even already have one or two lighting sconces on the outside of your house.
People very commonly use them to light up their doorways and their patios. You can also buy lighting sconces that will work well as an indoor lighting solution. This type of lighting is essentially a light fixture that attaches to your wall.
It isn’t too dissimilar to a ceiling lamp, in that it is capable of providing light for you while being up and out of your way. There are quite a few different styles of lighting sconces for you to consider, so you will be able to find a product that matches the distinct style that you are going for.
These can be wired into your home very easily, too, so it won’t provide too much of a challenge for anyone who knows what he or she is doing. One lighting sconce may not be sufficient to light up an entire living room.
For the best results, you may want to strategically place a few of them around the room. You can then light up the sconces at the flip of a switch and will have abundant light. This lighting works well for just about anything, so it really is a versatile option.
Go with these types of lighting options if you need to find light sources that aren’t going to get in your way. If you have a smaller living room, then this can be perfect to use.
It will allow you to have access to the light that you need without having to take up precious floor space. If you don’t want to wire these sconces into the house, it is also possible to buy sconces that simply plug into a power outlet.
Built-in Wall Lighting
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Some homes have built-in shelving units that are part of the living room. If you have any features in your living room that are like this, then you could consider adding lighting to the shelves.
This will give you a light source that is completely out of the way. To do this, you will be using light strips that are similar to the LED rope lights mentioned earlier on.
These LED light strips can be placed around the shelving and will work to provide a fair amount of light. If you want the light to be bright, then you should seek out LED light strips that are brighter than usual.
Much like the ceiling accent lighting option from earlier, this lighting source isn’t going to light up your entire living room. This is another excellent mood lighting option that people enjoy having around.
You will be able to put in lights like this at a very inexpensive price. You can get LED light strips without having to pay much money at all, so it is certainly worth doing.
If you like the idea of having mood lighting, then there is no reason not to do this. It may not be worth going to the trouble of building shelves into your wall just for these lights, but if the shelves are already there, then it will provide a convenient light source.
End Table Lamps
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Buying a couple of end table lamps will help you to light up your living room very effectively. Some table lamps can be very bright, depending on the type of light bulb that you put inside of them.
You may also want to play around with the style of the lampshade to get the perfect amount of light into your living room. These lamps are excellent for placing on end tables, and you will be able to have a light source right next to your seats in the living room.
Table lamps have many advantages to them when thinking of aesthetics, too. You can find lamps that will accentuate the design choices you have already made in your living room.
Table lamps aren’t usually too expensive, but nice ones may be a bit pricier. Regardless, you will be able to find very pretty table lamps that will look nice in your living room area. This is a good way to add some color into your living room.
The different lampshade options can be really interesting to dig into as well. You can create so many unique looks that you just might become enamored with it. Take the time to find some end table lamps that will work well in your living room today.