Lounge Room Lighting Ideas: How to Layer Light in a Living Room
The lounge room is used for everything from movies to reading to entertaining, so it needs light you can change. How to layer ceiling, lamp and accent light, and ideas for small, open-plan and high-ceilinged rooms.
A single bright ceiling light makes a lounge room feel flat and harsh in the evening. The best living rooms have several sources at different heights, each on its own switch or dimmer, so the room can be bright for cleaning, soft for a movie and warm for guests.
The three layers
| Layer | Job | Fittings |
|---|---|---|
| Ambient | General light | Pendant or ceiling light, downlights, cove lighting |
| Task | Reading, games, hobbies | Floor lamps beside chairs, table lamps |
| Accent | Mood and depth | Picture lights, shelf lighting, uplights, LED strips |
Ideas that work
- A lamp in every corner you sit in: light at seated eye level is the cosiest light there is.
- Light the walls, not just the floor: wall washers, picture lights or uplights make a room feel larger.
- A statement pendant over a coffee table or in a high-ceilinged room; see the pendant lights guide.
- Arc floor lamp over a sofa where there is no ceiling point; see brass lighting.
- LED strip behind the TV reduces eye strain during movies.
- Lit shelves to show books and objects.
Downlights without the "runway" effect
Rows of downlights in a grid make a living room look like an office. Place them to light walls, artwork and the edges of the room, choose warm white with a good colour rendering, and put them on a dimmer.
Colour and dimming
- Warm white (2700 K) is the norm for living spaces; avoid mixing warm and cool globes.
- Dim everything you can, and use smart globes or plugs if you rent.
- Scenes help: "bright", "evening", "movie".
By room type
- Small lounge: wall lights and lamps free up floor space; a slim pendant or flush light above.
- Open-plan: use lighting to zone: a pendant over dining, lamps in the lounge zone, task light in the kitchen (see kitchen lighting ideas).
- High ceilings: a large pendant or cluster brings the light down to a human scale.
- Rental: plug-in wall lights and plug-in pendants need no electrician.
In Australia, installing or replacing hard-wired lighting must be done by a licensed electrician.
Questions
How should a living room be lit?
With layers: a general ceiling light or downlights, lamps for reading and accent lights for mood, each on its own switch or dimmer.
How many lamps should a lounge room have?
Typically two to four, placed where people sit and in dark corners.
What colour light is best for a living room?
Warm white, around 2700 K, consistent across all fittings.
