Decorating
9 Inviting Ways to Illuminate Your Living Room
From lamps only to layers of light, check out these ways to create a soft, cocooning atmosphere in your living space
As the seasons change and the nights draw in, thoughts turn to making our homes cosier. Creating an inviting space doesn’t necessarily mean investing in sheepskin rugs and piles of knitted cushions – although a few snuggly extras wouldn’t hurt! It can be as simple as adding the right lighting to create a cosy glow. Check out these ways to use ambient, task and accent lighting to make your living space more inviting this autumn.
Create a lamps-only zone
This dark sitting room is a lesson in subtle, warm lighting. An array of lamps – plus a pendant at lamp height – produces soft pockets of light that complement the cocooning décor. For flexibility, why not add a pendant light that can be raised or lowered depending on your mood.
Discover great ways to add dark shades
This dark sitting room is a lesson in subtle, warm lighting. An array of lamps – plus a pendant at lamp height – produces soft pockets of light that complement the cocooning décor. For flexibility, why not add a pendant light that can be raised or lowered depending on your mood.
Discover great ways to add dark shades
Introduce additional lights
Subtle illumination is key to a cosy room, so why not pick out your pictures with dedicated lights that will also add to the atmosphere? Lights like this traditionally highlight classic paintings, but there’s no reason you can’t illuminate modern art, too – there are plenty of slim chrome picture lights on the market that would do the job nicely.
Subtle illumination is key to a cosy room, so why not pick out your pictures with dedicated lights that will also add to the atmosphere? Lights like this traditionally highlight classic paintings, but there’s no reason you can’t illuminate modern art, too – there are plenty of slim chrome picture lights on the market that would do the job nicely.
Fall for fairy lights
Using fairy lights in living rooms isn’t a new idea – they’ve long adorned empty fireplaces. But there’s a reason they’re enduringly popular – they are unique in producing a twinkling glow that can be shaped in numerous ways, from a starry bowl of lights to a string running the length of a wall. This fairy lights and mirror combo is a winner in this room, bouncing the light off other surfaces for a pretty effect.
Using fairy lights in living rooms isn’t a new idea – they’ve long adorned empty fireplaces. But there’s a reason they’re enduringly popular – they are unique in producing a twinkling glow that can be shaped in numerous ways, from a starry bowl of lights to a string running the length of a wall. This fairy lights and mirror combo is a winner in this room, bouncing the light off other surfaces for a pretty effect.
Pretty up your overhead
A top light alone can sometimes be harsh, but a chandelier like this, with numerous bulbs and plenty of reflective crystals, diffuses the light beautifully, sending it in all directions for a soft glow.
A top light alone can sometimes be harsh, but a chandelier like this, with numerous bulbs and plenty of reflective crystals, diffuses the light beautifully, sending it in all directions for a soft glow.
Layer your light sources
Having several, low wattage sources of light is a great way to create a relaxing, cosy mood. Here, the lights run from the cluster pendant up high to the mid-level floor light to the table lamp for an inviting, intimate mood.
How to dazzle with cluster lights
Having several, low wattage sources of light is a great way to create a relaxing, cosy mood. Here, the lights run from the cluster pendant up high to the mid-level floor light to the table lamp for an inviting, intimate mood.
How to dazzle with cluster lights
Get creative with candles
One of the easiest and most effective ways of adding a cosy glow to a room is with candles. Make sure you have several clusters at different heights to create a warm atmosphere with oodles of depth.
One of the easiest and most effective ways of adding a cosy glow to a room is with candles. Make sure you have several clusters at different heights to create a warm atmosphere with oodles of depth.
Max your pendants
Why have one pendant light when you can have three? Hanging a cluster at different heights throws a wider, softer wash. Paper shades diffuse light beautifully for a gentle glow.
Why have one pendant light when you can have three? Hanging a cluster at different heights throws a wider, softer wash. Paper shades diffuse light beautifully for a gentle glow.
Think about how you use your space
As well as creating a cosy atmosphere, lighting needs to suit your lifestyle. If you like to curl up and read a book in your living room, choose lamps that can act as task lights, too. These wall lights are perfect – positioned low down and with fabric shades to diffuse the light, but on pivots to act as task lights, too.
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for adding a cosy glow to a room? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
As well as creating a cosy atmosphere, lighting needs to suit your lifestyle. If you like to curl up and read a book in your living room, choose lamps that can act as task lights, too. These wall lights are perfect – positioned low down and with fabric shades to diffuse the light, but on pivots to act as task lights, too.
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for adding a cosy glow to a room? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Floor lamps are fantastic for adding soft light to a specific part of the room, but why not go one better and invest in an angled lamp like this? Not only are giant Anglepoise-style floor lights on trend, they provide a range of lighting possibilities – angle one over the sofa when you’re reading, swing it over to a coffee table to softly illuminate a sociable gathering, or tilt it back or up for a wash over the wall or ceiling.