An Expert Guide to Designing Living Room Lighting
Three professionals explain how to set up living room lighting for that cosy, relaxing feel
Designers often talk about ‘layering’ lighting to create different scenarios suited to the functions of a space. This is particularly important in a living room, where ambience is central to function. Whether you use the room to spend time together as a family; talk and relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day, or work your way through bills and paperwork, it’s the lighting that sets the all-important atmosphere.
We asked three experts how to design that cherry-on-top living room lighting that will turn your space into a relaxing retreat.
Professional advice from: Brooke Copp-Barton of Brooke Copp-Barton Interiors; Claudia Dorsch of Claudia Dorsch Interior Design; Emilie Fournet of Emilie Fournet Interiors
We asked three experts how to design that cherry-on-top living room lighting that will turn your space into a relaxing retreat.
Professional advice from: Brooke Copp-Barton of Brooke Copp-Barton Interiors; Claudia Dorsch of Claudia Dorsch Interior Design; Emilie Fournet of Emilie Fournet Interiors
When planning ambient lighting, think about highlighting features
You need a bright overhead light for cleaning and searching for things, but it shouldn’t be your main source of ambient light. “It’s the central piece of jewellery in the room, and visually it’s a very important anchor,” Emilie says. “But I would say one of the big rules for me is not to turn the big light on [when you want to create ambience].”
Instead, think about highlighting specific features. “If you’re fitting bookcases, then we always advise adding front-mounted picture lights or internal LED strips to illuminate the piece of furniture and its contents,” Claudia says.
Downlights can play a role here. “Only position these in specific locations where they serve a purpose, with the beam angle adjusted to feature that location. [This could be] a painting, a sculpture on a stand, a piano, or a beautiful piece of furniture,” Claudia says.
“You can also add coving with integrated LED strips as general ambient lighting,” she says.
The rule of thumb: “You’re lighting something, rather than just lighting the whole space for the sake of it,“ Emilie says.
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You need a bright overhead light for cleaning and searching for things, but it shouldn’t be your main source of ambient light. “It’s the central piece of jewellery in the room, and visually it’s a very important anchor,” Emilie says. “But I would say one of the big rules for me is not to turn the big light on [when you want to create ambience].”
Instead, think about highlighting specific features. “If you’re fitting bookcases, then we always advise adding front-mounted picture lights or internal LED strips to illuminate the piece of furniture and its contents,” Claudia says.
Downlights can play a role here. “Only position these in specific locations where they serve a purpose, with the beam angle adjusted to feature that location. [This could be] a painting, a sculpture on a stand, a piano, or a beautiful piece of furniture,” Claudia says.
“You can also add coving with integrated LED strips as general ambient lighting,” she says.
The rule of thumb: “You’re lighting something, rather than just lighting the whole space for the sake of it,“ Emilie says.
Want some help? Find interior designers on Houzz.
Consider the overall visual effect
Although we tend to think about the functionality of lighting first, it’s important to remember that lights and fixtures are also part of the decor.
“I always think of spaces where you sit as a sort of triptych: wherever you’re going to sit, you’re going to need some table space and some lighting,” Emilie says.
She urges homeowners to seek variety. “That is, wall lights, table lamps, floor lamps, and I’m also a big fan of those plug-in lights that you can attach to the wall,” she says. “It’s nice to have diverse finishes, so glass, fabric, ceramics, metal. Don’t have all your light fittings in brass; don’t have all your lampshades in fabric. Think about bringing in glass, rattan… Different textures and finishes are going to give you a more elevated finish.”
It’s also crucial to remember that you’re decorating a 3D space: “[It’s not just having] all the corners of the rooms covered, [it’s also about placing] your lighting at different levels [to create that visual interest]” Emilie says.
More: 8 Common Living Room Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Although we tend to think about the functionality of lighting first, it’s important to remember that lights and fixtures are also part of the decor.
“I always think of spaces where you sit as a sort of triptych: wherever you’re going to sit, you’re going to need some table space and some lighting,” Emilie says.
She urges homeowners to seek variety. “That is, wall lights, table lamps, floor lamps, and I’m also a big fan of those plug-in lights that you can attach to the wall,” she says. “It’s nice to have diverse finishes, so glass, fabric, ceramics, metal. Don’t have all your light fittings in brass; don’t have all your lampshades in fabric. Think about bringing in glass, rattan… Different textures and finishes are going to give you a more elevated finish.”
It’s also crucial to remember that you’re decorating a 3D space: “[It’s not just having] all the corners of the rooms covered, [it’s also about placing] your lighting at different levels [to create that visual interest]” Emilie says.
More: 8 Common Living Room Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Plan lighting early and start with the furniture layout
To plan out your lighting, you need to have your furniture placement sorted first. “The priority is always the layout,” Emilie says. “So wherever you’re going to have your seating space, that’s going to [need] lighting.”
“Make the floor plan and be very specific about each furniture piece and its function,” Claudia says. You can then think through the list of lighting options to go with it.
In a bigger project, lighting always needs to be planned early on. “If you’re doing a big renovation, first fix wiring goes in at a similar time to first fix plumbing, so, for a considered scheme, it’s important to understand what you need from the outset,” Brooke says.
This means choosing your light fittings, too, as the form of the light may dictate the wiring. “Never, ever leave that to the last minute. [For example,] not all wall lights [can be mounted] at the same height – it depends on which wall light you’re getting, so it’s one of the priorities [alongside the] layout,” Emilie says.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
To plan out your lighting, you need to have your furniture placement sorted first. “The priority is always the layout,” Emilie says. “So wherever you’re going to have your seating space, that’s going to [need] lighting.”
“Make the floor plan and be very specific about each furniture piece and its function,” Claudia says. You can then think through the list of lighting options to go with it.
In a bigger project, lighting always needs to be planned early on. “If you’re doing a big renovation, first fix wiring goes in at a similar time to first fix plumbing, so, for a considered scheme, it’s important to understand what you need from the outset,” Brooke says.
This means choosing your light fittings, too, as the form of the light may dictate the wiring. “Never, ever leave that to the last minute. [For example,] not all wall lights [can be mounted] at the same height – it depends on which wall light you’re getting, so it’s one of the priorities [alongside the] layout,” Emilie says.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Work with a qualified electrician to get the wiring right
All of the professionals we spoke to recommended installing dimmable lighting. “Have everything on dimmer switches if you can, because you can really set that mood and that intensity of light. Dimmer switches are your friends,” Emilie says.
Claudia recommends fitting 5 amp plug sockets, which can be joined into a single circuit to be turned on with one switch. “If you can rewire, then fit 5 amp plug sockets for table and floor lamps and have them all on one switch,” she says. “[This is] especially useful in rooms that have two or more table and floor lamps, so they can be turned on at a central switch point rather than you having to go around the room flicking on lamps individually.“
An electrician can also help you update the cords of any plug-in or ceiling lights, so you can fit them into the overall look of your design.
“I would always recommend working with a qualified electrician,” Emilie says. “Ultimately, it’s not necessarily a big job for an electrician to rewire a lamp or hardwire in some more lights, but you just need to have that done properly. Don’t fiddle with wires if you don’t have the professional capacity to do it.”
More: How to Choose an Electrician
All of the professionals we spoke to recommended installing dimmable lighting. “Have everything on dimmer switches if you can, because you can really set that mood and that intensity of light. Dimmer switches are your friends,” Emilie says.
Claudia recommends fitting 5 amp plug sockets, which can be joined into a single circuit to be turned on with one switch. “If you can rewire, then fit 5 amp plug sockets for table and floor lamps and have them all on one switch,” she says. “[This is] especially useful in rooms that have two or more table and floor lamps, so they can be turned on at a central switch point rather than you having to go around the room flicking on lamps individually.“
An electrician can also help you update the cords of any plug-in or ceiling lights, so you can fit them into the overall look of your design.
“I would always recommend working with a qualified electrician,” Emilie says. “Ultimately, it’s not necessarily a big job for an electrician to rewire a lamp or hardwire in some more lights, but you just need to have that done properly. Don’t fiddle with wires if you don’t have the professional capacity to do it.”
More: How to Choose an Electrician
Make a budget plan to get the lighting you want
Lamps and light fixtures vary widely in price, so there’s a lot of opportunity to adjust your lighting plan to your budget. “Good lighting needs investment, but it will come down to the amount you want to spend on your fittings – and usually there are options to suit most budgets,” Brooke says.
“I’d recommend including electrical switches and sockets in this, too – they are important touch points and, in my opinion, considered, quality fittings make a difference to the overall feel of a room,” she says.
Emilie recommends staggering your purchases if budget is an issue. “If there’s a specific light you like that blows your budget, go for it, and then choose cheaper lights somewhere else, [which] you can maybe upgrade in a few months’ or years’ time to something more pricey,” she says. “Try to find something visually similar, with the same dimensions, but [at a lower price point], so it won’t have a massive impact when you replace it.”
If you’re planning to rewire, don’t forget to factor in the cost of the works. “We budget per light point if you need it totally newly wired and then made good. Budget at least £250 per point, not including the light,” Claudia says.
Lamps and light fixtures vary widely in price, so there’s a lot of opportunity to adjust your lighting plan to your budget. “Good lighting needs investment, but it will come down to the amount you want to spend on your fittings – and usually there are options to suit most budgets,” Brooke says.
“I’d recommend including electrical switches and sockets in this, too – they are important touch points and, in my opinion, considered, quality fittings make a difference to the overall feel of a room,” she says.
Emilie recommends staggering your purchases if budget is an issue. “If there’s a specific light you like that blows your budget, go for it, and then choose cheaper lights somewhere else, [which] you can maybe upgrade in a few months’ or years’ time to something more pricey,” she says. “Try to find something visually similar, with the same dimensions, but [at a lower price point], so it won’t have a massive impact when you replace it.”
If you’re planning to rewire, don’t forget to factor in the cost of the works. “We budget per light point if you need it totally newly wired and then made good. Budget at least £250 per point, not including the light,” Claudia says.
Check out vintage lighting for sustainable, purse-friendly options
“Consider vintage or second-hand lighting as well,” Emilie says. “You can sometimes find it for a fraction of the cost in charity shops or [online marketplaces]. You can find really beautiful pieces, and it also goes back to bringing a variety of lighting into a space. Mix old and new. A big vintage piece will really look good, and it’s something you’ll keep all your life.”
Keep safety in mind, however, as vintage lights may not be up to modern safety standards or may not be in full working order. “You should always get [vintage lighting] checked and PAT tested by a professional electrician,” Emilie says.
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“Consider vintage or second-hand lighting as well,” Emilie says. “You can sometimes find it for a fraction of the cost in charity shops or [online marketplaces]. You can find really beautiful pieces, and it also goes back to bringing a variety of lighting into a space. Mix old and new. A big vintage piece will really look good, and it’s something you’ll keep all your life.”
Keep safety in mind, however, as vintage lights may not be up to modern safety standards or may not be in full working order. “You should always get [vintage lighting] checked and PAT tested by a professional electrician,” Emilie says.
Tell us…
Have you found this professional advice useful? Let us know in the Comments.
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As elsewhere in the house, the basic approach is to include lots of different light points to let you toggle various lighting scenarios. “I would say, for an average-sized living room, you’re probably looking at having between five and 10 different lighting points within the space,” Emilie Fournet says.
“The more you try to cover the space with little pockets of light, the better the atmosphere you’re going to create,” she continues. “If you have a long sofa, it might be good to have a wall light on one end and a table light on the other. If you have an armchair in a corner, it would be great to have a floor lamp.”
“Seating areas with a coffee table – often in the centre of a room – will benefit from a pendant light, and this [can be] a beautiful feature,” Claudia Dorsch says. “It can be very cosy and practical to have tall floor lamps behind sofas for reading. And if you’re planning to have a desk space or a games table, then add task lighting for this location, either with a tall floor lamp, a table lamp or a wall light.”
When lighting a desk, think about how it fits into the overall lighting scheme. “We’d most likely place a couple of spots above the desk on a separate circuit to provide subtle task lighting for this area without affecting the mood lighting we may layer in the rest of the living room,” Brooke Copp-Barton says.
This ‘pockets of light’ approach also makes it easy to tweak the lighting scheme if it isn’t quite working for you. “Adding lamps can be a quick fix, or changing a central, single-bulb pendant to a multiple-bulb fitting can often have a significant effect,” Brooke says.