Why one lamp in the living room is not enough
Most living rooms have one lamp in the middle of the ceiling. That is exactly why many living rooms feel bare in the evening: one light point gives flat light and harsh shadows, however beautiful the fitting. What does work is light at three heights.
Height one: the ceiling
This is the base, not the main course. Choose the size for the room, not the furniture: for a room of four by five metres, a fitting 60 to 80 cm wide is in proportion. If it hangs freely in the room and not above a table, keep at least 210 cm of clear headroom, so nobody walks into it.
Height two: next to the sofa
A floor lamp 150 to 160 cm tall gives light at reading height without being in the way. Place it next to the sofa, not behind it: then the light falls over your shoulder onto the book instead of into your neck.
If the sofa stands freely in the room, choose a model with a heavier base, which helps prevent it falling over when people pass. Also check that it is dimmable; a reading lamp that only goes on at full power is one you will not use in the evening.
Height three: against the wall
A wall light fills an empty surface and gives the room depth. Hang it at about 150 cm, with the centre of the lamp at eye level. A wall light works best next to a painting, a cabinet or a fireplace; in the middle of an empty wall with no reason, rarely.
Everything on one dimmer, or separate?
Separate. The whole strength of light at three heights lies in being able to choose: only the floor lamp for an evening on the sofa, everything on when you have guests. If they are on one switch, you always use them together and you are back to one lighting mood.
Keep the light colour the same
What makes a room look messy is not the wrong colour but different colours mixed together. Choose one value for the whole room. Our fittings are supplied as standard with warm white of 2700 to 3000 kelvin.
View all lighting for the living room · More about light colour per room
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