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Tips on how to light your living room properly

Innenbeleuchtung

10 min Time to read

s.luce Ball Bogenleuchte im Wohnzimmer

Verena W.

Published on

"The lighting in the living room plays an important role in creating the right atmosphere. Choosing the right lighting depends on various factors. You can find out what these are in this article."

The importance of the right lighting in the living room



Living room lighting is an important aspect of designing a cozy and functional living area. After all, it is a room where we spend most of our time. This is where we eat together and play, listen to music and watch TV, read and discuss, socialize and relax – the spectrum is as colorful and diverse as our lives.


Lighting must meet different requirements depending on whether the room is

used

for relaxation or socializing. That's why a good lighting concept should use and combine different light sources to allow you to respond individually to the desired atmosphere and use of the room in each situation.


You should also think about the purpose of this room. Will the living room mainly be used for relaxing and reading

,

or will it also serve as a work area or entertainment center? Depending on the functions your living room is to fulfill, you will also need lighting that is suitable for you.


In general, it can be said that lighting in the living room is formed by the symbiosis of main lighting and accent lighting. We also recommend that you always choose dimmable lights.


Dimmable lights can play a particularly important role in the living room, as this is usually the room where you relax the most and spend time with family and friends. Dimmable lighting can help create a warm, inviting atmosphere that helps reduce stress and promote relaxation. You can use dimmable lights in various ways in the living room.


For example, a floor lamp or table lamp with a dimmer function can help to create a create a cozy atmosphere when you want to watch a movie or read a book. You can adjust the brightness to suit your needs, depending on whether you are spending a relaxing evening in the living room or have visitors. Another way to use dimmable lights in the living room is to install them in a ceiling light.

 


Dimmable LED lights are a popular choice for the living room because they are energy-efficient and usually have a long service life. You can also set different color temperatures to control the light and adjust the mood in the room.


With the flexibility that dimmable lights offer, you can tailor the light to your needs and create an atmosphere that perfectly matches the mood and decor. 


s.luce Ring Hängeleuchte in der Galerie über dem Wohnzimmer
s.luce Cloud wall lights in the living room

"Use a combination of dimmable lights and different light sources to create a flexible and inviting atmosphere in the living room."

Expert tip from Guido H.

Management at Skapetze

s.luce Ring Stehleuchte im Wohnzimmer als Leselampe
s.luce Beam wall lamp in the living room

Which lights are suitable for the living room?



Pendant lights


In general, we recommend equipping the living room with a pendant light that provides basic lighting in the room and is also dimmable to create a pleasant atmosphere. You can also place a small table lamp on a small side table to serve as romantic accent lighting.


LED strips


LED strips can be used in various ways in the living room to create a welcoming and cozy atmosphere. For example, they can be installed as accent lighting under shelves or on the ceiling to create indirect lighting.


They can also be placed behind the TV or on furniture to create soft lighting that promotes relaxation. LED strips are energy-efficient, have a long service life, and can be set to different colors and brightness levels to suit the ambience of the living room.


Wallwashers


A wallwasher is a type of lighting that is installed on the wall to evenly illuminate a large area. In the living room, a wallwasher can help to accentuate the wall and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. By casting light evenly onto the wall, it can also help to visually enlarge the room and create a pleasant atmosphere.


Another advantage of wallwashers in the living room is that they can serve as background lighting for artwork or wall decorations. The even lighting draws attention to the artwork and can create a special atmosphere in the room. There are also dimmable wallwashers that allow for even more flexible lighting in the living room. With a dimmer function, you can adjust the brightness of the lighting to suit your needs and create a warm and cozy atmosphere.


Arc lamps


Arc lamps are an elegant and practical lighting option in the living

room

. This type of floor lamp has a curved arm, that allows the light to extend beyond the room. Arch lights are available in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find one that suits your decor and room size.


Arch lights are particularly well suited for living rooms with high ceilings or large spaces. They can help brighten dark corners in the room and serve as accent lighting for specific areas, such as reading nooks or seating areas. A dimmable arc lamp can also help create a cozy atmosphere in the living room by adjusting the brightness of the light to suit the user's needs.



ceiling lights Glare-free and indirect ceiling lights are an important component of living room lighting. They help to avoid unpleasant glare and create uniform and pleasant illumination in the room. Glare-free ceiling lights have a special optic or cover that diffuses the light and prevents it from shining directly into the viewer's eyes. This is particularly important when watching TV, reading, or working in the living room, as glare can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue

.


Indirect ceiling lights do not shine light directly onto the surface below them, but reflect the light onto the ceiling or wall, creating soft and diffuse lighting in the room. This type of lighting is particularly useful for creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the living room and can help to visually enlarge the space. Glare-free and indirect ceiling lights can also help to highlight the décor of the living room by creating even illumination of the room and showcasing artwork or furniture.


Overall, glare-free and indirect ceiling lights are an important component of living room lighting that can help create a cozy and inviting atmosphere without straining the eyes or creating unpleasant glare. In addition to choosing the right type of ceiling lights, it is also important to position and regulate the lighting in the living room appropriately.

 



recessed spotlights Recessed spotlights in the living room are a popular lighting option for modern living spaces. This type of lighting is often used to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while also providing a practical solution for lighting the room. Installing recessed spotlights in the living room requires some planning and preparation. First, you need to carefully select the position of the spotlights to ensure that they create the desired lighting effect while also providing sufficient illumination for the room. It is important to think about the number of spotlights you need and their placement before you begin installation.


Another important factor when installing recessed spotlights in the living room is choosing the right type of lighting. LED spotlightsare a popular option as they are energy-efficient and durable.


However, it is also important to consider the color temperature of the spotlights, as this can have a big impact on the atmosphere of the room. Recessed spotlights in the living room offer a variety of Advantages.


They can help to visually enlarge the room and offer a flexible lighting solution that can be adjusted as needed.


In addition, they can also help to better structure the room and highlight certain areas.

What else do I need to consider when it comes to living room lighting?



When it comes to lighting, you should definitely pay attention to the color temperature of the lights. We recommend warm white light (2700-3300 Kelvin) for a great atmosphere.


The color rendering index also plays an important role. In the living room, lights with a CRI of at least 80 should be chosen to ensure good color rendering.


It's also a great idea to integrate different lighting controls so that everything is controlled via your smartphone or Amazon Alexa, for example, rather than just via the light switch. Switches, dimmers, or remote controls are also excellent options.


An important tip is to consider the size of your light fixture and not install one that is too large in a room that is too small, as it will overwhelm the space. However, it would be just as wrong to do the opposite, i.e., use a light fixture that is too small to illuminate a particularly large room, as it will not be able to provide sufficient light.

s.luce Darstellung der Kelvin Zahlen

6 tips for the right living room lighting



  • 1. Ceiling lighting in the living room is primarily suitable as basic illumination. If living room lamps are equipped with a diffuser, the light is evenly distributed throughout the room. If the living room lamp is to be installed as a pendant model, the right place is usually above the coffee table. Here High-quality ceiling lighting in the living room is also a focal point. At the same time, the coffee table is perfectly illuminated. This placement also prevents guests and taller people from bumping their heads, for example.

  • 2. By using several light sources, the living room, including the interior, can be given a new structure, while the living area can be given a more pleasant atmosphere. Fascinating moods can be created with various wall and table lamps. Different lampshades with filigree openings create interesting shadow effects as living room lamps, giving the furniture a new look. Modern living room lighting can hardly do without spot lighting, such as spotlights. Among other things, sculptures, photographs, and pictures can be accentuated effectively and elegantly. With the help of a high-quality living room lamp or an extravagant light source, shelves, sideboards, highboards, and even window sills can be illuminated as eye-catchers or points of light.

  • 3. Table lamps and often wall lights are not only practical light sources, but primarily individual decorations. Therefore, this type of living room lamp can always be more eye-catching. Since living room lamps that are chosen as table lamps and floor lamps are mobile light objects, the various designs are particularly suitable for small living areas. In addition, these rooms appear visually larger due to the different light sources. If bright elements/furniture or the white-painted ceiling are additionally illuminated by living room lamps with diffusers, their reflection also has an enlarging effect.

  • 4. Floor lamps in particular offer a variety of uses as mobile living room lamps. Flexible joints and swivel frames allow the light sources to be adjusted for individual use at any time. With their concentrated, downward-focused beam of light, floor lamps are almost indispensable as reading lights. Dimmers can be used to adjust the light intensity to the time of day. Nevertheless, a basic level of brightness should always prevail in the living room to avoid eye strain.

  • 5. In addition to ceiling lighting in the living room, indirectly installed light sources in particular create a pleasant atmosphere. Uniform illumination can be achieved, for example, with LED strips and/or recessed LED lights. Other models that are ideal for indirect lighting can be installed without any technical work. For example, retailers offer ceiling lighting for living rooms that uses special panels to refract the light rays. This creates geometric patterns on the ceiling through reflection. So-called ceiling spotlights, whose light source is located inside a light shell, indirectly illuminate the ceiling in the living area. One advantage of this lighting design is that illuminated ceilings appear significantly higher.

  • 6. Modern light sources such as LEDs offer different light colors. These can be bluish-cool or yellowish-warm, for example. The term 'Kelvin' (K) is used to designate different color temperatures. A distinction is made between three different ranges: Light colors above 5,300 Kelvin are said to aid concentration Color temperatures with a maximum of 3,300 Kelvin, should have a relaxing effect. Living room lamps equipped with a light source that has a maximum light intensity of 3,300 Kelvin are similar to the light bulbs of yesteryear or the atmosphere of cozy evenings. However, color temperatures are a matter of individual taste. A living room lamp with a neutral white light source can also provide basic lighting in the living area. Experts recommend indirect lighting with a higher Kelvin value for reading corners, for example.
s.luce Ring Stehleuchte im Wohnzimmer

Conclusion – How to do everything right!



Choosing the right living room lighting can have a big impact on the atmosphere and functionality of the room. Careful planning and selection of lighting can help to visually enlarge the room, highlight certain areas, and create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Different types of lighting, such as floor lamps, ceiling lights, and recessed spotlights, each offer their own advantages and can be adjusted as needed. Overall, it is important to consider your individual needs and style preferences when choosing living room lighting to create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.


If you are still undecided about how you want to implement lighting in your living room, feel free to make an appointment with the lighting professionals at skapetze® for a personal consultation and the development of an individual lighting concept.


You are also welcome to visit us at our lighting studio in Simbach am Inn.


If you already have a specific idea of how you want the lights in your living room to look, we can help you turn that idea into reality – our in-house workshop makes it possible.

Verena W.

Lächelnde Frau in einem modernen Meetingraum, die mit Klienten spricht und ein Tablet hält.

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