Which ceiling light for the living room - the buying guide

Choosing the right ceiling light for your living room is more than just a matter of taste—it has a significant impact on the atmosphere, functionality, and design of your home. At skapetze®, you will not only find a huge selection of stylish ceiling lights, but also the advice you need to make exactly the right decision.

In this guide, we show you step by step how to choose the perfect ceiling light for your living room and introduce you to the most popular types of lights and their advantages.

The living room is the heart of your home. It is the place where you relax, spend time with your family, entertain friends, or simply unwind. The ceiling light for your living room must therefore be versatile, functional, and, above all, atmospheric. It should provide enough light without glare and fit harmoniously into your interior design concept.

Before you decide When choosing a ceiling light, it's worth taking a quick look at three key criteria: How much

light do

you

need

, how big is your living room, and what colors and materials dominate your interior design? These three elements will help you find a light that is both functional and visually perfect for your space.

The right brightness plays a key role in creating the right lighting mood. Depending on how you use your living room, you will need different amounts of light. If you want to read, play or work in it, you will need more light. For relaxed evenings or an atmospheric movie night, emits a warm, subdued light.

• Active use (e.g., playing, working): Bright light with approx. 3,000–5,000 lumens
• Comfortable use (e.g., watching TV, relaxing): 1,000–2,000 lumens are often sufficient
• Flexible use: Dimmable lights or models with CCT technology allow adjustment depending on the time of day and mood

Would you prefer bright, active light for working or warm, dimmed light for relaxing?

• Bright light: Ideal for living rooms, studies, or family areas.
• Dimmable lights: Perfect for atmospheric evenings.
• Color temperature control: Use smart lights to adjust the light color depending on the time of day and your mood.

The size of the room is a decisive factor when choosing the right ceiling light. Depending on the size of the room, different sized lights are recommended:

• Small living rooms (up to 15 m²): Compact, flat ceiling lights or small pendant lights with a diameter of approx. 30–40 cm are ideal here. They provide sufficient basic brightness without visually overwhelming the room.
• Medium-sized living rooms (15–25 m²): Ceiling lights with a diameter of 40–60 cm or multi-flame models are suitable here, as they provide even illumination and are visually well suited to the size of the room.
• Large living rooms (25 m² and above): Large, expansive lights with diameters of 60 cm or more, or several combined light sources (e.g., a main light plus spotlights or floor lamps) are necessary here to achieve harmonious illumination while making a stylish statement.

Tip: For large rooms, we recommend a combination of a main light and additional light sources such as floor lamps or LED strips to

Ceiling lights should not only provide light, but also make a real style statement. The colors and materials in the room play a key role here—the more harmoniously the light matches the wall colors, furniture, and textiles, the more coherent the overall feel of the room will be. 

The look of your ceiling light should be based on the colors and materials in your living room. Wood, concrete, glass, fabric, or metal: depending on your prevailing style, you can make a statement with the right ceiling light or deliberately keep things understated.

Examples:

• Scandinavian: White, simple lights made of wood and fabric
• Industrial: Black or copper-colored lights Metal
• Boho: Natural materials such as rattan, linen, or raffia

Here we present the most popular models:

Modern, energy-efficient all-rounders. They provide plenty of light, are often dimmable, and are available in a wide variety of designs. Ideal for families like the Graf family, who value durability and functionality.

Advantages:

• Energy-efficient & Durable
• Many models with CCT & Dimming function
• Flat design for low ceilings

Lumen tips for different needs:

• Small living rooms (up to 15 m²): 1,000–2,000 lumens are usually sufficient
• Medium-sized living rooms (15–25 m²): 2,000–4,000 lumens recommended
• Large living rooms (25 m² and above): 4,000 lumens and above, possibly in combination with other light sources

Make sure that the lumen specification refers to the total light output and that you can adjust it as needed using dimmable technology or in combination with other lights.

Soft light and a cozy atmosphere. Perfect for cozy evenings or as a stylish addition to modern interior design concepts.

Advantages:

• Warm, glare-free light
• Numerous colors & designs
• Ideal for Scandinavian or classic looks

A real statement piece in the living room. Whether futuristic, geometric, or floral—designer lights add accents and emphasize your personal style.

Advantages:

• Eye-catching & Stylistic device
• Individual shapes & Materials
• Can be combined with ambient lighting

Not just an eye-catcher above the dining table! Pendant lights can also create a dynamic effect and enhance the space when placed centrally in the living room.

Advantages:

• Vertical design element
• Height-adjustable & Versatile
• Particularly decorative with high ceilings

Flexibly adjustable spotlights allow you to illuminate specific areas such as the couch, reading chair, or bookshelf.

Advantages:

• Practical Targeted
• Modern design
• Ideal for accent lighting

Modern ceiling lights offer many features today:

• Dimmable via remote control or app
• Smart home compatibility (e.g., Philips Hue or Tuya)
• Daylight control
• Color change function

Smart functions are a strong selling point, especially for tech-savvy customers.

Whether functional, atmospheric, or design-oriented: the selection of ceiling lights is huge. Choose a model that suits your room size, lighting needs, and style.

Our tip: Get individual advice from our experts or make an appointment with our lighting designers. This way, you are guaranteed to find the right solution.

Discover now: Select living room ceiling lights at skapetze® 

With lighting from skapetze®, your living room will become an oasis of well-being – stylish, functional, and unique.

Your skapetze® team