Living Room Lighting Guide

MODERN LIGHTING

If you've got a contemporary living room, then it is probably a good idea to offset it with modern lighting. This can mean anything from ceiling lights to a contemporary chandelier. One key point to consider is that the living room's main light, whether it be a chandelier or a hanging light, should be placed in a way that it doesn't create too much shadow; a modern chandelier may be the key to creating a pleasant atmosphere. 
Elsewhere, to give the impression of spaciousness, it's a good idea to consider placing floor lamps in corners or on shelves, and don't forget about your pictures or art, they could do with some illumination from some low voltage picture lights that could be mounted on the picture frame or the wall.

Traditional

Lighting

Lighting your living room in a traditional style can give your room an effortlessly sophisticated style that may be hard to replicate with more modern options. Traditional crystal chandeliers are obviously a great option as they provide a focal point for the room, but be sure to consider the dimensions of your space.

You don't want the chandelier to appear too overbearing. Elsewhere, it's a good idea to consider sconces and lamps to illuminate the areas the chandelier misses and don't forget about dimmers: a dimmer switch is hugely important if your main lighting is in the middle of the room as they enable you to achieve the exact type of ambience you're after.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is great if you've got a living room that's made up of zones. In most living rooms today, zoning is important as it brings definition to different areas. Considering that living rooms are for more than just lounging, task lighting can bring illumination to different work areas.

It may be worth thinking about built-in lights that enable you to angle a flow of light onto a work area. For good task lighting, it may be worth considering an orb chandelier or desk and side table lamps to bring light to different zones of the living room.

Accent Lighting

Once you've got your main and task lighting complementing each other, you might want to think about the features of the room you wish to highlight.

Accent lighting is a great way to do this as it brings attention to an artwork or book collection.
 
You can create effective accent lighting with recessed track lighting along with cove or valance lights. It could also be achieved with small lamps or even string lights.

Letting it flow

Having disjointed light fixtures and fittings can sometimes detract from the overall impression of a living room. In this case, it's a good idea to think about your living room's flow. By simply using the same fixtures in adjoining rooms, you're able to create continuity. Having matching fixtures can make your design feel well planned out.