Your living room is the playground for all the family. No other room has to be so versatile. The demands on lighting for the living room are formidable.

Living rooms can be made more dramatic and inviting with lighting. There is no other room in the home to compare with the living room as regards the number and diversity of the activities taking place there.

Lighting Solution

Talking, reading, and watching television are the main ones, but writing and, of course, eating can take place in the same room. In fact, the living room is the very heart of the home, which is sufficient reason to light it well. Because of its many different uses, the keynotes of the lighting must be flexibility combined with aesthetics. There should be light fittings for all occasions, and it should be possible to use them all, or only a few at a time, at any chosen brightness and intensity according to the needs of the moment.

Consider the lighting as a series of layers. Start with main lighting, but make this slightly dimmer than required. This can then be supplemented with other light points, some for effect, some for specific tasks, for example a brighter light behind the sofa for reading or sewing. It is sensible to use a number of side or table lamps which can be used to fill in light where and when it is required. The use of soft, coloured bulbs in this kind of fitting can really enhance your colour scheme. Spotlights should never be forgotten. Well directed at a particular feature, they can add a real sense of style and elegance. Planning your lighting in your living room allows you to control the mood changes - from the purely practical to the highly sophisticated and elegant.