Which lamp to choose for the living room?
Lighting plays a key role in every room, and is especially important in the living room, where you spend a lot of time every day. Light complements the entire interior, highlights all the most important elements and emphasizes the beauty of the arrangement. Lamps for the living room may seem like just an addition, something small and not very important, something that is chosen at the very end and in a hurry. Nothing could be further from the truth! Well-chosen lighting and its setting will make the room visually complete and perfectly composed with the other elements of the arrangement. You can see this when decorating the living room. Without a lamp, it will seem that something is missing, and this feeling will not disappear until the right lampshade, chandelier or wall lamp appears. In this guide, we will give you some tips on what to consider when choosing a lamp for the living room and what lighting will work best.
Lighting by type of living room
It doesn't matter if the living room is large, small, cozy, austere, connected to another room or separated - each of them requires an individual selection of lamps, not only taking into account the interior design, but also the taste and preferences of the residents. Unconventional solutions will allow you to express yourself and emphasize the expressiveness of the owners' characters. This will make you want to spend your free time there. It will also have a positive effect on invited guests, who will feel comfortable and cozy.
Living room in a block of flats
There are many types of living rooms and you need to know what lamps to use for each of them. The first type is a small living room in a block of flats. Since its size is modest, it is worth visually enlarging it. There are several effective and proven tricks for this. A clever solution is to install a few decorative mirrors in the interior. They will not only optically enlarge the room, but also brighten it! It is also worth betting on light wall colours and light furniture. Ceiling lighting will be a very good choice for a living room in a block of flats, which will blend in with the arrangement prevailing there. A lighting assistant in the form of a floor lamp will undoubtedly add coziness. The best place for it will be next to an armchair or sofa, where it will be the perfect companion for evening reading. Small living rooms need the best possible use of every free space, which is why they are often a place of relaxation and work at the same time. If your living room also serves as an office, it is worth considering an additional lamp that can be placed on a desk or another workspace.
Living room with dining room
Another frequently encountered model is a living room combined with a dining room. In such a case, it is good to separate these two zones from each other in some way by arranging furniture appropriately. You can also use a regular carpet or even a screen to precisely mark the boundary. It turns out, however, that you can do this just as well with a lamp! Just hang it exactly above the table. This small change will make it visible from a distance which part is intended for eating meals and which for post-meal rest.
Living room with kitchenette
What lighting should you use in a living room with a kitchenette? Two types will work well here: traditional ceiling lamps and slightly more modern spotlights. The latter are worth installing next to kitchen furniture, because they will not only effectively emphasize their elegant appearance, but they will also not take up much space and can be easily fitted, even if the space is small. At first glance, spotlights may seem inconspicuous, but the light from them is impressive, so evening cooking will not be a problem. As for ceiling lamps, they will play their role best in the lounge area due to the delicate, warm and soft light that will create a nice and relaxing atmosphere.
What types of lighting are there in a living room?
Of course, much depends on the style in which the living room is decorated and its size. In a small room, you will not need such intensive lighting as in a spacious room, while heavy and powerful lampshades will reduce the space, which may be a beneficial and elegant effect in wide living rooms, but not necessarily in small ones. Therefore, you need to consider every aspect when choosing the right lamp in the living room . There are several types, which we will briefly discuss and try to describe where they will work best.
Ceiling lights
When decorating your living room, it is not worth leaving the choice of lamp until the very end. It must be completely consistent with the style prevailing in the interior and visually harmonize with the size of the room. For this reason, long and fashionable lamps, in which you can freely adjust the height by wrapping the cable around a special beam, will work perfectly in large and, above all, high rooms. This model will work great in all modern and minimalist interiors and in spaces decorated in a vintage style. For people who have a slightly smaller space or want to decide on something more classic, ceiling lamps or lamps that are located close to the ceiling will be perfect. Thanks to this solution, the effect of opulence will be avoided.
When it comes to hanging lamps , it is impossible not to mention ceiling spotlights, which, unlike classic lamps, focus light only on individual parts of the room, making it easy to highlight them and draw the attention of guests to them (e.g., wall decorations such as photo frames, posters or diplomas can be illuminated), while those parts of the living room that are better hidden will cease to be so visible. There are many types of spotlights on the market, so you will easily choose the right model for both a modern interior and one maintained in the Provencal, industrial or vintage style.
Floor lamps
This type of lamp is mainly associated with a long frame standing on the floor with a lampshade at the end, but this type also includes small models placed on a table or desk and bedside lamps. Over the past few years, this type of lighting has gained enormous popularity due to its modern look and functionality. Their biggest advantage is their small size and movability, thanks to which they can be placed anywhere and changed according to your needs. This type of lamp is also characterized by a wealth of patterns, textures and shapes, thanks to which you can easily match a specific model to your living room. The lighting in the living room should not be too strong or too bright. This is a part of the house that is reserved for rest, and it has been proven that people relax best in warm and soft light. Therefore, it is worth turning off the main lighting in the evenings, and turning on the less intense one from the table lamp standing on the table or coffee table. This will create a unique atmosphere that allows you to spend time carefree in front of the TV or read your favorite book.
Living room lighting and its style
If your living room is decorated in a boho style, where bright colors and natural materials dominate, then a lamp with a lampshade made of rattan will undoubtedly be a bull's eye. It will perfectly emphasize the entire arrangement and fit into the whole. Another interesting option is a model with golden, but unobtrusive elements.
Another fashionable style is Scandinavian, which often uses cool and austere colors and decorations. In this case, it is worth choosing dark lamps, preferably black ones with minimalist shades. The contrast introduced then will add elegance and modernity to the room.
And what lamp will be the best fit for a retro living room ? The best one is one that has a wide and distinctive lampshade that will draw attention but will not overwhelm the other elements of the arrangement.
