Lighting Your Living Room
The right lighting can transform a living room — shaping its atmosphere, defining its zones, and turning a functional space into one that genuinely feels like home. This guide covers everything from choosing the right size pendant to layering light sources for a scheme that works morning to night.
How to Choose the Right Size Light for Your Living Room
A wooden pendant light can be a striking focal point, especially when the design complements other elements in the room, so it is vital you choose the right size.
Size and Scale. The size of your ceiling light should correspond to the size of your living room. For smaller rooms, a design with a diameter of around 300-450mm is usually sufficient, designs such as our Shore Pendant or Artus Pendant work great. For medium-sized living rooms, a pendant between 500-700mm works well, such as our Gwenen Pendant and Skipper Pendant. Larger rooms can accommodate lighting pieces with a diameter of 800mm or more, such as our Arame Pendant or Loer Chandelier.
Hang Height. The height at which you hang your ceiling light is crucial. For standard ceilings (around 2.4-2.7 metres), the bottom of the light should hang about 2.1 metres from the floor. If you have higher ceilings, add about 75mm for each extra 300mm of additional ceiling height. This ensures the light is both functional and an aesthetically pleasing presence without obstructing the space.
For spaces with lower ceilings, a Flush Lighting Design is a great way to still excite your interior with iconic Tom Raffield design, without compromising on space.
How to Layer Lighting in a Living Room
Combine Lighting. Start with a central ceiling light for general illumination, then add task lighting in key areas. For instance, place a Stem Floor Light next to your reading chair or a Raya Table Light on a side table next to the sofa.
Highlight a piece of artwork with a wall light that creates a spotlight, such as the Stem Wall Light, or create a cosy nook with a Noctis Loer Pendant Small suspended in a once gloomy corner. This not only adds depth to the room but also draws attention to specific features you want to showcase.
Mix Materials. Don’t be afraid to mix materials in your lighting fixtures. Combining wood with ceramics or glass can create a visually interesting contrast that adds to the room’s overall aesthetic. The Norden Pendant Range and Kera Lighting Range are great examples of varying materials working together to create a beautiful design.
Choosing the Right Bulb Temperature for Your Living Room
The colour temperature of your bulbs has a surprisingly big impact on how a room feels. Warm light (around 2,000–2,700K) creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere well suited to living rooms — which is why all the bulbs we stock sit at the warmer end of the scale.
Shadow Play. Sculptural lighting designs can cast interesting patterns of light and shadow across the room, adding an artistic element. For example, the No. 1 Pendant is an intricate design can create a warm, dappled effect on the walls, perfect for intimate gatherings or quiet evenings.
Clustered Lighting. For a dynamic and visually striking effect, consider hanging a cluster of pendant lights at varying heights. This technique adds depth and dimension to the room while creating a sense of movement and artistry. It’s particularly effective in living rooms with high ceilings or large open spaces.
Posted: 06.09.24
Updated: 05.03.26