Lighting 101 - How to select the right lighting fixture for your Living Room

Hello friends,

Today, it's the Living Room that's owning the stage. If you missed my posts on Lighting options for your Dining Room and Entryway/Foyer, just click on the links. Lots of great tips and inspiring interiors.

OK. I think we can all agree by now that lighting can dramatically change the look and feel of a room. The question is: With so many lighting options out there, what's the best option for your living room?

Let's see: chandelier, pendants, floor lamps, table lamps, sconces...

I'll start with the overhead lighting options. If your living room gets a lot of natural light, you may be able to skip overhead lighting altogether.  But, if that's not the case, a chandelier or a pendant (usually placed in the middle of the seating space) will not only provide the needed light but will help define the space. As featured in the images below.

Now, what about accent lighting? A table or floor lamp on either side of your sofa or sectional or between two chairs can create a cosy atmosphere while serving as task lighting needed for reading, writing, etc...

Let's not forget wall lights or sconces. They can be very useful to highlight an area, a piece of art, or simply as an additional light source for either ambiance or task lighting.