Lighting the Living Room

Choosing a lamp for your living room can be tough.  It’s easy to go too big or too small, too much light or not enough.  These tips will help you make the right decision and end up with a lamp that is both attractive and functional.

Photo: House Beautiful

1. There should be a lamp every 10 feet to provide adequate light for the room.   Wherever someone will be reading or making conversation, place a lamp of 60 watts.  In areas where people will gather, opt for glass or crystal bases.  They will make the area seem open and inviting.

2. Choose lamps with heavy bases.  Living rooms are high traffic areas and there are many opportunities for lamps to be knocked off tables by mingling guests, rowdy children, pets, etc.  Lamps of substantial weight are less likely to be knocked over.

3. Living Room lamps should be 24 – 36 inches high, however make sure that you can not see up into the lamp when seated next to it.  Looking at hardware is not appealing!  Also, make sure the proportion of the lamp does not overwhelm or become dwarfed by the surface on which it sits.

4. A fabric shade will cast the warmest light and will be the most flattering to those in the room.

5. The living room is somewhere you can use unique, statement lamps.  Feel free to be bold and pick an interesting vase, an unexpected color, a one of a kind shape.

Following these tips will help you choose a lamp that will add both light and aesthetics to your living room.