These Are the 5 Living Room Lighting Mistakes to Avoid – and the Stylish Things Designers Always Do Instead
Avoid these 5 mistakes for a warm, cozy, and comforting living room this fall
A living room isn't complete without a considered lighting scheme. Going beyond the basics of overhead lighting is what's going to give you that warm, inviting feeling that's all the more important as we go into fall and winter. The key to living room lighting is layering; it should provide a soft, enduring glow to each and every corner of the space.
On the flip side, living rooms that rely on one light source, neglect color temperature, or lack technical solutions feel stark, fall flat, and almost always lack the appeal that cozy living spaces naturally exude. These are the five biggest living room lighting mistakes you should avoid, no matter your interior design style or square footage.
1. Relying on Recessed Lighting
Instead of relying on recessed lighting, scatter plenty of different light sources at different levels throughout your living room.
The big light debate is always an ongoing one, but regardless of your stance, you can never rely on just one overhead lighting source in a living room. Whether it's in the form of recessed spotlights or a single pendant light, it almost always feels stark and severe in rooms designed for relaxing.
'The fastest way to kill a living room vibe is by relying on overhead lighting,' says interior designer Jennifer Jones of Niche Interiors. 'Whether it's recessed cans or one singular fixture. Recessed lights cast unflattering shadows and often have a cooler color tone.'
Instead, scatter multiple types of light, whether that be lamps, pendants, or sconces. The first 'layer' should be ambient lighting, which illuminates the entire room. Next comes task lighting, which can be used to create cozy spots for reading or playing games. The final layer (the fun part) is accent lighting, which crowns the scheme. For example, a wall sconce above a nook or a portable table lamp gracing a side table.
2. Choosing the Wrong Color Temperature
Always consider the lighting temperature in your living room to avoid a cold or flat feel.
Don't forget lighting temperature basics. 'I see this a lot, and it's a very simple tweak to make the space look warmer and more inviting vs. harsh, bright daylight temperature,' says Izabela Marino, Director of Interior Design and Associate Principal, GKV Architects. 'I tend to keep the bulbs in living rooms at 2700K and keep the color temperature cohesive throughout the space.'
'Pay attention to the tones of the room,' adds Betsy Traube, founder of Modern Remains Studio. 'If the color schemes of the room are warmer, pair that with a warmer light temperature, and vice versa. If there is natural light coming into the room, then a great way to layer in appropriate color temperature lighting is to use 3000 Kelvin (close to natural light) color temperature for the overall lighting.'
'Again, if the color scheme is warmer, you can always use warmer bulbs for lamp lighting and create a cozier feel in the evening hours. The mistake you want to avoid here is losing the effect of fabrics and textures chosen specifically for the space by not lighting it at its best.'
3. Not Using Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches will allow you to tailor the vibe depending on the time of day.
'Not using dimmers on light fixtures prevents you from turning the space from a bright light to ambient, intimate dinner lighting. It is one simple upgrade all rooms can benefit from,' says Izabela.
'Layers of light, on dimmers and separate circuits, will allow you to switch between bright light needed for cleaning to softer levels for a relaxing mood,' says Sally Storey of John Cullen Lighting on creating the right mood.
'Start by swapping out the light bulbs with warmer versions in the 2,700-3,000 K range and always use a dimmer to tone down the brightness,' advises Jennifer. 'Layer in ambient lighting closer to eye level – shaded table lamps and floor lamps placed evenly throughout a room will provide a soft, even glow and encourage relaxation.'
4. Neglecting Scale
Consider the size of your living room and layer various-sized lighting sources for a cozy feel.
Scale in interior design is always important. In the case of lighting, it can make all the difference between a scheme that feels well-balanced and one that feels mismatched and awkward.
Wall lights should accent your living room rather than dominate, while pendants should catch the eye but not overwhelm the space. 'A common living room lighting mistake is to use incorrectly scaled decorative fixtures,' says Betsy. 'This can be a huge distraction to the overall space. I have been in homes where the decorative fixtures are so large that they end up becoming similar to a flush mount in order to fit the space. Similarly, fixtures that are too small can disappear and lose the desired effect.'
'Take stock of the decorative fixtures and see if they are doing their jobs. Are the lamps incorrectly placed to be effective? Is the chandelier scaled correctly?' adds Betsy.
5. Sticking To One Level of Lighting Throughout the Day
A living room has different lighting needs depending on the time of day.
'All too often living room lighting tends to be a single pendant light, this kind of lighting blankets a space with one kind of illumination which can often be too harsh,' advises Tom Rutt, founder of TR Studio. 'Having a mix of lighting at different levels and ideally on dimmers will allow flexibility so that the amount of light or the direction of the illumination can be adjusted depending upon the time of day.'
Consider how the light changes throughout the day when considering where to position lamps. You want to create impact without overdoing it. If you've ever asked yourself 'how do I make my living room cozy with lighting?' the answer lies in various levels of lighting.
'Think about flexible light sources for different situations: a floor light with a swivel arm is ideal as an evening reading lamp behind a sofa or chair, says Hollie Moreland, creative director of David Hunt Lighting. 'Remember that shade colors can affect the mood of a room, so for added ambiance, choose darker moody tones which will feel cozier.'
The Living Room Lighting Edit
Avoiding common living room lighting mistakes will ensure your space feels layered, lived-in, and forever comforting, no matter the time of day, season, or occasion. Always introduce multiple types of lighting and consider the size and style of your space before committing to new pieces.
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