Let’s talk about the single most used (or under-used) room in the house: The Living Room. In my years of experience I have found that houses fall into two categories — ones where the living room is used and ones where it isn’t. Whether it sits filled with furniture and empty of people, or furnished and full of life, the lighting for the living room is complex.

First a quick note on furniture and lighting design. Some pieces of furniture absorb light and other reflect it. Your lighting plan needs to account for this. For example, let’s say you love having a glass coffee table, like the one in the above picture. At certain times of the day, you could be dealing with serious glare from the glass. Consider those details in your lighting plan.

I picked this picture to illustrate some good lighting technique. You’ll notice the pot lights — the ceiling light — they are unobtrusive while still doing a good job of illuminating. Recessed lighting is not always a given, but in this room it works well. The decor of the room is allowed center stage, while the interior lighting plays a supporting role. Imagine this room with a chandelier. It’s a whole different experience. Suddenly you don’t see the glorious floor to ceiling bookshelves because of the mass of crystal hanging from the ceiling.

The secondary lighting in the photograph is created with table lamps. There is a lamp beside the chair nearest the bookcase and one by the sofa, plus there is obviously a good amount of natural light available, for daytime use. The lamplight must be sufficient for the homeowner’s needs.

As we always say, lighting happens in layers. The top layer, the ceiling light, is handled by the recessed lighting. The middle layer, the wall lighting, is handled (interestingly enough) by natural light, and possibly, by the fireplace at night.  The final layer, the floor/surface, is handled by the lamps.

It is a beautiful space. Lit with expert lighting design. You can achieve the same look without the lighting expert — you’ve got us to help.