6 small living room lighting ideas | Philips Hue EN-CA (2024)

March 1, 2024

If you live in a small living room, the lack of optimal light can make it look cramped and cluttered. The easiest way to balance the aesthetics and functionality of a small space is to paint the walls stark white and install an adequate number of light sources.

Here are the top 6 small living room lighting ideas to help you choose the right lights for your place.

1. Lighting floor plan

To know how much light you really need in your living room, plan out the activities that normally happen there and think about the amount of light each activity needs. Then, you can design a spot for them and use the right amount of light. And don’t forget about mood lighting! Make sure to adjust the atmosphere of your living room for every task, mood, or occasion. Let light match your day with Philips Hue light recipes. Choose the perfect shade of warm-to-cool white light to help you, whether you’re focusing on work or relaxing with your favorite book.

Tip: Be sure to mark any features that can't move on your floor plan. Then, if you’d like to move furniture, mark out several options for where your furniture could go to make the best use of the space.

Turn the living room into Dad's personal cinema

2. Brighter light bulbs

If your bulbs aren’t already at the recommended maximum for your fixtures, get brighter bulbs. Often small rooms feel cramped because of inadequate lighting. Brighter bulbs in your light fixtures are a quick way to increase the amount of light in the room.

Tip: If your room lacks natural sunlight, swap your bulbs for smart bulbs that can easily mimic natural daylight.

6 small living room lighting ideas | Philips Hue EN-CA (1)

3. The right type of ceiling lights

Ceiling lights add more light without taking up precious floor space. The type of ceiling light you choose will depend on how you use your living room. If you and your family or friends spend most of your time in the living room relaxing on the sofa, then a hanging fixture such as a chandelier or a pendant light is probably a safe bet. But if you need the vertical space for people to walk around, a flush-mount light is perhaps best. Look for overhead lighting fixtures that either cast light up onto the ceiling or both up and down, because indirect light will spread light more evenly than direct light alone.

4. Portable light fixtures

The less you have hardwired into your walls, the more options you have to move things around. Portable fixtures will give you more control of the room because you can rearrange them at any moment. They’re also easier to adapt and customize since you don’t have to shut off the power to remove them.

Bright idea: Consider battery-powered portable lamps to enjoy the flexibility of changing the ambiance of your living room. The Hue Go portable smart light can truly go wherever you want, thanks to its built-in, rechargeable battery.

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5. Wall-washing lights

When using floor and table lamps, try directing them so the light crosses large expanses of your walls. This is called wall-washing light, and this layer can add dimension to a room. It can also work as accent lighting when highlighting features on the wall, such as art or shelves.

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Bright idea:Looking for a way to highlight your favorite piece of art? Turn the Signe gradient table lamp toward the canvas and set a colorful light scene.

6. Add Track Lighting

Track lighting is useful because it’s a single fixture that can serve multiple purposes. You could easily have some spotlights acting as wall-washing lights, some as accent lighting, and some as task lighting just by angling the heads of the light. You can find it in a variety of modern and elegant styles, and it can be as minimal or as bold as you like.

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How to set up an Entertainment area

Lighting is an important factor in creating the right atmosphere for your entertainment area. Consider adding some dimmable lights or smart bulbs that can be controlled with your voice or smartphone. This will allow you to adjust the living room lighting to suit your mood and the type of entertainment you are enjoying .

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6 small living room lighting ideas | Philips Hue EN-CA (2024)

FAQs

How do you add lights to a small living room? ›

Small living room lighting ideas - simple ways to make a room feel more spacious
  1. Layer lighting to stretch living room space. ...
  2. Add wow with clustered lighting. ...
  3. Make a stand with a stylish floor lamp. ...
  4. Consider background lighting in a TV area. ...
  5. Include lighting from different sources. ...
  6. Put the focus on living room seating.
Oct 24, 2023

How do you light a narrow living room? ›

Light It Up: Bright Ideas for Narrow Spaces

Lighting plays a crucial role in opening up a long narrow living room. Use a mix of overhead lights, floor lamps, and table lamps to create layers of light. This not only makes the room feel brighter and more spacious but also adds a warm, inviting ambiance.

What is the best lighting for a small room? ›

If you want your room to appear larger, stay away from large opaque light fittings and dark coloured shades, which will draw in a room and take up too much space. Instead, choose light or clear materials. See through materials such as clear glass and acrylic trick the eye into thinking there's more space than there is.

What is the best lighting for small spaces? ›

“Hanging lighting with narrow, elongated dimensions works wonderfully in small spaces,” says Chroma's Emily Poole, who chose these particular designs because they “both save space and accomplish an artful moment” thanks to their unusual shape and patinated brass finish.

What light fixtures make a room look bigger? ›

Pendant lights.

Like sconces, pendants come in a nearly endless variety of choices, but they have another special weapon for making a small space look bigger: their stems. Hang pendant lights down low and the long stems will make people think the room is tall and enormous.

What are the best light shades for brightness? ›

Drum - Cylinder shaped and usually open at the top and bottom, drum light shades throw light upwards and downwards to offer the brightest option for ceiling lighting.

What is the best color light for a living room? ›

Living room – The ideal lighting for the living room is a very warm white, with a color temperature lower than 3300°K. This color temperature is ideal to create a decorative lighting, ideal for a romantic dinner or to design domestic spaces which are cozy and relaxing, perfect for unwinding after a long day.

What is the standard lighting for a living room? ›

Home lighting guide and recommended light levels
Recommended lighting levels for the Homein Lux
Living rooms general50-150
Casual reading150
Study150-750
Bedroom general50-150
6 more rows
Feb 14, 2023

How many lights should be in a living room? ›

If all of this seems complicated, a good rule of thumb is to have 4 lighting sources in a living room to produce adequate lighting!

How to make a small dark living room look bigger and brighter? ›

6 quick and easy tips to add light to dark rooms:
  1. Mirror Mirror on the wall. Mirrors don't just reflect your appearance; they also bounce light back too. ...
  2. Re-expose your windows. ...
  3. Go Matt, not high-gloss. ...
  4. Use uplighters. ...
  5. Ditch the wall art. ...
  6. Decorate in white.

How can I add more light to my living room? ›

6 quick and easy tips to add light to dark rooms:
  1. Mirror Mirror on the wall. Mirrors don't just reflect your appearance; they also bounce light back too. ...
  2. Re-expose your windows. ...
  3. Go Matt, not high-gloss. ...
  4. Use uplighters. ...
  5. Ditch the wall art. ...
  6. Decorate in white.

How much does it cost to install can lights in a living room? ›

Table of Contents. Installing a recessed lighting fixture or can light costs $330 on average. Costs range from $100 to $500 depending on the trim, bulb and finish used. These fixtures sit flush with the ceiling surface and light up the area directly below.

How can I light a room without ceiling lights? ›

The most effective way to light a room with no overhead lights is by using a range of different types of lighting. From wall lights and sconces, to floor lamps and table lamps, by combining multiple light sources you can provide plenty of practical light while also creating depth and atmosphere.

How do you install a light in a living room ceiling? ›

  1. Turn off the power. Switch off any active power before installing and mounting your ceiling lamp. ...
  2. Attach the ceiling bracket. Unscrew the mounting bracket from the fixture and use the screws to attach the mounting bracket to the ceiling. ...
  3. Connect the wires to the ceiling lamp. ...
  4. Attach the ceiling lamp. ...
  5. Insert light bulb.

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