The living room is the heart of your harmonious home. But which lighting concept works best to turn the space into a true oasis of comfort? Here, you'll find practical tips and ideas to help you put your living room in the best light. Above all, it should be one thing: cosy.
Creating a functional yet cosy living space depends heavily on good lighting. In the living room, we relax, read, play with the kids, enjoy movie nights, and entertain guests.
This article will guide you through the many possibilities for lighting planning: from general lighting and stylish accents to the benefits of energy-saving solutions and smart lighting controls.
General lighting in the living room
The foundation of any well-thought-out lighting concept is general lighting. How you implement it depends on factors such as the size of your space. For smaller living rooms, a central ceiling light might suffice. Larger spaces might require multiple lamps distributed across the ceiling.
The right number of ceiling lights for the living room
You’ll need four to five light sources for every 20 square meters, depending on their brightness. Consider your room’s furnishings: lighter furniture reflects light, while darker pieces absorb it and make the room feel dimmer.
Positioning ceiling lights in the living room
Before planning your lighting, check where power outlets and switches are located. Also, think about your furniture arrangement to avoid sitting in the dark on the sofa or leaving the kids' play corner underlit.
Light accents: How to make your living room lighting cosier
Once the general lighting is set, it’s time to add accents. There are several ways to achieve this.
Direct lighting in the living room
Direct lighting creates contrasts, casts shadows, and provides brightness. Use it to highlight your coffee table, showcase decorative furniture, or illuminate artwork.
Indirect lighting in the living room
To balance things out, incorporate indirect lighting. It emits warmer light, softens the ambiance, and creates a cosy atmosphere, especially in the evening when you want your eyes to relax. Indirect lighting is particularly helpful for reducing eye strain.
Living room lighting: The perfect mix
A good balance between general lighting, striking accents, and indirect light ensures that your living room doesn’t feel like a dim pub or a sterile waiting room. Candles can add even more ambience.
How about a reading corner?
A cosy reading nook is a must in a comfortable living room. Floor lamps with adjustable positions and dimmer switches are ideal. Wall lamps can also work wonders. Consider the amount of natural light available in your chosen spot. If it's limited, opt for a stronger light source.
Remember, lighting needs vary with age – older individuals often need more light for reading. For dual-purpose spaces, such as home office areas, ensure there’s enough brightness to protect your eyes.
Energy-efficient living room lighting
Saving energy is not only good for your wallet but also for the environment. Dimmer switches can help by letting you use less light when full brightness isn’t needed. Motion detectors are another useful addition, ensuring lights only turn on when you enter the room.
LED lamps are highly recommended for energy efficiency. They last longer and use significantly less power than traditional bulbs. Replace halogen lamps with LEDs – it’s a worthwhile investment.
Smart lighting control in the living room
With so many different lighting options in the living room, it can be challenging to keep track. Plus, you probably want to avoid walking around the room every evening to turn off all the lights before going to bed.
This is where smart solutions come into play, such as lighting control from Gira. It is an integral part of both the Gira KNX system and the Gira System 3000.
The foundation of the KNX system is a green cable, which is installed alongside standard wiring during new builds or renovations. The heart of the system is the Gira X1 server.
Once the system is installed, you can use the Gira Smart Home App for KNX to manage your entire lighting setup comfortably from your sofa. Turn lights on and off with a tap or create the perfect colour effects to match your music.
The Gira System 3000 is ideal if you want to retrofit your smart home without laying new cables. This wireless system also lets you create schedules, eliminating the need to use any switches at all. Of course, voice control is also an option.
The finishing touch: Stylish switches and sockets for your living room
To complete your lighting concept, don’t forget to choose the right sockets and switches. These have long been available in a wide variety of colours and designs, allowing you to perfectly coordinate your lighting and control elements.
A great option is the modular Gira System 55, which offers seven design lines and over 90 frame designs. Whether black, white, copper, chrome, round, square – or a mix of everything – there’s something to suit every taste.
Feel free to try out our Gira Design Configurator to find the combination that best matches your home.
Inspiration for your living room lighting
Get inspired by various interior styles and ideas for your living room lighting. Here are some suggestions for your living room space.
Drama, baby! Bold lamps to make a statement
One of the lighting trends is extravagant individual pieces that not only provide light but also serve as decorative objects. These could be small, decorative table lamps or striking, sculptural lamps that create a focal point in the room.
Hygge cosiness from Denmark
Hygge embraces minimalism and natural materials, focusing on the small joys of life. Warm lighting tones transport you to a Scandinavian winter evening.
Japanese paper designs
Combine Scandinavian hygge with Japanese wabi-sabi in the Japandi style. Paper lamps add subtle brightness and an understated elegance to any space.
Transform your living room into an oasis
Whether it’s cleverly chosen general lighting, harmonious light accents, or smart lighting control, the possibilities are nearly endless, giving you the freedom to be creative.
Choose your preferred colour temperature, use sculptural lamps as eye-catchers, highlight specific pieces of furniture, and take advantage of smart energy-saving solutions.
You might want to create a cosy reading nook, light up a play area, or add some illumination to a workspace in your living room. One thing is certain: with the right lighting, you’ll see your living room in a completely new light.
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