Stylish living room lighting ideas for a relaxation room that shines

Getting your living room lighting ideas spot on is essential if you want this to be a space that feels welcoming and relaxing. 

Our living rooms are the spaces which we retreat to, sprawl out and relax as a family and generally exhale – and as such they need to feel homely and intimate. However, getting the lighting design right is important for other reasons too. More and more of us are asking our living spaces to multitask these days, as we try to find space for other day-to-day activities, such as working from home and entertaining the younger members of the family. 

"When trying to achieve a particular feeling and ambience in your home, the first port of call should be lighting," says Mara Rypacek Miller, managing director and founder of Industville. "The right lights can significantly influence the mood of a space, changing the tone from vibrant and energised to intimate and relaxed, even when the rest of your decor and styling stays the same."

Our collection of the best living room lighting ideas around has something for everyone, no matter how you plan on using your living space or the overall interior design scheme you are aiming for. From contemporary lighting ideas to how to create cosy little nooks for reading or snoozing in – we have it all. 

What do you want from your living room lighting ideas?

The living room is often a space that has to be able to accommodate several different functions. Sometimes, all we require of the room is a spot to relax and chill out at the end of a long day. At other times, it needs to be able to handle the demands of a busy family evening of game playing or movie watching and, on other occasions, it might be used for entertaining guests. 

What this means is that your living room ideas should result in an area that needs to be able to adapt and lighting is one of the best ways to set a scene and create the right atmosphere. 

Before rushing out to buy your new lights, really think through how you will use the space and aim to break the area up into zones – this way you can choose the right fittings for the job. 

1. Layer up your lighting for multiple moods

Using layers of light is pretty much non-negotiable in living rooms if you want it to be adaptable in terms of the way it looks at feels – in short you want to think beyond just ceiling lighting ideas for living rooms. 

"Layering the lighting adds more interest to any room," explains Luke Thomas, design director at John Cullen Lighting. "Discreet low glare uplights can add a magical touch to window reveals or fireplaces. Then think about adding a layer of warmer lighting in the form of table lamps with shades all plugged into a 5 amp circuit. These are best when dimmed simultaneously on the same circuit and create a wonderful cosy and relaxed feel to the space."

In this striking contemporary living room, designed by Michaelis Boyd, interior and exterior lighting has been used to add interest and character. 

The space has been lit using products from John Cullen Lighting and features a selection of concealed LED lights that highlight various points on the built-in shelving that dominates one end of the space. 

Externally, lighting has been fitted into the overhang outside the glazing, drawing the eye to the deck while heightening a sense of cosiness inside. 

Luke Thomas

Luke has worked collaboratively with top designers, architects and contractors since 2008. Luke has been involved in a wide range of projects offering design-led solutions which improve our experience of spaces with lighting. 

2. Use concealed lighting for a sophisticated touch

Create drama and glamour with this living room lighting idea. The combination of concealed LED strip lighting within the ceiling recess, artfully positioned floor lamp and, of course, the light given off by the fire, all add up to one seriously intimate space. 

It is worth giving thought to how your living room lighting scheme will work at different times of the day. This scheme looks particularly great once the sun goes down – when the fireplace lighting ideas that have been put into place really come into their own. 

3. Create a cosy corner with a warm wall light

It is a good idea to create a few distinct zones within your living space – even if it is small living room ideas you are after. 

Setting aside one corner for a spot to snuggle up with a good book can easily be achieved through good lighting. A soft wall light, cosy armchair and a few shelves are all that are needed to create a reading nook you will really look forward to retreating to. 

Here, a wall light by Davey Lighting from Original BTC looks perfect against the smokey blue walls and shelves. 

4. Use your light fittings to inject some colour 

Adding colour through your light fittings is a great way to add interest to both those keen on sticking to neutral living room ideas as well as homeowners who enjoy being surrounded by brighter shades. 

This bright, zingy living room scheme has retro undertones thanks to the multi-coloured Stanley floor light from DelightFULL. It has been used as a starting point for the rest of the interior scheme, with the yellow being picked out in a sofa throw, the blue in a cushion and the green in the luxurious velvet seating. 

The adjustable 3-light floor lamp holds three boom arms meaning you can tweak where the light shines. 

5. Design a multifunctional lighting scheme

With any kind of lighting design ideas it always pays to think in layers. You need general or background lighting for everyday overall light, task lighting for activities such as reading or hobbies, and accent or mood lighting for highlighting certain features and adding intimacy and interest. 

This living room, designed by Brian Woulfe Of Interior Design Studio, Designed By Woulfe, features a selection of lights from John Cullen Lighting including downlights and hidden LED lights.

6. Make your lighting the focal point of the room

Using a statement central pendant is a fantastic lighting design idea in the living room, ensuring the space has character. It is an idea that works particularly well in living rooms with high ceilings, or for those after lighting ideas for vaulted ceilings, where the space can sometimes feel a little cavernous.

Here, the tangled twiggy form of the light is highlighted even more thanks to the contrasting wall colour – Aubusson Blue from Annie Sloan.

7. Create a smart space with symmetrical lighting

Symmetrical living room layout ideas can work really well, lending a sense of calm and order that can really help with a soothing feel.

There is a pleasing symmetry to this living room – this is partly down to the positioning of the furniture and built-in alcove shelving. However, the matching lamps on either side of the fireplace, along with the central space-age style pendant heighten the look – fun but formal. 

8. Use modern chandeliers for a glamorous look

If you want a luxurious look that still fits in with your modern living room ideas, think about investing in an updated chandelier or two. 

"If you want to create a real impact in your living room and still keep things cosy and inviting, a modern chandelier is the way to go," agrees Mara Rypacek Miller. "Modern chandeliers and cluster lights combine numerous pendants in one fixture for a stunning focal point."

This living room might be decorated in sophisticated calming neutral shades of cream and cocoa, but the lighting ensures the space is anything but bland. 

Two Ike suspension lamps from DelightFULL hang either side of the coffee table ensuring an even spread of light, while a sleek floor lamp adds an intimate feel in one corner.

Mara Rypacek Miller

Mara leads a creative revolution in sustainable interior design and is the industrious founder of Industville, the place for handcrafted Lighting, Interiors, and Art. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to eco-conscious craftsmanship, Mara has propelled Industville to the forefront of the industry, where each design tells a story of timeless elegance and environmental responsibility.

9. Highlight your decorative touches with side lamps

Your choice of lighting can really help ensure all eyes are on your carefully-chosen finishing touches, whether that is a selection of decorative objects artfully positioned on your shelves or a rug you want to make the focal point of the space. In short, when you have put so much effort into your living room design, you want nothing to be missed.

In this charming room, the subtle design of the wall light from Original BTC helps draw the eye to the warm rusty red patterned wallpaper as well as the whimsical design of the sofa. 

10. Use matching designs for a cohesive look

Using the same style light in different forms is a brilliant way to ensure a cohesive look in your living room and works particularly well for those interested in minimalist living room ideas. 

Here, the wall light, floor lamp and table lamp are all from the Hector 30 range by Original BTC. Using several different types of lamp is also a great living room lighting idea because it allows you to highlight individual elements without the whole look appearing messy – here the armchair, fireplace and architectural mouldings are all allowed to shine. 

11. Don't be afraid to hang pendants off-centre

Want to know how to create a professional lighting scheme that really adds something to your cosy living room ideas? One of the golden rules is to use several different light sources in the room rather than relying on one single main light source – a look that can seem cold and soulless. 

It is also nice to buck the more formal, symmetry often used for lighting and hang pendants off-centre – here the low-slung pendant from Nedgis gives one end of the sofa top spot and the best place to relax (a sense enhanced by the side table too).

Note how the wall colour is picked up in the light fittings too for a pleasing, cohesive look. 

12. Opt for a contemporary take on the chandelier

Although chandeliers are often though of as being a little fussy or very traditional in their design, there are many contemporary options out there too – as this Oxford Double Chandelier from Original BTC shows. 

Its eye-catching design off-sets the high ceilings, while its crisp lines are further highlighted thanks to the moody wall colour and rustic tan floor covering. 

13. Introduce a touch of nature with wicker fittings

The living room is the perfect space in which to consider introducing a few biophilic design principles. A simple way to do this is to bring in some touches of nature by using raw materials and some greenery.

Wicker and rattan accessories are the perfect way to ensure a fresh, natural feel in the home – and one of our favourite living room lighting ideas is for oversized wicker light shades, hung low over sofas laden with tactile cushions and throws. 

"Embrace an organic, natural look for a softer, more rustic feel," suggests Mara Rypacek Miller. "Lighting shades with rounded profiles work well here, reducing any sense of harshness and balancing the sharp edges of your living room.

"Handcrafted living room lights that use softer shapes and natural materials make beautiful additions to your space, especially if your interiors already incorporate other natural materials and handmade items throughout."

Shown here is the Coastal Rattan Ceiling Light from Industville.

14. Create colour contrast with your lighting

As well as illuminating a space, lighting also has the power to contribute to a living room colour scheme.

From shimmering metallic shades and fittings, to bright coloured bulbs, your living room lighting ideas need not be conservative. Think about how they will tie in with your living room paint ideas and consider choosing designs that sit in contrast to make them really stand out. 

Here, a crisp white Oxford Double Wall Light from Original BTC sits in complete contrast to the black wall colour ensuring both wall and light are focal points in the space. 

15. Instantly create a focal point with your lighting

Your lighting is one of the best ways to draw all eyes to a particular architectural feature or item of furniture. This is great news for anyone looking to liven up an otherwise fairly bland scheme. 

"It is important to create focus within any room as part of your living room lighting scheme," says Luke Thomas. "Quite often the simplest way to achieve this in a living room is to pin point a coffee table or decorative object with a narrow beam of light." 

In this bold living room scheme, the sofa, from Snug Sofa, takes centre stage thanks to the oversized floor lamp. 

Three of our favourite living room pendant lights

FAQs

Should I hire a lighting designer?

Lighting design is not as simple as it might first seem – get it wrong and the entire feel of a space can be ruined.

"If you’re building a dream home from scratch, a lighting designer is essential. It would be a great waste to opt for a basic lighting scheme," points out Luke Thomas. "Your designer or contractor may suggest a simple grid of downlights, but a lighting designer will offer a much more creative scheme layering with light and using wall lights, floor lights, architectural illuminations, gentle wash lighting, strong accent lighting, pendants, and decorative lights."

Should I avoid ceiling lights in a living room?

While a single pendant, placed centrally in the living room is unlikely to do much for the overall ambiance of the space, there is still a place for ceiling lights – just think of them as part of a greater overall scheme and be sure to include a wall light or two.

"The living room isn’t all about ceiling lights; in fact, incorporating smaller living room wall lights is a great way to bring subtle moments of warmth into your interior," explains Mara Rypacek Miller. "Wall lights can be used to shine focused light on your favourite reading spot or can act as attractive accents, offering another layer of light and shadow.

"Swan neck wall lights will provide a particularly elegant look, working to give your living room an additional element of softness," continues Mara. "Sconces and wall-mounted lights are also brilliant space-savers, freeing up floor or side table real estate that has previously been taken up by lamps."

Many of the principles that can be applied to living rooms are also worth bearing in mind when it comes to your bedroom lighting ideas. This is a space that, like your living room, needs to be adaptable, so thinking in layers is once again a good way forward.