GUIDES
How to layer light in a living room
One ceiling light is rarely enough. Good living-room lighting is built in layers, each with a job.
Three layers
- Ambient — the general light of the room: ceiling fittings, wall lights or a large floor lamp bouncing light off the ceiling.
- Task — light to read or work by: a floor or table lamp at the right height beside seating.
- Accent — light that highlights: art, plants, a textured wall or a shelf.
Keep colour temperature consistent
Warm white (about 2700–3000K) suits living rooms. Mixing very different temperatures in one room looks accidental; choose one and stick with it.
Dim everything you can
Dimmers let a single room serve breakfast, homework and a quiet evening. If you can only do one upgrade, add dimmers to the main circuits.
Place light at different heights
A room lit only from the ceiling feels flat. Add lamps at table and floor height so light pools where people sit, as in our Room to breathe and Composed light projects.
Use daylight as the first layer
Keep windows clear and use sheer, light-filtering curtains so the natural light of day is the foundation of your scheme.
Lighting is part of every interior shown in our projects.
