Lighting the Living Room

Before you decide upon lighting from a decorative viewpoint, you must decide upon the location of the furniture and furnishings. The center of family activity, the living room, is also the place for entertaining guests. Soft, pleasant light for conversation and listening to music can be provided by the use of hanging lamps or ceiling fixtures, window valances, cove lighting or recessed fixtures.

For television viewing, a soft over-all illumination is needed. It reduces the sharp contrast between the lighted screen produced by the TV and the darkness of the room, which causes discomfort and eyestrain. Wall or valance lighting is particularly effective as long as it does not reflect in the TV screen. Having a dimmer switch for your general illumination works just as great as you can reduce general illumination to 50% whenever watching television.

Light for reading may be produced by hanging reel-type lamps, accent lights or wall lights. It is a good idea to make provisions for accent lighting of unusual pieces in the living room, such as a piano, an antique table or chair, paintings or a big decorative jar.