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Living room lighting plays an important role in the functionality and aesthetics of the space. Living room lights can therefore make or break a room, so it’s important to know how best to incorporate them. In this article, we’ll discuss living room and lounge lights and how to get them right.
Benefits of Living Room Wall Lights
Living room wall lights tend to be overlooked when designing the lighting in a room. They are an effective way to provide ambient light and accent light alike. Beyond that, they can serve as decorations in their own right.
If you have a plain wall that you find lackluster and boring, you can add lounge wall lights to shake it up a bit. Wall lights come in a variety of styles and sizes, and there will always be one that is perfect for your space.
Furthermore, they can be used as accent and mood lighting. Wall lights with a wall-washing factor spread light onto the surface behind them, providing indirect mood lighting.
They can also enhance any textures on the wall itself and draw attention to architectural features. Using wall sconces for living room spaces can be used to create a focal point that adds visual interest to the space.
Living room wall lighting is also an excellent choice for smaller rooms. You can avoid installing floor lamps and table lamps which would ultimately take up precious real estate and cause clutter. They are a great space-saving solution for your specific needs.
Why Using Dimmable Wall Lighting Is a Good Idea
Dimmable wall lights are the perfect addition to any room but especially a living room. With dimmable fixtures, you stay in control of the light level in the room throughout the entire day.
Different moments call for different light levels, and dimmable lights afford you that versatility. Whether you’re hosting a party, reading a book, watching TV with the family or getting ready for bed, dimmable lights provide the perfect illumination.
Similarly, a dimmable living room wall light fixture can enhance your overall comfort. Dimmer lights tend to be easier on the eyes, so you can relax at night. If you require more light for tasks, you can turn the brightness up to prevent eye strain. Adjustments like this may also help keep your circadian rhythm in check.
Lights that dim also come with the perk of being more energy efficient. When you dim wall-mounted lights, you are consuming much less electricity. This results in a general decrease in energy use and lower electricity bills.
With lower energy consumption, you can also extend the lifespan of the light bulbs. Full brightness can wear out the bulbs sooner and even be a detriment to less-sturdy fixtures. Dimmer lights go easier on both, so you won’t have to worry about replacements and maintenance as often.
What is CCT, And What is The Best For Living Room Wall Lighting?
Colour correlated temperature or CCT is a way to describe the colour temperature of a light. Colour temperature simply refers to the warmth or coolness of a given light.
Colour temperature exists on a spectrum between 1,000 and 10,000 units Kelvin. The higher you get on the spectrum, the cooler the light temperature will be. The lower you go, the warmer the colour temperature.
For domestic settings like the living room, warmer colour temperatures are preferred. Lights between 3000k and 3300k are a great choice and provide warm, inviting illumination that is also bright enough to make it easy to see while creating a gentle glow that is comfortable and cosy.
This temperature range also complements and works well with a variety of decor styles and colours and is even flattering on skin tones of all shades.
How To Position Wall Lights in a Living RoomÂ
Positioning your wall lamps for living room spaces comes down to understanding the room itself. Figure out what areas of the room require the light, what spaces you want to highlight, and so on. Understanding the function and reason for each light will help you plan the lighting.
With scale and proportion in mind, you can figure out how many sconces to add to create a balanced look. Go for fixtures with appropriate sizes based on the rest of the room. For example, larger rooms will need larger fixtures, while smaller ones will need smaller fixtures.
Be sure to layer the illumination with ambient, task and accent lighting. For ambient light, you can use brighter fixtures placed throughout the room to provide the overall illumination for the space. Place them at strategic intervals throughout the room to ensure a balanced wash of light that won’t overpower the others.
Task lighting should be placed near spaces where you intend to do activities. Reading nooks and sofa areas especially can benefit from sconces for living room walls.
Similarly, accent lighting should be placed anywhere you want to draw attention to. Use modern sconces for living room spaces that have alcoves, exposed brick walls, pillars or anything else that deserves some focus. Picture lights are the perfect LED wall lights for living room areas where you want to display artwork.
How To Create Ambiance with Living Room Wall Lighting
It is simple to install indoor wall lights for living room ambience. Follow the tips below to get started:
- OPT FOR WARM COLOUR TEMPERATURES. Warmer lights exude a cosier, more comfortable and inviting feeling than cooler lights. Choose colour temperatures between 2700k and 3300k to create a pleasant atmosphere for relaxation and hosting.
- USE DIMMER SWITCHES. Install dimmable lights so you can lower them when you want to set a mood.
- INCLUDE INDIRECT LIGHT. Indoor wall sconces provide a soft glow from the periphery, making them perfect for creating an atmosphere. Using wall lights, you can cast a soft glow on the wall and therefore throughout the room without creating glare.
- INSTALL WALL WASHERS. Wall washers are not simple decorative wall lights. Since they shine light up and down the wall they are placed on, they generate soft lighting that is perfect for setting a mood.
- BRING IN SOME MOOD LIGHTING. Play around with modern wall lights to create various types of atmosphere and mood. Dimming lights or placing them in an indirect location can create a soft and romantic glow with no effort.
How To Plan Your Overall Living Room Lighting Scheme
When designing your lighting scheme, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Layer Your LightsÂ
Task, accent and ambient wall lighting can all be included in the living space. That said, you can also source these layers from other fixtures.
Ambient lights make up the main illumination in a room, and this often comes in the form of ceiling lights. Pendant lighting, wall mounted lighting and recessed ceiling lights are all popular choices.
Task lights should be included near areas where you expect to perform activities. Put task lamps near desks, reading nooks and any other task-heavy areas in the room.
Accent light will create a mood in the living room and can be used on its own to make the space feel cozy. This light layer can also be used to draw attention to certain features in the room, such as artwork and architecture.
Add Smart Lighting
Control your lights individually when you have a smart system. Whether you control it through your voice, an app or pre-programmed settings, you can instantly make your living room more comfortable and convenient.
Light Your Shelves
If you have any inset shelves or wall mounted shelves, you can illuminate them using wall sconces. Not only will this make your storage easier to access, but it will also bring visual intrigue to the room through light and shadow.
Stick to the Aesthetic
Whether you have a traditional design, modern look or anything in between, be sure you choose lights that align with one another. Work with similar materials and finishes to achieve a streamlined flow.
Prevent Clashes
Make sure you are using the same colour temperature throughout the room. Installing both warm and cool colour temperatures can create a visual clash and make the lights uncomfortable on the eyes.
Create a Focal Point
Lounge lighting lends you plenty of room to get creative. Statement lights are a good choice here, especially if you have tall ceilings. Choose an artistic light that complements the rest of the room while still fitting into the general design style to create an instant wow factor.
Make the Most of Natural Light
If you have a lot of natural light, be sure you spread it throughout the room using soft fabrics, light colours and reflective surfaces. This will make a room feel more spacious and open during the day.
Why Natural Light Is Important in a Lounge Room
Natural light is beloved by almost everyone. Unfortunately, not everyone can spend hours outdoors soaking it in. Bringing as much natural light into your living room as possible can still give you the benefits of this light, however.
Natural light instantly increases comfort in a living space. It is easier on the eyes than most artificial lighting and lessens eye strain. In this way, it may also help lessen the number of headaches you experience from constant exposure to artificial lighting.
It may also make you more productive. Studies have shown that lighting has an impact on mood and energy levels. Natural light is especially good for keeping you focused and on task.
Similarly, natural lighting can keep your circadian rhythm in smooth operation. This bodily function is responsible for releasing hormones to help you get sleepy for the night. Too much exposure to artificial light and not enough natural light can throw it off course.
There are other health benefits to it, too. Natural light stimulates the production of vitamin D and may mitigate seasonal affective disorder. It is also good for the health of your indoor plants, of course!
When it comes to light bills, natural light can reduce them as well. By not having to run artificial light during the day, you can save big on energy bills over time.
Lighting your living room well can lead to a much happier experience at home throughout the day. Keep the above information in mind as you consider how to incorporate wall lights into your home.
Living Room Wall Light Ideas
Bring artistic flair to your living room with the LWA223 6 Watt Round Decorative Interior LED Wall Light. Available as either a white or black living room wall light, the sconce works well in rooms of any design style. It outputs 600 lumens of 3000k warm white light, making it a perfect task light. Each one is built from durable aluminium with an acrylic diffuser and measures 139 millimeters in diameter.
Add a modern touch to your living space with the LWA388 10 Watt Hexagonal Interior Up and Down LED Wall Light. The wall light features a stylish geometric shape fashioned out of high quality aluminium. A total of 800 lumens of 3000k warm white light shines at a 30 degree beam angle, making it ideal for ambient light. The fixture comes in your choice of black or white and measures 220 millimeters by 104 millimeters in size.
Incorporate ample task or ambient lighting into your space with the Leon 20 Watt 600mm Wide Brushed Silver LED Wall Light. This linear light shines a total of 1600 lumens of 3000k warm white light, providing plenty of illumination for the room. The aluminium fixture has a brushed finish and features opal acrylic diffusers to soften the light. Overall, the lighting solution measures 600 millimeters in length, making it quite prominent.
Enhance your living room decor with the LWA241 6 Watt Black LED Wall Light. This wall light features three posts with opal acrylic-covered bulbs. From the bulbs shine a total of 430 lumens of 3000k warm white light. The fixture is rated IP20 for indoor use and measures 250 millimeters by 120 millimeters, making it perfect for any room in the home.