top of page

Why floor lamps alone are enough for living room lighting?

Many people think about installing stylish pendant lamps on their living room ceilings, but the living room is the place in the home where we relax the most. After a long day of work, when you’re ready to unwind in the living room, ceiling lights that spread light evenly across the room may not create the cozy, uplifting atmosphere you're looking for.

The biggest advantage of placing lighting in the center of the ceiling is that it doesn't take up space and efficiently illuminates the entire room. This is useful for cleaning or finding something, but for reading, watching TV, conversing, or dining, it's not necessary to brighten the whole room.

Light coming from the center of the ceiling illuminates the space evenly, but it can make the room feel flat and uninspiring. Similarly, in photography, shooting with frontal light (light directly facing the subject) makes colours vivid and clear, but if you want a more atmospheric shot, side lighting (light coming from the side) or backlighting (light from behind the subject) is better. Backlighting creates a softer, more ambiguous atmosphere, resulting in a more striking and memorable image.

By considering light and shadow, you can avoid flat-looking photos and create stylish, gentle atmospheres. Just as lighting affects the impression of a photograph, it dramatically changes the feel of a room. Light coming from the side or from below creates shadows that add depth and character to a space. The easiest way to introduce this kind of side light is with floor lamps. Freestanding floor lamps can be placed anywhere. In the living room, simply placing one next to a sofa or lounge chair introduces side lighting effortlessly. Placed beside a sofa, it also serves as a reading light, and if you choose a lamp with diffused light, it can double as general room lighting.

For example, hotel room lighting often combines floor lamps and table lamps. Hotels focused on comfort and relaxation rarely use ceiling lights that illuminate the entire room. Especially in bedroom-centered layouts, ceiling lights can be harsh and even fail to meet functional needs. Most rooms have floor lamps beside sofas or lounge chairs that turn on when the main switch is activated.

The same applies at home. If you want to relax in your living room, use floor lamps, table lamps, or portable lamps. Candles are also recommended; the flickering of a candle naturally calms the mind.

However, it's important to keep ceiling lights off. If ceiling or downlights spread light across the room, the effect of side lighting is lost. The key to creating a cosy space is to use shadows to separate areas you want to highlight from those you don't. Initially, some may worry that it will be too dark, but in practice, it's usually bright enough, and many people find this setup more comfortable and pleasant over time.

This is the charm of nighttime lighting: it allows you to create a space with a completely different, more memorable atmosphere. We recommend turning off all ceiling lights and experiencing your living room with just one floor lamp. Light placed lower than usual not only looks stylish but also brightens the space more than expected, adds depth, and creates a comfort that you may not have experienced before.

ree

Lighting Techniques for a Comfortable Lifestyle

IN THE LIGHT Lighting Design & Interiors

861-8001 熊本県熊本市北区武蔵ヶ丘1丁目15-16



 
 
 

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet
Add a rating
bottom of page