5 tricks to correctly choose the lamps in your living room

One of the essential elements to achieve this warm and relaxed atmosphere that we all want to find when we get home is, without a doubt, the lighting. Planning well where each point of light will be placed and the type of luminaires that we will install is essential to achieve a dining room in which we are comfortable and that we like and, therefore, it is essential that we think about the lighting from the first moment of interior design. We know that this is not an easy task. For this reason, this week we wanted to collect 5 key aspects that will help you make a good choice of luminaires for your living room.

1. Think about the uses you are going to give to your living room

Many times at the time of choosing the lamps for our living room we let ourselves be carried away by the aesthetic part and by how much we liked the design of one or another lamp. However, when designing the lighting of our living room (as in any other room of the house) we have to take into account both the aesthetic and the functional part. For this reason, thinking about the uses you are going to give to your living room is one of the things that will help you get the most right in the choice of lamps. Are you going to use the living room to work?, to watch TV?, to read?, to play with your children?... are questions that we have to ask ourselves in order to correctly organize both the decoration and the lighting.

If our intention is to be able to work in the living room or have a space to read, it will be convenient to install a floor lamp or a reading wall lamp near an armchair or a sofa. If we have small children perhaps it is not a good idea to fill the living room with floor or table lamps and we should bet on ceiling lamps in ceiling or recessed format. Each situation will require different lighting and, therefore, a different selection of lamps to be installed. Therefore, defining the use of each area is essential to make a good choice of your luminaires.

Photo: Funiculí de marset floor lamp (see more)

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    2. Commitment to the installation of several points of light

As we say, the living room is a totally multifunctional space, in which we carry out countless activities during different times of the day. Therefore, being able to totally change the light environment according to our needs is something that will help us a lot to be able to fully enjoy this space and get the most out of it. Therefore, it is convenient that you plan the lighting by distributing several points of light in the space.

In this sense, we must differentiate general lighting from secondary or support lighting. The lamps that we are going to install as points of general light must offer a more uniform type of light, which fills practically the entire space, and that, whenever possible, integrates the available natural light. Lighting that offers at least 100 lux at ground level is generally recommended, which is considered sufficient lighting for most activities. For the points of general light, the most appropriate thing is to opt for ceiling lamps, both recessed spotlights, as well as ceilings or hanging lamps can be a good option depending on the architectural characteristics of your living room and the decorative style that we want to give it.

Photo: Link ceiling of VIBIA Lighting (see more)

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As for the secondary or support points of light, their correct distribution and choice is one of the keys to success to achieve a really warm and cozy room. These luminaires are the ones that will allow us to change the lighting environment according to our needs and create an ambient lighting of a more relaxed nature or offer us direct lighting to be able to read or work comfortably. In this case, the most used formats as secondary light points are floor and table lamps, although in case we have little space the sconces and the hanging ceiling lamps of reduced size can also be a good option. For the choice of this type of luminaires it will be very important to take into account aspects of a more aesthetic nature such as the size of the lamp, the halo of light, the tonality of the luminaire, the material of the screen or the diffuser (if it is the case that the lamp has any of these elements), etc. since in addition to illuminating these luminaires they will become another element of the decoration.

Photo: Apply Saba de FARO (see more)

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>> Related Article: How to light a living room? Here's it!

3. Measure, test and re-measure

At the time of buying the furniture for our living room, the first thing we usually do is take the meter, measure and try combinations and arrangements different from the elements of the furniture we want to buy. But that so obvious and essential we forget many times when choosing the luminaires.

Measuring is an indispensable task to succeed with the purchase of lamps in any room of our house. We have to take into account from the first moment the size we have to place the lamp, so we must know, for example, the measurements of the tables and furniture on which we are going to place the table lamps, the height of the ceiling for the placement of the suspended lamps or ceilings, the distance of the furniture from the wall for a correct choice of sconces and floor lamps, etc. In the same way we must also know the arrangement of the furniture and the power outlets, to know at what point we will need extra lighting.

Once the arrangement of the furniture has been planned and the measures taken, we must inform ourselves about the measures of all those luminaires that we like in order to determine whether or not they are a viable option. We must look for the proportionality of the size of the lamp with the size of the space where it is going to be placed, since as ridiculous is a tiny lamp for a dining table of 2 meters as a lamp too large on top of a side table next to the sofa.

Photo: Lula table lamp by FARO (see more)

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    4. Define the decorative style you want to give to your living room

Although so far we have focused more on the functional part, we must not forget that the lamps, in addition to illuminating, are an element that will be part of your decoration in a prominent way. To achieve a room in which we are at ease it is also very important to take into account the aesthetic part and that the luminaires we install really please us.

The aesthetic part is an extremely careful element in design lamps, that is why on many occasions a design lamp can become the centerpiece of the decoration of a room or that element that brings the touch of personality and differential style to it. So, in that sense it is very important that before choosing your luminaires you decide what decorative style you want to give to your living room. This will depend on the taste of each one, if you want to achieve a totally cozy space you can opt for a decoration of Nordic or rustic style, if you want a space in which to breathe calm and order a good option can be the minimalist style and if, on the other hand, you like the most casual aspect offered by the use of materials such as cement and metal opt for the industrial style can be a great option.

Photo: Wall lamp - suspended Sento de OLÉ FM lighting (see more)

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There is nothing written about tastes, so collect ideas, let yourself be inspired and be creative. However, if you like a particular decorative style we recommend that you follow the same line both in the furniture and in the lighting throughout your house, this will make you really recreate that atmosphere you want to achieve. To do this, you must take into account both the shape and the materials and finishes of all the luminaires.

    5. Be aware of the natural light and the shape of the living room

Taking advantage of natural light is something that should be a priority in the design of all the rooms in your house. For this reason, you must take it into account both in the choice of your furniture, the predominant colors of your living room or fabrics, as well as, obviously, in the choice of lighting.

If you are lucky enough to have good natural lighting, the lighting requirements may be more lax, but if you do not have a large amount of light during the day, the choice of luminaires with the right power and tonality will be essential to create a functional and pleasant stay. Lamps in ceiling or downlight format are those that allow you to recreate a more uniform lighting and similar to natural light, so they are very advisable in case you have a living room with little light. In case you have good natural lighting, you can also opt for other formats such as hanging lamps, if they have lighting powerful enough for the size of the room.

In this sense, you must take into account aspects such as the maximum power of luminosity that allows you to install the lamp (lux), the halo of light it offers (lumens), the recommended tonality (Kelvin and CRI degrees) for each luminaire or the watts necessary for its operation.

Photo: Manolo de Olé FM suspended lamp, available in 3 finishes (see more)

Now you know the most important points to be able to make a good choice of the lamps in your living room. Plan your purchase taking into account these 5 tricks and success will be assured!

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