Why settle for a boring, lifeless living room when you can have one that sparkles and shines? Installing lights is a great way to add some personality to your space. But before you start stringing up those holiday lights, there are a few things you need to know. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about installing lights in your living room, from choosing the right type of light to safely securing them. So let’s get started!
Types of Lights
The first step in installing lights is to choose the right type. There are three main types of lights commonly used in living rooms: incandescent, LED, and halogen. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Incandescent bulbs are the most common type of light bulb. They’re inexpensive and widely available. However, they’re not very energy-efficient and they produce a lot of heat.
LED bulbs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but they’re much more energy-efficient. They also last much longer, so you won’t have to replace them as often. The only downside is that they can sometimes produce a harsh light.
Halogen bulbs are similar to incandescent bulbs in terms of price and availability. They’re also not very energy-efficient. However, they produce a very natural-looking light that’s perfect for living rooms.
Now that you know the different types of light bulbs, it’s time to choose the right one for your space. If you’re looking for an inexpensive option that’s widely available, go with an incandescent bulb. If you want a more energy-efficient option, go with an LED bulb. And if you’re looking for a natural-looking light, go with a halogen bulb.
How to Install Lights in Your Living Room
There are a few things to consider before you begin installing lights in your living room.
There are a few things to consider before you begin installing lights in your living room.
To begin, you have to make a decision regarding the kind of lighting that you desire. There are many different options available, such as recessed lighting, chandeliers, floor lamps, table lamps, and more. Once you’ve decided on the type of lighting, you need to determine the placement. Will the lights be placed along the perimeter of the room or in specific areas? Will they be suspended from the ceiling or placed on the floor? These are all important factors to consider before you begin the installation.
The subsequent step is to collect all of the required components. If you’re doing a simple installation, such as placing table lamps on end tables, you won’t need much more than the lamps themselves and some bulbs. However, if you’re doing a more complex installation, such as recessed lighting, you may need light fixtures, wiring, junction boxes, and other materials. It’s important to have everything you need on hand before you start so that you don’t have to stop in the middle of the project.
Once you have all of your materials, it’s time to start installing your lights. If you’re doing a simple installation, such as table lamps, begin by placing the lamp on the end table. Then, screw in the bulb and plug in the lamp.
For a more complex installation, such as recessed lighting, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Once your lights are installed, turn them on and enjoy your newly lit living room!
Choosing the right bulbs – How to Buy the Right Light Bulb
How to Buy the Right Light Bulb
Buying a light bulb isn’t quite as easy as it used to be. You can’t just pick up a bulb with a similar wattage and expect it to work in your fixture or match the other bulbs in the room. So, before you buy your next light bulb, you should know these five things.
Check the base size and shape of your bulbs
Depending on where you want to use them, light bulbs come in different sizes and shapes. A19 bulbs with an E26 base are the most common type of light bulb in U.S. homes. The E means that the bulb has an Edison Screw, and the 26 means that the base is 26mm wide. In Europe, you can find E27 bulbs. The A stands for the shape of the bulb. A is for random, and the shape we all think of when we think of a light bulb starts with that letter (C is for candle, G is for Globe etc.) Size is shown by the number 19. There is a great chart of light bulb shapes on Bulbs.com. The website also has a useful chart for light bulb bases.
Determine how much light you’ll require.
Wattage is no longer the best way to figure out which light bulb will replace the one that just burned out. Look for the number of lumens instead of watts. Lumens measure how much light a bulb gives off, not how much energy it uses. You’ll usually also see the watt equivalent, but to be sure, look for the lumens. Here is a quick guide to changing out incandescent bulbs:
- If you used to buy 100-watt bulbs, buy one with 1600 lumens instead.
- If you used to buy 75-watt bulbs, look for 1100-lumen bulbs instead.
- If you used to buy 60-watt bulbs, look for an 800-lumen bulb instead.
- If you used to buy 40-watt bulbs, look for 450-lumen bulbs instead.
Your home’s light fixtures will have a rating for how many watts they can safely handle. If you buy an energy-saving bulb and want a brighter light, you can buy a bulb with more lumens and still stay within the maximum wattage. A 9-watt LED bulb, for example, gives off the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. So you could safely move up to a 15-watt LED bulb, which would give off the same amount of light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb.
Make sure your light bulb is the right shade of white.
There is a tint to white light bulbs. They can look like the warm, yellow light of a traditional incandescent light bulb, the cool, blue light of daylight, or something in between. The words “soft,” “warm,” and “daylight” are often used by manufacturers. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers use the same terms for these things. Look at the color temperature, which is measured in degrees Kelvin, to find the exact color replacement. This is how:
- 2700–2800K: Yellow, warm light
- 3000–3200K: Warm light, still a little bit yellow
- 3500 – 4000K: A bright, neutral white light
- 5000 – 6500K: A bright white light with a hint of blue
Smart LED lights can change colors all along the white light spectrum (and some can produce a wide range of colors as well). These might be interesting because different colors may work better for different tasks. For example, you might want a bright white light with a hint of blue in the morning or while reading, but you might like a warmer light at night. Blue light has been shown to make it hard to sleep, so being able to change your lights to warmer tones at night is another benefit.
Last but not least, not all light bulbs show the true colors of things. On a scale from 0 to 100, the color rendering index (CRI) is used to measure how true colors are. The CRI of both incandescent and halogen bulbs is 100. As long as a compact fluorescent or LED bulb has a CRI of 80 or higher, it is considered good. If it has a CRI of 90 or higher, it is considered excellent.
See if you need to turn down your lights.
Not all light bulbs, especially compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, can be dimmed or used in 3-way fixtures. The box should say “dimmable” or “3-way” so you know the bulb will work with your dimmer or 3-way fixture.
Find out if your light bulb will be used in an enclosed fixture or a recessed can.
When used in enclosed or recessed fixtures, light bulbs get hotter than when used in open fixtures. LED bulbs are especially sensitive to heat, so they won’t last as long in these types of fixtures. If you want your LED bulb to last longer, look for one that is rated for use in an enclosed fixture. On Amazon, you can find LED bulbs that can be used in enclosed fixtures.
Choose the right kind of light bulb
You should look for the Energy Star label on any new bulbs you buy, no matter what kind they are. Energy Star-certified light bulbs have been tested to make sure they meet standards for energy efficiency. They will also be labeled so you know exactly what you’re getting. The Energy Star label will tell you how bright the bulb is (in lumens), what color it is (its color temperature), how long it will last, how much energy it will use, and how much it will cost to run for a year. This information makes it easy to compare bulbs, especially if you are thinking about different kinds of bulbs.
There are three kinds of energy-saving bulbs that can be bought in stores:
Energy-saving incandescents (halogen): These lower wattage incandescent bulbs have a tungsten filament like regular bulbs, but instead of argon or nitrogen, they are surrounded by halogen gas, which gives off bright light while using less energy. These will last three times as long and use 25% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs. Prices begin at somewhat less than $1.50 per bulb (750 lumens).
CFLs, or compact fluorescent lights: You’ve probably seen these curly, bulb-sized fluorescent lights, which you might not like. Early CFL bulbs tended to give off harsh light, but newer ones come in more colors and some are even made to look like old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. When compared to incandescent bulbs, these ones use 75% less energy and last 10 times as long. Prices begin at less than $3 per bulb (850 lumens).
LEDs are the most energy-efficient choice. They use 75–80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last 25 times longer. Prices start at just under $2 per 800-lumen bulb, but the cheaper bulbs are usually rated for 10 years instead of 20.
Smart bulbs are LED bulbs that can connect to WiFi or Bluetooth so you can control them with your smart assistant (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri) or a smartphone app. Even though each bulb works a little differently, you can usually set them to turn on or off at different times and turn them on or off from a distance. Some bulbs will even let you choose what color the light is. Prices start at just under $10 per bulb (800 lumens).
When it comes to choosing light bulbs, there are a variety of factors to consider. Cost is certainly one important consideration, but it is also important to think about energy use and bulb lifespan.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the cost of different types of bulbs.
- A Philips halogen lamp will cost you $1.49 per bulb, with the estimated energy use of $6.38 per year. This type of bulb has a lifespan of 1.8 years.
- In contrast, a Sylvania dimmable compact fluorescent will cost you $2.75 per bulb, with the estimated energy use of $1.57 per year. This type of bulb has a lifespan of 9.1 years.
- Finally, a Philips LED Flicker-Free Dimmable LED will cost you $3.24 per bulb, with the estimated energy use of $1.02 per year.
This type of bulb has a lifespan of 22+ years. As you can see, there are a variety of factors to consider when choosing light bulbs. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.
With the price of LED bulbs going down, it makes less sense to buy older bulbs that don’t work as well. Even if the price is higher at first, you can save a lot of money on energy over the life of the bulb.
Ideas for the lighting in the living room
The living room is typically the most spacious room in the house. It serves as the epicenter of the home’s daily and nightly routines, hosting a wide range of activities. It is not as simple as just putting a dimmer on an overhead light and calling it a day if you want to make sure that the living room in your home is adequately and attractively lit for activities such as socializing with family and friends, hosting guests, unwinding, reading, watching television or movies, and participating in the many other pursuits that take place in this central part of your house.
In order to achieve harmony and a relaxing ambiance in the space, a living room with adequate lighting should ideally have tiered lighting that illuminates all four corners. Chandeliers, wall sconces, table lamps, floor lamps, recessed lighting, and even candlelight are all examples of the various types of lighting that may be used to illuminate a room in order to achieve a variety of different moods and serve a variety of different functions. Here are some illuminating suggestions to help you get the most out of the lighting in your living area.
Vela Lanterns Decorative Halloween Candle Lantern Holder for Decor, Purple Glass, Medium
Your living area can benefit from the addition of a dreamy Moroccan lamp made of perforated metal even if the rest of your home is not decorated in a Moroccan design. The Polish interior designer Mirka McNeill installed a Moroccan lantern in the living room of her London home.
The lantern lends a touch of whimsy to the property’s otherwise varied decor and creates enchanted shadows when it is lit up and placed at the space’s focal point.
A Wall Sconce That Also Functions As Art
If you spend most of your time in your living room watching Netflix and relaxing, you might want to consider installing a dramatic wall light like the Eclipse Wall Light by Tilen Sepi for Bazar Noir, which can be seen in this living room set up by Pamono.
It’s the kind of utilitarian wall art and decor that not only starts a conversation but also helps create the tone for the room, and it’s especially effective in areas with limited floor space.
Light with Color
When the sun goes down, Lisa Gilmore Design’s living room, which is a vivid raspberry pink color, is made even cozier owing to a pair of wall sconces with shades that are the same tone as the raspberry pink walls.
They offer a gentle, indirect light that is flattering and add depth to the wall color without making the room look overly busy, which allows the focus to remain on the wall color and the artwork. They are arranged in such a way that they perfectly cover the seating area.
The Old and the New
A modern living room can be warmed up by the addition of an antique chandelier or historical wall sconces. On the other hand, a contemporary lighting design can help a space with historic bones feel more up-to-date.
In this lovely London-period home, interior designer Charles Mellersh chose warm contemporary lighting such as the Ball Light Wall Brackets in polished brass from Michael Anastassiades to hang on either side of the fireplace mantel rather than the formal sconces you might expect to give the classic room a timeless appeal.
These brackets were hung on either side of the fireplace mantel. Additional lighting comprising an above fixture and standing lamp in brass allow you to use varied shapes while preserving a cohesive vibe.
Fireplace as Primary Focus
There is nothing more inviting than the warm glow of a fire, but those fortunate enough to have fireplaces should be prepared for warm weather, since an empty fireplace may make a room feel chilly.
In this living area, a ceiling fixture with warm-colored light bulbs is complemented by wall sconces that are distributed throughout the space to provide an even glow and match the warm wood accents. Moreover, eco-friendly LED pillar candles with convincingly flickering flames can be used to illuminate your fireplace.
FAQs
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Conclusion
Installing lights in your living room is a great way to add some personality and life to your space. But before you start stringing up those holiday lights, there are a few things you need yo know about choosing and installing the right type of light for your space. In this blog post, we’ve walked you through everything you need to know about installing lights in your living room—from choosing the right type of lightbulb to safely securing them in place. So what are you waiting for? Get startsed on adding some sparkle to your living room today!