6 small living room lighting ideas

1 September 2023

If you live in a small living room, the lack of optimal light can make it look cramped and cluttered. The easiest way to balance the aesthetics and functionality of a small space is to paint the walls stark white and install an adequate number of light sources.

Here are the top six small living room lighting ideas to help you choose the right lights for your place.

To know how much light you really need in your living room, plan out the activities that normally happen there and think about the amount of light each activity needs. Then, you can design a spot for them and use the right amount of light. And don't forget about mood lighting! Make sure to adjust the atmosphere of your living room for every task, mood or occasion. Let light match your day with Philips Hue light recipes. Choose the perfect shade of warm-to-cool white light to help you, whether you're focusing on work or relaxing with your favourite book.

Tip: Be sure to mark any features that can't move on your floor plan. Then, if you’d like to move furniture, mark out several options for where your furniture could go to make the best use of the space.

If your bulbs aren’t already at the recommended maximum for your fixtures, get brighter bulbs. Often small rooms feel cramped because of inadequate lighting. Brighter bulbs in your light fixtures are a quick way to increase the amount of light in the room. 

Tip: If your room lacks natural sunlight, swap your bulbs for smart bulbs that can easily mimic natural daylight.

Ceiling lights add more light without taking up precious floor space. The type of ceiling light you choose will depend on how you use your living room. If you and your family or friends spend most of your time in the living room relaxing on the sofa, then a hanging fixture such as a chandelier or a pendant light is probably a safe bet. But if you need the vertical space for people to walk around, a flush-mount light is perhaps best. Look for overhead lighting fixtures that either cast light up onto the ceiling or both up and down, because indirect light will spread light more evenly than direct light alone.

The less you have hardwired into your walls, the more options you have to move things around. Portable fixtures will give you more control of the room because you can rearrange them at any moment. They’re also easier to adapt and customise since you don’t have to turn off the power to remove them.

Bright idea: Consider battery-powered portable lamps to enjoy the flexibility of changing the ambience of your living room. The Hue Go portable smart light can truly go wherever you want, thanks to its built-in, rechargeable battery.

When using floor and table lamps, try directing them so the light crosses large expanses of your walls. This is called wall-washing light and this layer can add dimension to a room. It can also work as accent lighting when highlighting features on the wall, such as art or shelves.

Bright idea: Looking for a way to highlight your favourite piece of art? Turn the Signe gradient table lamp towards the canvas and set a colourful light scene.

Track lighting is useful because it’s a single fixture that can serve multiple purposes. You could easily have some spotlights acting as wall-washing lights, some as accent lighting and some as task lighting just by angling the heads of the light. You can find it in a variety of modern and elegant styles, and it can be as minimal or as bold as you like.