How to Light Up a Living Room Without Ceiling Lights: 11 Steps (2024)

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Co-authored byKathryn Cherne

Last Updated: September 23, 2021References

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   Invest in floor lamps to add extra light and style to your living room. If you’re looking to brighten dark corners, get a floor lamp that shines upward, like a torchiere lamp. If you want a lamp that will help you see better while you’re reading, choose an arced floor lamp that can extend out over a piece of furniture.^[1][2]

   • There are hundreds of styles of floor lamps, which means there is a great chance that you’ll find one that fits your needs, budget, and aesthetic.

   Choosing Lightbulbs: Use warm, yellow bulbs for a more intimate, cozy atmosphere. Buy true white bulbs for a brighter, more invigorating feel.

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   Install a hanging pendant light if you don’t want to lose any floor space. Make sure to choose a plug-in option since you don’t have overhead wiring. Place the pendant light in the middle of the living room for all-around light, or hang one over a seating area for more targeted lighting.^[3]

   • To hang a plug-in pendant light, you’ll need a hook in the ceiling to hang the light from, as well as several small hooks to keep the wire close to the ceiling and wall.

   See Also

   25 Types of Ceiling Lights (Ultimate Design Guide)
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   Add table lamps to side tables to light specific seating areas. Table lamps are a great way to show off your personal style while also adding extra light. You can buy lamps from home goods stores, online, or at thrift stores.^[4]

   • If your side table isn’t near an outlet, use an indoor extension cord so you can plug in the light.
   • Putting light at eye level creates comfortable, human level light.^[5]
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   Use plug-in sconces as reading lights near your couches and chairs. If you want extra light near the seating areas in your living room but don’t want to take up floor space or side-table space, sconces are a nice alternative. You can place them on either side of a chair or couch, or put a single one wherever it is you like to sit the most.^[6]

   • You’ll need a drill to mount the sconce to the wall. If you’re renting, check your lease agreement to see if you’re allowed to make holes in the wall first.
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   Create a soft, warm atmosphere with string lights. Line your living room with twinkly lights by putting small nails around the ceiling every 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30cm). Then run the lights around the edge of the ceiling and plug them in. You could also use them around pieces of furniture, like a bookcase.^[7]

   • Make sure to choose string lights that are meant for indoor use.
   • If you don’t want to use nails, you could use pushpins instead.
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   Hang battery-powered lights from the ceiling for a wire-free solution. Install a light in the center of the ceiling for all-around lighting, or hang one from a darker corner to help brighten up that section specifically. You’ll need a drill to mount the light, so make sure you’re allowed to drill into the ceiling if you rent your home.^[8]

   • Shop for different sizes and styles of lights online or at your local home improvement store.

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   Use mirrors to reflect the lights you do have in the living room. Lean a long mirror on the wall behind a standing lamp or table lamp, or hang a mirror on the wall behind a light to make your living room brighter.^[9] You could even buy a piece of furniture that has a mirror embedded in it or a piece made of glass to bounce even more light around.^[10]

   • You could get a framed mirror to add both reflective light and personal style to your living room.
   • Put the mirror perpendicular to a window to make the space feel like it dissolves and has more windows.^[11]
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   Let in as much natural sunlight as possible by hanging sheer curtains. Instead of using heavy drapes, swap them out for sheer or translucent curtains. In the morning, pull up the blinds even if you don’t pull back the curtains to let in more light.^[12]

   • If you do pull back the curtains, make sure to keep your windows clean! Clean windows let in more unfiltered light than dusty, streaked windows do.
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   Lay down a white rug to brighten up your room while adding warmth. Rugs are cozy and can really bring a room together, and choosing a white one will invite more light into your living space. Even if you already have carpet in the room, you can still lay down an area rug underneath your furniture.^[13]

   • Keep your white rug clean by vacuuming it once a week, spot-cleaning stains immediately, and steam-cleaning it every 6 months.
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   Get white furniture or textiles to reflect more light. White couches, chairs, pillows, and blankets will help keep your living room looking open and bright. You don’t have to switch out your entire set of furniture, but even adding in one new piece and a white throw blanket can add something new and fresh.^[14]

   • If you have kids or pets, this might not be the best choice for your living room.
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   Decorate with white accent pieces to keep the aesthetic fresh and clean. White accents can lighten up a room easily because they reflect light instead of absorbing it. Try using white frames for pictures and artwork, or add white decorative pieces to your shelves and side tables.^[15]

   • You can often find white decorations at thrift stores if you don’t want to pay full price for new decor.

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