14 Living Room Lighting Ideas to Create the Right Mood

Try a Statement Floor Lamp

For this warm, modern living room, Houston-based Laura Umansky of Laura U Interior Design chose an oversized statement arched floor lamp with a striking, slim silhouette that provides ample but diffused ambient light. And it looks just as good when it's not turned on.

Whether you choose a design classic like a midcentury Arco Floor Lamp or an affordable Scandi-style tripod floor lamp, use the extra real estate you're likely to have in the living room to treat lighting as a piece of furniture as well as a source of illumination.

Hang a Moroccan Lantern

You don't need to have a Moroccan-style interior to incorporate a dreamy perforated metal Moroccan lantern into your living room.

Polish interior designer Mirka McNeill hung a Moroccan lantern in the living room of her London home, which adds a note of whimsy to the eclectic decor and casts magical shadows when lit up in the center of the room.

Try a Sculptural Wall Light

If you use your living room primarily for Netflix and chilling, why not use the space above your sofa to install a dramatic wall light like the Eclipse Wall Light by Tilen Sepič for Bazar Noir as seen in this living room set-up by Pamono.

It's the kind of functional wall art and decor that is a conversation starter, a mood-setter, and works especially well in minimal space.

Mix Old and New Fixtures

An antique chandelier or vintage sconces can warm up a contemporary living room, and contemporary lighting design can keep a room with historic bones feeling current.

In this lovely London-period home, interior designer Charles Mellersh chose warm contemporary lighting like the Ball Light Wall Brackets in polished brass from Michael Anastassiades hung on either side of the fireplace mantel instead of the formal sconces you might expect to give the classic room a timeless appeal.

Additional lighting, including an overhead fixture and a standing lamp in brass, allows you to use different shapes while maintaining a harmonious feel.

Hang a Pair of Sconces

Warm wall sconces make a living room feel cozy without taking up floor or table space.

Tyler Karu Design + Interiors hung a pair of warm metallic sconces on a moody blue wall in this coastal Maine living room that creates an inviting and relaxing atmosphere.

Add Custom LED Lighting

To add warmth to a contemporary space, built-in or LED strip lighting can be used to highlight a coffered ceiling; illuminate the underside of a console to give it a leavening effect; or back-light open shelving to highlight decorative objects or books.

Be sure to mix in an interesting fixture or two to keep the room feeling homey and add sculptural interest.

Add a Side Table Lamp

Give your living room lighting a cohesive feel by using the same shape of lampshade on table lamps, floor lamps, and a central pendant light.

Marie Flanigan Interiors added a clear glass table lamp on a side table at the end of the sofa with a white cone-shaped lampshade that echoes other lighting fixtures spread around the room.

Include Soft Candlelight

Candlelight is the ultimate feel-good light source and adds a finishing layer to any lighting scheme that will make your living room atmosphere extra comfortable and inviting.

Mix candlesticks in varying styles and materials to add warmth to a contemporary space.

Light the Fireplace

Nothing is more welcoming than the warm glow of a fire, but those lucky enough to have fireplaces should have a backup plan for warm weather since an empty fireplace can end up making the room feel cold.

In this living room, an overhead fixture with warm-colored light bulbs is augmented with wall sconces hung throughout the room to add an even glow and complement the warm wood accents.

And of course, you can always fill your fireplace with eco-friendly LED pillar candles with convincingly flickering flames.

Hang a Modern Pendant Light

The classic proportions and bones of this living room/dining room from interior designer Maite Granda are given an edgy contemporary update with a sculptural LED overhead light hung over the dining table.

Pair Mismatched Lighting

When choosing lighting for either side of a sofa, there's no need to limit yourself to matching table lamps.

In this living room, a table lamp on one side and a low-slung chandelier on the other create balance without being too matchy. The brass finishes on both fixtures, as well as the coffee table, keep the pairing harmonious.

Hang a Classic Chandelier

If your living room has giant windows, consider choosing fixtures that don't interfere with the natural daylight, like a classic crystal chandelier. For an airy, uncluttered look, try table lamps with clear glass or plastic forms.

Add a Reading Lamp

Add task lighting to your living room with a reading lamp. Emily Henderson Design chose a black metal floor lamp in the style of Greta M. Grossman's Grasshopper lamp that has a slim and elegant profile while providing adequate light for nighttime reading sessions.

Choose a Bold Standing Lamp

Choose a striking standing floor lamp that is as decorative as it is functional. This living room from Caitlin Higgins for Emily Henderson Design gets a boost from an oversized retro-style floor lamp that matches the eclectic feel of the room.