Design features
A sconce is a wall-mounted lighting fixture consisting of a housing, a lampshade, a lamp, a wire and a switch. Materials used in production include glass, wood, stainless steel, light metals, crystal, and leather.
Rhinestones and semi-precious stones are used as decoration. The lightweight design allows them to be placed on any wall surface, including plasterboard.
Style
Each room is decorated in a certain stylistic direction.
And for each style one or another type of lamp will be appropriate:
- The classic style is compact, clear lines, simplicity and functionality. The lamp designs are made of crystal or bronze. A small number of decorating elements is welcome.
- High-tech includes a mixture of constructivism coupled with high technology. Interior decoration implies the presence of simple models without a hint of pathos.
- Modern - suitable for rooms with modern decoration, in perfect harmony with the straight lines of interior design and avant-garde forms. It is advisable to choose products with rounded shapes or broken lines.
- Country music is characterized by the use of natural materials. The lamps should have elements made of wood and fabric. The lines are soft, reminiscent of plants.
- Eco - characterized by lighting fixtures with wooden lampshades. They are optimally combined with wooden interior elements - a bedside headboard, a mirror in a wooden frame.
- Loft - many sconce options fall into the category of universal lighting devices due to the absence of unnecessary details. However, the chosen device itself will add a characteristic antique touch.
- Gothic is a combination of color and sophisticated plasticity. When choosing sconces, crystal and openwork forging, colored glass and metal elements are suitable.
Types of lighting in the living room
Based on the above, a logical conclusion arises that living room lighting can be divided into several types - general, zonal (local), and decorative.
Most often, when planning the design of a room, several types are used in combination, but sometimes they make do with only general lighting. However, as a rule, over time, a lack of light is felt, and gradually additional accessories appear in one or another part of the living room. Lighting devices will never be redundant if they are turned on individually, that is, only when necessary.
So it’s worth taking a closer look at what each type of lighting represents.
General lighting
General lighting includes devices that distribute light throughout the living room. As a rule, these are one or more lamps of different types, installed on the ceiling surface or built into it.
In this living room project, spotlights and LED strip are used for general lighting.
If, for example, the general lighting includes a chandelier, as well as spotlights or strip lights, then they can operate from one switch or from separate devices. In the latter case, general lighting can be turned on comprehensively or you can select only one or several devices.
When purchasing a chandelier for your interior, you should choose a model that will provide diffused light covering a large area of the room.
A chandelier with lamps aimed at illuminating the ceiling surface is also a good option, especially if the ceiling is perfectly white. In this case, the lighting device will create uniform soft lighting for the room.
Zone lighting
If the living room has a large area, or it combines several functions, then the best option would be to divide the room into zones using lighting.
Zonal lighting of a large living room.
In this case, you can arrange general and local lighting, or just distribute it among zones. Moreover, in each of them the light intensity can be different.
If you are planning the placement of electric lighting devices in an apartment of a standard high-rise building, then both types are used.
What types of lamps will be chosen depends on the design of the room, as well as their purpose. For example, if there is a desk or computer desk in the living room, then a table lamp is traditionally installed on it. However, as an alternative, you can use wall sconces or pendant lamps, adjustable in height and aimed at the tabletop.
In the example shown, the dining area (in the background) clearly stands out, in which separate local lighting is organized. Original lamps were also installed on both sides of the spacious sofa.
Table lamps or a floor lamp are installed next to the sofa, but they can easily be replaced with wall sconces.
Recently, lighting for bookshelves, racks and cabinets has become increasingly used. They perfectly complement general lighting.
Decorative lighting
Decorative lighting most often does not have high intensity and is used to highlight individual elements of the interior or to create spatial volume for a certain area of the room. For example, the light can be directed at a painting or a wall that has a textured or smooth surface.
Decorative lamps, the light of which is directed in a certain way, can visually expand the room or give it a special coziness.
Decorative lighting also includes elegant lamps that serve as interior decoration and also create a certain atmosphere in the room. But, in fact, they do not play a significant role in the overall lighting of the room.
A lamp made in a certain style, or correctly matched to the design of the living room, can give the room a special mood.
Some lamps, when turned on at night, cast fancy figured shadows, the designs of which can replace a wall carpet.
The purpose of such a table lamp is not so much to illuminate, but to create bizarre plays of light and shadow on the walls and ceiling.
This effect helps to completely change the atmosphere of the room and the mood of those present. Without much effort and expense, a spatial 3D effect is created in the living room.
Another type of decorative lighting design is an artfully illuminated aquarium, which can be built into a wall or partition.
An aquarium built into a decorative partition with its own decorative lighting system.
This option especially promotes relaxation and creates an atmosphere in the room that is conducive to rest.
Various lighting devices can be used for decorative lighting. Typically, they are compact in size and only cast light over a small area of the room. Moreover, depending on the desired result, the light can have different shades. You can prudently purchase a lamp that can produce several colors, including one that matches your mood.
Floor lighting
Separately, it is necessary to highlight the floor lighting. This option can be included in general lighting, be zonal or purely decorative.
Recently, floor lighting has increasingly been included in the overall scheme.
Most often, such lighting is chosen for a specific area, for example, part of the living room area. Or a large piece of furniture, say, a sofa, installing appliances directly under it. The advantage of low light is that it helps create a pleasant environment and also does not irritate the eyes when watching TV.
Summarizing this section, we can summarize that lighting fixtures are selected to match the style of the room. In addition, they must be in harmony with each other, and for general lighting they must also have the proper light output. If the living room is decorated in bright, intense colors, then it is worth choosing devices that provide soft light.
Be that as it may, the illumination of the living room must comply with certain sanitary standards. Otherwise, it won’t take long to “impair” the sight of both yourself and everyone in your household. Design is by design, but health should still come first.
What is important to know about lighting standards? How to choose the right lamps and fixtures?
This is a very complex issue that requires deep study and certain calculations. A special publication with built-in calculators will help you understand the intricacy of nuances - “Types of lamps and calculation of room lighting .
Functional
The main function of sconces is high-quality lighting. Control options are considered optional extras. There are two types of directions - rotary and stationary options.
Rotating models can rotate, changing the path of light. They are used near a table or chair, where it is necessary to move the flow of light.
Stationary ones are suitable for objects that do not move in space - beds, mirrors. Fixed-type lamps are attached to the wall, creating diffused light when turned on.
Classification of lamps
Depending on the type of light used in the room, the problems of zoning or organizing general lighting are solved.
For a hall, the classification of light is considered in a specific design direction.
Chandeliers
Option - for a large living room. The item must be selected to match the interior of the room. A chandelier with an upward direction or with a multi-directional arrangement of shades is selected for the hall. There are many varieties for the room - flat, shaped, with dimmers.
Modern chandelier in the living room interior
Floor lamp
Places in any area of the room. Copes well with the task of providing the required concentration of lighting for reading. Apply as needed. Place it in the corner of the room, next to the sofa or chair. Also placed next to the table lamp.
Floor lamp in the living room
Lamp
The hall needs conditional zoning. A lamp with adjustable light is suspended above the dining table. The lamp combines harmoniously with a chandelier, if it is directed towards the ceiling, it does not overload the living room with light, and in the absence of the main one, it creates a comfortable atmosphere. Sockets are built into the lower part of the wall, or hidden in the floor covering.
Living room lighting
Sconce
The best option for replacing a table lamp, floor lamp or wall lamp. Sconces are fixed at the top of the wall. The light can be directed in any direction. Decorative sconces with double-sided lighting are used to increase the volume of a room.
Sconce in the living room
Pendant lamps
Mounted around the perimeter of the room. Often found in loft living rooms. They replace the main thing in the dining area. Decorated ones are an alternative to replace all additional light.
Pendant lamps
Spot
Suitable for intense lighting. Built into a frame ceiling. In country and loft styles, lamps are specially mounted in a row along the perimeter of the wall or ceiling, not in the structure itself, but on it.
Spotlights in the interior
Spot
Similar in design to spotlights in loft or art deco styles. More often found in a bunch of 5-7 light bulbs. Directed in any direction thanks to the movable lampshade.
Living room lighting with ceiling spots
Sizes and shapes
Manufacturers produce lamps in a variety of configurations - in the form of balls, disks, ovals, in the form of pipes, flowers, cones, etc. Some models require space, while others will need a small area on the wall surface.
The aesthetic principle when choosing is the harmony of the sconce with the interior item. That is, the wall lamp should not be larger than the reproduction or mirror it illuminates.
How to organize lighting?
Before choosing lamps, you need to decide on their functional purpose.
- To decorate a living room, general lighting is usually used (or central, when the lamps are located under the ceiling), directional (or task, when the light falls on a certain surface), and decorative (designed to create the desired atmosphere).
- The convenience of using light depends on the location of the switches. Their installation should be considered at the stage of creating a design project. The optimal options for placing switches are: the space near the door, the walls near the sofa for relaxation, as well as the work area.
- It is worth remembering that one chandelier in the living room is not enough. Overhead lighting does not provide much light, so there must be at least two sources.
- Light helps to visually enlarge a small living room with a low ceiling. One such way is to use floor lamps. It is also recommended to install LED lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling to visually deepen it.
Type of lampshades
There are three main groups of lampshades:
- Closed - produced with solid shades. They are made of glass and have a simple shape. The lamp in such models remains closed;
- Open - a transparent lampshade is made in the form of a lamp bulb;
- Halves - a model in which the lampshade covers only a certain part of the sconce. This type of lampshades promotes a certain direction of light flow.
Power Supply Option
The most common method is to connect the lamp directly to the mains.
- The electrical wire is recessed into the wall, and contact with the supply wires is made using a terminal connection.
- The light is turned on using a key switch or a special button on the device body.
- Recently, models of wall lamps equipped with a control panel have appeared on the market.
Accommodation
Sconces are hung on the wall with a distance of 1.0 -1.5 m from the floor surface. It is important to take into account the configuration of the furniture, the height of the ceiling and the shape of the wall lamps.
By placing the lamp opposite the TV, the quality of the display may deteriorate due to glare on the screen.
Light distribution method
There are four types of luminous flux distribution:
- Uniform - redistributes the light flux along a given area.
- Diffusing - the light flux is directed into the room space throughout the entire internal volume of the device.
- Directional - light is directed to illuminate a specific area.
- Semi-directional - the light is partially distributed, but is predominantly scattered in a given direction.
Lighting options
Lighting depends on the area of the ceiling, the height of the living room walls and the style in which the interior is designed. If the apartment has a rather low ceiling, then bulky chandeliers should be abandoned. Additional lighting is created through the use of table lamps or floor lamps.
In a small living room
It has become popular to combine the kitchen and living room at the same time to make the area seem a little larger. Most often, such a layout is provided for in studio apartments. For a small living room, you can create zoning between the kitchen and the living room. A massive lamp placed above the kitchen table looks perfect. For general lighting, you can use a chandelier in the center of the room or spot spots around the perimeter.
A harmonious lighting solution in a small living room would be the use of floor lighting or floor lamps.
Without chandelier
Lighting using a large chandelier is not necessary, since its installation will take up a lot of living room space. A small number of lighting devices, which may include wall lamps, floor lamps, and table lamps, will be sufficient. As an alternative, it is better to use spotlights that are located around the perimeter of the ceiling.
Living room lighting without a chandelier looks no less impressive than with this device, as can be seen in the photo.
With chandelier
Lighting options in the living room using a chandelier are classic. When choosing this solution, you should take into account the size of the device, the dispersion of light and the definition of the area in the living room above which the installation will be made. The chandelier can be chosen in a classic or modern design. A dimmer can be used to regulate the brightness of the light and turn on the lamps.
Varieties of chandeliers
Lighting a living room without a chandelier is not a bad solution, but for those who pay tribute to this device, it is worth considering the following devices:
- Hanging. They are suspended from the ceiling on specially designed hooks, chains or cords. But for a small living room, choosing such chandeliers will not be a good solution.
- Ceiling. In a hall with a low wall height, this type of lamp would be an ideal design. They are fixed on a special bar and do not curl down.
- Classic. These are decorative and antique lighting fixtures, often found in modern apartments. They are made in eco- and modern styles, and can be crystal, forged or floral.
Related article: Lighting for a children's room: tips on organization
Lamps on the table
Ideas for lighting a living room divided into several areas involve the use of tabletop lighting fixtures. By using these lamps, you can achieve a good design solution in the living room, the main thing is to ensure that there is enough lighting from them.
What should you consider when choosing tabletop appliances? First of all, technical characteristics such as power ratings, color and configuration. The design of the lamp should fit harmoniously into the interior of the living room.
In such devices it is better to use halogen, LED or fluorescent lamps rather than incandescent lamps.
Floor lamp
Lighting in the living room is a whole composition of several lighting fixtures. One of the convenient and mobile light sources can be a floor lamp. The device provides light dispersion and sets the direction of light rays from matte or mirror surfaces. The light distribution can be adjusted with a dimmer. The choice of color scheme and design solution for the living room arrangement is decided individually.
Sconce on the wall
Wall lighting should match the style of the room. Thus, sconces made of glass, crystal and gilded trim will fit perfectly into the classic style of the interior; for modern design it is better to choose more laconic forms of lamps made of metal or plastic.
Typically, sconces are placed above the seating areas; the number of lamps and the power of the lamps built into them depends on the size of the room. If the ceiling is low, then the direction of the light should be upward. For a divided zone, you should choose sconces with bright light. A dimmer light can be chosen to install above the sofa so that it does not dazzle the eyes.
An original solution would be to place modern spotlights with a rotating mechanism on the wall. Look at the photo, this is how unusual you can highlight the seating area in the living room.
Hanging lamp
On the Internet, in many photos you can see that lighting the living room includes the installation of pendant lamps. Installation of devices of this type is used in the dining table area. A living room decorated using such devices is comfortable and cozy. The choice of colors should correspond to design decisions. It is not advisable to choose a bright color; it is better to use pastel colors.
According to their design, pendant lamps are divided into ceiling, multi-lamp, double, in the form of balls and on cable or string systems.
On video: designing lighting in an apartment.
Sconce in the interior
When choosing a lamp, it is important that the sconces match the overall style of the interior. If there is a chandelier in the living room, wall lamps are selected in exactly the same style.
- Mixing different styles will disrupt the harmony of your home interior and will look ridiculous.
- The most successful places for hanging sconces are a fireplace, a couch, and upholstered furniture. Bright models of sconces with a directed flow of light will look impressive.
- When illuminating paintings and mirrors, simple designs of lamps with thin legs are suitable.
- At the location of the mirrors, it is recommended to hang a pair of sconces at an equal distance.
In rooms with low ceilings, the luminous flux should be directed upward. In special situations, the light flux can be redirected to the sides. And vice versa, in high ones - the light rushes to the floor.
It is important to remember that an ill-thought-out method of lighting will draw attention to the unevenness of the walls.
If the room is narrow and rectangular in shape, you should opt for compact lamps.
In the interior design of the hall, the main role is played by lighting. With its help you can achieve a pleasant, cozy atmosphere. Wall sconces emphasize the beauty of the interior, combine objects into a holistic composition, while filling the room with light.
Architectural light in the interior
The design technique emphasizes the decor, shape and size of the living room. Indoors they use the play of shadow and light, rays of different colors and temperatures. Devices should not attract attention, so the lighting is installed using a hidden method. A combination of several scenarios creates an emotional response in a person.
Large hall with high ceilings Source rotana.net
If you transfer the principles of architectural light to the interior, it is easy to get rid of chandeliers and floor lamps. The method consists of three levels:
- To see. Uniform beams create comfortable lighting in the living room.
- To see. They highlight functional areas, correct space imperfections, and pay attention to decor.
- To watch. The beautiful play of light and shadow has an emotional impact on a person. Complex schemes have standard scenarios for recreation and holidays.
A well-chosen solution focuses attention on the original decorative details and emphasizes the geometry of the room. With the help of technology in the living room, you can quickly change a boring design without renovation. Hidden lights and strips help reveal the unusual texture, relief and volume of the finish.
Hall in minimalist style Source mebel-go.ru
Artificial lighting in the hall should be close to natural light and echo the color tone of the interior. The brightest beams are concentrated in functional areas, the rest are gently distributed throughout the space. The devices do not blind people, but only add comfort to the room.
Architectural lighting in the niches in the living room helps create the illusion of windows from which the rays of the moon come. If you illuminate a large potted plant from the front, the projection on the wall will grow to the size of a large garden. Warm-colored lamps enliven the drawing, while cold-colored lamps mute it.
Beautiful living room with minimal lighting Source roomble.com
