Lighting

To create a relaxing atmosphere in the living room, over-head lighting should be well positioned and controllable and also be supplemented with a variety of lamps and candles.

Where brighter lighting for reading and close work is needed, also consider using spotlights or standard lamps.

During the day, windows allow the best possible natural light so it's good to have adjustable window treatments to take full advantage of this

At night, having direct overhead lighting, as well as from a variety of other sources including lamps and candles, is best for providing atmosphere, highlights and interest

Direct overhead room lighting should be adjustable so it can be turned up for situations requiring bright, clean light and down to create a calm, soft ambience which is so important for the mood of the room. A popular choice for this purpose is to install a series of recessed low voltage halogen lights which can be used to light the entire room or to highlight points of interest

Pendant lights or chandeliers can also be installed to create focal points in the room and can be used to 'pool' light over specific areas. Hang them individually or in groupings, and consider bulbs of different wattages and types to create a range of effects

Lamps create ambience and keep the mood relaxed and soft for lounging. Switch the overhead lights off and use table lamps as well as standard styles for where extra light is needed to softly illuminate the room. Floor standing, as well as table lamps add variety and new shades can be added seasonally to update their look