Two floor lamps or table lamps would give you more flexibility if you wanted to adjust the position of the sofa.

Thank you palimpest. Have you ever seen any picture or other using 2 floor lamps? I just can't remember seeing such a thing, and wonder if it would look funny?

Any chance we could see pix of the whole space (all four walls)?

In order to light a room well you need light around the space, not just on one side, and you need light at different levels. Are there windows anywhere to bring in natural light? Doorways to other rooms that provide some light? How is the space used most - for reading, I am guessing, since you mention it is a library, but anything else?

It looks like a charming space.

Les917-we live in a Georgian colonial and this room is off to the right of the foyer when you come in the door. There is a pair of windows to the right of the photo(north end of house). There is a French bureau between the windows and a side table with a table lamp there right now. I actually like this table lamp and would like to get a match. My problem is visualizing the scale of two side tables here with matching lamps...too cramped?

Okay, I think I have a sense of the room. Looking at the photo, is that a pair of upholstered chairs in the front of the photo?

How much wall space is there - I assume there is a wide doorway to the hall, which is from where the pix is being taken.

Would you consider taking those corner shelves out, putting the upholstered chairs (if there are two) facing each other at the ends of the ottoman, then a side table at each end of the couch that the chairs could share? Lamps on those tables, and the tables should be at arm height on the couch.

Then take the two corner units and put them together to make a half round unit, put that on the wall to the left of the entry from the foyer. Another single chair and the small table and lamp on that wall, perhaps? Hard to tell without photos.

First and foremost, you want the lighting to be functional.

I would move away from the idea of matched sets in favor of one light in a corner that shoots the light up to the ceiling, a table lamp next to the prime sitting area, and possibly a third lamp of some type to balance out the second one.

Similar to your library, I have a home office located off the foyer which has no overhead lighting. The window in the room is north facing, so without any direct daylight, it does seem dark. I use 2 torchiere lamps which work very well. The light is reflected off the ceiling which make the room quite bright and they can be dimmed when needed. By using a torchiere lamp, your side tables would be free for secondary lighting.

Les, your suggestion for the furniture arrangement sounds so inviting & comfortable looking.

I second shellsmom in suggesting a torchiere floor lamp (along with table lamps). We have one in our study, which does not have overhead lighting, & it's impressive how well it lights the room.