My living room is kinda dim with 6 60w bulbs (but in lamps). The kids bedrooms are OK with 4x60w in a fan fixture. So I would go for at least four.

Maybe this link will help...

How to calculate lighting needs

Thanks, for the link @maddielee. Using the formula in that article and using the average multiplier, DD is going to need 416 watts, or 7 60-watt bulbs. That is going to be a challenge to accommodate in one fixture.

@beaglesdoitbetter, that is great! I’ve sent it to DD to see what she thinks.

@beaglesdoitbetter, DD loves it. Have you every ordered from these folks before? How was your experience?

10 years ago I ordered light-up LED faucets. They came promptly and seemed fine but we ended up not installing them because we went in a different direction for the bathroom. That's the extent of my knowledge about them other than book marking this cute light as a possibility for my own playroom :)

In looking for reviews, I found the same or similar on Amazon. A reviewer pointed out it isn’t UL approved. I’m looking for one from a domestic source.

Sorry :( I hope you can find one. If you do, let me know because as I said, I'm eyeing it for my own playroom!

Check out Color Cord you can pick your colors and create something similar to what Beagles posted.

@beaglesdoitbetter, This is as close as I’ve come so far, but isn’t it cute for a playroom? Regretfully, more than DD wants to spend on a short term item.

Bookshelves, some cozy bean bag chairs, small table, reading lights... Not all light has to come from the ceiling. My kids’ playroom was divided into activity areas- reading, crafts, floor play, etc based on the interests their father and I wanted them to pursue.

Oh, man, @localeater, did I fall down a rabbit hole at Color Cord! That place is fascinating. I love the DIY videos with the oh-so-soothing, you-can-do-this voice giving you step by step directions. But I’m not going to be tricked into thinking I can do this by some soft talking guy! HA!

@remodeling1840, there is a separate reading nook for the children. It is still in the planning stages, but a lot of the same elements you have will be incorporated. Do you have a recommendation for bean bags?

Stray Dog Designs is a site with some really cute, whimsical light fixtures

Bbstx, I know nothing about the quality or reliability of this vendor, but here is a fun one, very inexpensive. There are more on their site, beautifulhalo.com

My kids are waaay past playrooms! You’re on your own for cozy reading chairs/ bean bags!

Here is another fun one. I’m skeptical about the ridiculously low prices.

How much natural light is in the room and from which direction?

@blfenton, There is only one window in the room. It faces west. IIRC it has shutters on it. Considering the heat down here, I expect the shutters will be closed for at least half the day during 3/4 of the year.

You may (or may not) have seen some of my other posts. The house is very dark. Some of it is poor window placement; some is the Tuscan red, gold, olive color scheme, which is being obliterated. DD & I seem to go overboard on lights at every opportunity.

Bbstx - glad you enjoyed the rabbit hole :)

I was going to share a great light with you (Vermont Modern Copernicus) but then I read something about a 'budget' , that's no fun. What should we limit ourselves to?

According to what I read, for a room that size you want a 29" wide light. This is from Lamps Plus, $350 and you could spray paint it a fun color if you wanted. It would be enough light.

Thanks @bbstx. I think it might be cheaper for me to get the Light In a Box one and just have my electrician check the wiring/re-wire if needed to get it into code compliance. I have a bunch of antique chandeliers in my PA house that I'm sure aren't UL listed since they are OLD and just have been rewired.

@beaglesdoitbetter, from some reading I was doing this morning, I have surmised it is the wires that are used in the fixture that need to be UL approved, not the fixture itself. If someone knows differently, please correct me. Beagles, I found reviews of that fixture in other places. Apparently, it comes unassembled or nearly so, and there are no instructions for how to put it together. If you know someone who could assemble it, you can buy the components at Color Cord for about $150. Color Cord’s wire is UL approved.

@nutsaboutplants, I love both of those that you posted. I’m just a tad wary of things made in China. That doesn’t mean I don’t buy Chinese goods, but there is so much that could go wrong with a light fixture.

@localeater, that is the light fixture DD is putting in DSIL’s study...or something very similar! Oh, my, Vermont Modern Copernicus is gorgeous! I don’t know DD’s budget. It is fluid depending on how much she likes something, but this is a short-term playroom. When the kiddies get old enough to play without close supervision (4 years?), the dining room will again become a formal dining room and the kiddies will go upstairs to the playroom.

I do worry about a semi-flush mount on 10' ceilings bringing enough light down to the floor. Kids who are playing often have heads down colouring, lego, whatever. Do you have the ability to add wall sconces for additional light?

Vermont Modern is very good quality. It is actually a division of Hubbardton Forge. I have the Monarch Pendant in my entry way and it is truly stunning. Here it is, I have silver

check out Dutton brown for playful lights. Fully customizable. We have two in the kids rooms. I grabbed a quick example. Very well made

We have a tech lighting viaggio flush mount in our playroom (but we have lower ceilings and two floor to ceiling windows)

Bb, Our LR is on the dark side even with windows because they have shutters and the tree's in the summer keeps it dark. 60w bulbs are way too low, even grouped together.

A floor lamp in a corner would work with a childproof gate around it so as not to be knocked over, and also a table lamp or two with 100w bulbs.

DGS had a room with two windows using the ceiling fan lights (3 60w) and it was still too dark.

I would make such a lousy trial witness! Here is a picture of the DR *before*,

It has a double window and appears to only have 9’ ceilings! The curtains are gone and the chandelier is gone. Above the chair rail the walls are SW Alabaster; below the rail, they are SW Pure White. I believe DD has ordered some sort of white/light colored area rug for the floor. I’m fairly sure it is a stain resistant polypropylene.

Oh goodness, that is a nice space! The room is big enough to put a lamp and chair in it to add more light or to read a story to. A glider rocker, yeah, get that. :)

She'll get a rug to protect that beautiful floor, right? One of those new washable rug things.

Instead of a Ruggable, DD bought a polypropylene area rug. I think she may have bought this one.