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How to add lighting to living room

4 months ago

I am painting my living room dark navy blue. I am going for a cozy yet elegant vibe. I have an octagon shaped, open concept main space. There is a chandalier above the dining table and 3 pendant lights hanging above the kitchen island. I want to add more lighting so that I dont have to use the "big lights" and allow me to have a moodier atmosphere. But i cant use floor lamps because i have dogs and small children that will knock them over - i also just like a clutter free floor. I want to add sconces of some sort, but I'm having a hard time deciding where to put them. I have 3 LARGE sliding doors. there is space betweem them, but its two small sections of wall meeting at an angle. There is also a large space above each slider. I wouldnt be opposed to adding LED lighting instead if that would work better.




Comments (12)

  • 4 months ago

    I would paint the walls a caramel color to blend with the ceiling. Add your navy blue color for drapes for the three big slider walls and to control the light and softening the sound.

  • 4 months ago

    You need to figure out the lighting issue before painting the room dark blue and going from cozy to cavelike. If now is not the right time for floorlamps, wait until the kids are older. tracefloyd's idea seems like a good compromise - no more white, but not as dark as what you're considering. The room looks pretty dark in the picture. If you're in love with navy maybe try it in your bedroom?

  • 4 months ago

    I am really uninterested in comments telling me not to paint the color I choose. Thank you, but I have made up my mind and have a desired look in mind. I am just looking for creative lighting suggestions. I have no problem hanging sconces that are not wired and use rechargeable lightbulbs. The space has loads of natural light. I am not concerned it will be cave-like.

  • 4 months ago



    This is the sort of color and look im looking for.

  • 4 months ago

    you have a very interesting ceiling treatment, I would consider uplights to highlight and bounce light around the room. There are all sorts of affordable sconce lights, I prefer up/down lights that don't show a bare bulb at eye level.

    I recently saw an add for battery operated wall sconces, don't know the source, but I'll edit this post when I find them. I don't mind the navy colored walls

    I did a Den room in SW Virtual Taupe, with a dark wood ceiling, but my floor is White Birch.

    My rug looks fabulous in the light filled dark room!

    Share your finished room so we can see results!

  • 4 months ago

    I have christmas lights that span the metal supports for my ceiling and on top of my cabinets that add a nice glow at night, but i'd love a more sophisticated version of this.

  • 4 months ago

    i also found a lamp option that might be workable - i can put one behind the TV and one in the other corner where the staircase is and they will add a soft glow without taking up much space or adding to clutter


  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    I agree that navy blue isn't the best moody color. What's driving the bus in the room is the ceiling....gold/brown tones would love a sage green. This is B.M. Dry Sage





    Love the floor lamps...I have several around the house.

  • 4 months ago





    Update: i LOVE the paint. i think it makes the wood look amazing - like its glowing. my living room has SO much natural light that its impossible to feel cavernous. i updated the christmas lights to LED lights. added a sconce above my photos, and two lamps in the corners. i also changed all my lightbulbs to smart bulbs that i can dim, so even with the ”big lights” on, im able to turn them down to maintain my moody atmosphere. I still need to finish painting the trim and baseboard, but i am SO happy with my paint color choice and how its turned out

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    If you love the dark paint that’s great, but for heaven’s sake also paint that bright white kitchen door. Assumably you plan to paint the aqua cabinets too?

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Im not done painting - ill get to the door. and the island is english forest green. i dont mind the green and blue together - they are analogous colors. and they are paired well in nature. my living room now has natural wood tones, and blues and greens. nature