Top Interior Designers Share Their Living Room Lighting Tips
August 11, 2024
Your living room is more than just a place to sit—it's where style meets function and lighting sets the tone. Whether you’re planning a subtle refresh or a full makeover, the right expert advice makes all the difference. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the best interior designers, each sharing their top living room design tips and favorite MOD Lighting picks to inspire your next transformation.
Why Living Room Interior Design Matters
The living room is the heart of your home. It’s where you relax, entertain, and express your style. Great design combines layout, furniture, textures, and lighting to create a space that feels both beautiful and livable. Proper lighting—like layered setups, dimmers, and statement pieces—can instantly elevate your living room. Whether you’re in a studio apartment or a large home, these insights from top designers will help you achieve the perfect ambiance.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide:
Expert interior design tips for the living room
Favorite living room lighting strategies from each designer
MOD Lighting product recommendations from each expert
Direct links to shop their curated MOD collections
Featured Interior Designers
Gilla Nordike - Gilla Leigh Home Designs
Location: Missouri
Instagram: @gillaleighhome.designs
Website: https://gillaleighhomedesigns.wpcomstaging.com
Living Room Design Tip:“How to make a living room feel larger and more spacious: Raise your curtain rods, keep the corners of your rooms empty, paint with lighter colors, float your furniture in the center of the space. Last but not least, lighting is everything. The perfect lighting sets the mood for the entire room design.”
Jenna Morrow - Morrow Design Studios
Location: Washington, DC
Instagram: @jennadmorrow
Website: https://morrowdesignstudios.com
Living Room Design Tip:“When designing for a living room, you want to layer your lighting. Have lighting on the ceiling whether that be a central light fixture or recessed lighting. Then, pair it with task lighting such as a reading light and lastly, include accent lighting like a floor lamp or sconces on the wall.”
N. Raaghav - A Plus R Architects
Location: Dubai
Instagram: @aplusr.architects_
Website: https://aplusrarchitects.com
Living Room Design Tip:“Keep it minimalistic in the sense from planning of space , flow of light, furniture and access points . It is really significant to focus on functional aspect in a living room , using appropriate lighting and textures”
Evelyn Benatar - New York Interior Design, Inc
Location: New York City, New York
Instagram: @nyinteriordesign
Website: https://www.nyinteriordesign.com/
Living Room Design Tip:“Soft ambient lighting creates a flattering glow that enhances both the room and the people in it. Unlike harsh overhead light, which casts sharp shadows, diffused fixtures like sconces, pendants, or lamps wash the space in warmth and balance. This makes skin tones look radiant and helps everyone feel more comfortable—perfect for living rooms, dining areas, or spaces where people gather.”
Wendy Puffer - Marion Design Co.
Location: Marion, IN
Instagram: @mariondesignco
Website: https://www.mariondesign.co
Living Room Design Tip:“Layer your lighting so it adapts to the moment. Combine overhead fixtures with sconces, lamps, or candles to create depth and flexibility. This way, you can brighten the room for lively gatherings or dim it down for a cozy, intimate mood.”
More Living Room Interior Design Inspiration
How to Light a Living Room for Style and Comfort
Lighting is one of the most effective ways to influence mood, functionality, and visual appeal. To get it right:
Layer your lighting: Start with ambient lighting (like ceiling fixtures), then add task lighting (like reading lamps), and finally accent lighting (like wall sconces or LED strips).
Use dimmers: They let you control the atmosphere for different activities—bright for working or reading, soft for movie nights.
Play with temperature: Warm white lighting creates a cozy environment, while cooler tones feel modern and energizing.
Try asymmetry: Don’t feel the need to have matching lamps on both ends of a sofa—staggering light sources adds interest and depth.
🛒 Explore: MOD Lighting Dimmable Collection
Designing a Functional Yet Beautiful Living Space
The best living rooms balance how a space looks with how it lives. Tips to achieve that balance:
Start with scale: Choose furniture that fits the room without overcrowding it.
Anchor the space: Use a rug to visually define your seating area and create structure.
Layer in texture: Mix materials—leather, velvet, linen, wood, and metal—for a dynamic, inviting look.
Create a focal point: A stunning chandelier, a bold piece of art, or a sculptural coffee table can instantly elevate the entire room.
Optimize traffic flow: Leave enough space to move easily through the room—ideally 30–36 inches between major pieces.
Common Living Room Design Mistakes to Avoid
Even stylish spaces can fall flat if some core principles are overlooked. Avoid these pitfalls:
Relying on a single overhead light, which can make the room feel flat and cold.
Not considering scale, leading to oversized or undersized furniture that disrupts flow and comfort.
Blocking natural light with heavy drapes or bulky furniture.
Floating rugs—ensure your rug is large enough so at least the front legs of sofas and chairs rest on it.
Too many small décor items, which can create visual clutter instead of cohesion.
Design Tip: Less is more—edit your space like a stylist.
Trending Living Room Styles in 2025
Interior design in 2025 is all about personality, sustainability, and warmth. Here are the styles making waves this year:
Warm Minimalism: Clean lines and clutter-free spaces meet cozy textures and muted palettes. Think creamy neutrals, wood tones, and natural fibers.
Biophilic Design: Embrace nature indoors with plants, organic materials, earthy colors, and soft, natural lighting.
Retro Revival: Mid-century modern curves, vintage lighting, and nostalgic pops of color are coming back with a modern twist.
Modern Maximalism: Bold colors, mixed patterns, gallery walls, and layered lighting—maximalist doesn’t mean messy when done right.
Sculptural Lighting as Art: Fixtures aren’t just functional—they’re focal points. Look for abstract shapes and architectural lines.
Browse: 2025 Trend Lighting Collection
Bonus Tip: Use Lighting to Tell a Story
Want to give your living room a "wow" factor? Think of lighting as more than utility—use it to:
Highlight architectural details like beams or alcoves.
Add drama to corners with uplights or hidden LEDs.
Create cozy reading nooks with pendant lights or adjustable arms.
Lighting, when done right, becomes the mood, the emotion, and the art of the room.
Living Room Lighting Ideas
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Small Living Room Lighting Ideas: Low Ceilings
The right light fixture can open up a small area, create a stunning focal point, and completely transform the feeling of your living room. If you're looking for creative, design-forward solutions that maximize style and elevate function, these lighting ideas will help you turn any small, low-ceilinged room into a luminous, welcoming retreat. Explore these carefully curated small living room lighting ideas for low ceiling spaces and discover how lighting can elevate, expand, and inspire.