How to Make the Right Choice for Your Lighting?

Some things may seem more obvious. Simply putting "a light" somewhere in the room will certainly help. But sometimes you don't get the results you want.

Here are some living room lighting tips to keep in mind:

The number of bulbs and the amount of light they produce (measured in watts or, more precisely, lumens ).
The distance between the bulb and important objects, surfaces or people (influences the amount of light that reaches the subject).
The lightness or reflectivity of objects and surfaces (darker surfaces absorb light, lighter walls make better use of light fixtures).
The type of bulb and color temperature (low Kelvin bulbs are more yellow, high Kelvin bulbs are more white or blue).
The degree to which the bulbs are protected by a lampshade or cover - these will block or diffuse the light.
The "shape" of the light emitted by the light fixture or lamp , i.e. the directions in which the light radiates - up, down, sideways, in all directions? This is largely dictated by the style of lampshade used.
The amount of sunlight entering the room – can you remove furniture or other items that block natural daylight, and is there adequate lighting at night when there is no sunlight?
What kinds of reflections, highlights or shadows can light produce, for example on walls and ceilings, and can you make this a deliberate decorative element?
The coloring of the lampshade covering the bulb - it will influence and filter the light output, "coloring" the entire room in one shade. To get a full range of colors, you need white or full spectrum lamps that are not filtered by the lampshade itself.
Be wary of light fixtures that are underpowered or under-bright. Some decorative light fixtures may be designed more for appearance (e.g., using low-wattage vintage decorative bulbs) than for meaningful room lighting, unless that's what you want.