A flexible and well-planned lighting scheme will greatly enhance the visual impact and ambience of your living room. The ability to vary the level of illumination in the room, and the areas and elements that are highlighted, can change the living room from a practical working space – ideal for homework or playing games – to an intimate and soothing setting – ideal for relaxation and entertaining.

General lighting
You will need a good, even level of lighting throughout the room. A single, or in large rooms, a double pendant fitting is one option; another is a handful of recessed halogen spotlights fitted into the ceiling. Fit the lights with a dimmer switch (halogen lights require an inductive dimmer), to make the general lighting flexible. In the evenings, you can relax by turning the general lighting down low, and complementing it with occasional peaks of accent lighting.

Accent lighting

Alcoves, shelves, pictures and pieces of furniture can all be highlighted to great effect by the judicious use of accent lights. Low-voltage halogen is an excellent option – its pure white light defines an object in a more powerful and attractive way than golden tungsten light. You could use spotlights or small table lamps.

Mood lighting

In the evenings, the mood of your living room will always benefit from the flicker of a soft candle or the moving flames of a natural fire. The flickering reflections of the flames on the walls has a soothing quality, ideal for relaxing after a busy day at work when the children are safely nicked up in bed.

Living room safety

It is always best to be aware of potential safety problems before they arise. This ensures that you can relax in your living room with your partner and children, rather than be on guard duty. The following may be worth considering:

- Keep all breakable items out of reach, as they can cause a nasty cut and may be expensive to replace
- Never use floor polish on natural timber floors – especially if you have additional rugs – as this can make them dangerously slippery; instead, use specialist floor cleaning products that will clean and maintain your floor without leaving it shiny and slippery
- Make sure all cables and electric wiring are out of reach
- Hi-fi and television cabinets must have adequate ventilation, and make sure that all appliances are switched off after use
- Secure all shelving and bookcases firmly to the walls using the correct fixings, as unsecured shelving can result in serious accidents
- Do not put hot drinks on low-level tables when toddlers are around
- All fires, natural or electric, should have safety guards, which are now available in a wide range of attractive styles
- Never leave candles or natural fires unattended – the results can be devastating