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Step 1
During the course of a few days, keep track of the time of day in which the living room receives sunlight.
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Step 2
Keep track of when you feel like you want to turn on a light. This will help you determine your comfort level with the amount of light in the room.
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Step 3
Note the direction from which the windows and doors let natural light into the living room. Check the Tips (below) to see the color effect the natural light has on your living room.
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Step 4
Plan how you want to light each area of the room.
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Step 5
Buy incandescent lightbulbs for daytime lighting that are in the same color range as the natural light in the room. For example, if your living room faces east, use a bulb with yellowish intensity for daytime lighting. This does not mean buy a yellow-colored lightbulb.
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Step 1
Place multiple floor lamps across from each other. The lamps should have frosted three-way bulbs turned on low to create a warm and quiet mood. The medium setting creates a conversational mood and the high setting creates an entertaining mood.
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Step 2
Use table lamps with clear incandescent bulbs to give bright light for reading and other activities.
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Step 3
Use clear incandescent bulbs in chandeliers or overhead ceiling lights to emit bright, diffused light.
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Step 4
Use incandescent bulbs in hanging lights placed in corners of the room to create a mysterious mood.
