How to Light a Living Room With No Overhead Lighting

The most obvious solution for a room without a ceiling light is to invest in a floor lamp. But, if you’re short on floor space, find a single floor lamp that will emit enough light to fill up most of the room.

Here’s a great example of a lamp that fits the bill. The ‘shade’ is less of a shade and more decorative. There is plenty of space for light to break through and fill up the room. Plus, you’ll get some really cool shadows out of it.

Plug-In Pendant

One way to still get some overhead lighting is by using removable ceiling lights that plug into an outlet, like this pendant light.

To make this work, you will need to install a hook on the ceiling to drape the cord from. It’s a great way to still get some light in the room if you’re low on floor space.

Desk Lamps

Desk lamps tend to me smaller than table lamps, so they are a smart option for a home with several places that could use some light. Desk lamps work well on console tables, end tables, book cases, and even mantles.

Sconce

Another way to keep the floor clear without sacrificing light is to install a wall-mounted sconce. If you don’t want to have an electrician come in to do wiring work, then consider a plug-in option.

In this photo, the sconce plugs into an outlet below and it even has a little table attached, which makes it a fantastic option for a small living room without a ceiling light.

Chandelier Swag Light

If you have big dreams of a chandelier, you don’t have to sacrifice them because your living room doesn’t have a ceiling light, just get a plug-in one designed to be a swag light.

Swag ceiling lights without wiring are a fantastic solution for dark rooms. Just plug them in, have the wire run up the wall, and hang them from a hook in the ceiling. If you don’t love the look of a wire running up the wall, you can get a wire cover from just about any electronics store.

Floor Lamp With No Shade

As mentioned earlier, the less shade there is on a floor lamp, the better. Or, you can forego the shade all together!

The lamp in this photo doesn’t have a shade, but it is designed that way so it still looks decorative. It will let out a lot of light into the room, so you won’t even miss a ceiling light!

Hanging Edison Bulb

If you love the idea of exposed bulbs, a hanging Edison bulb makes for a great temporary ceiling light. It’s not much different from a swag light – just plug it in and hang it from a hook in the ceiling. It will give you a lot of light and will look really good in a living room with an industrial aesthetic.

Spotlight Floor Lamp

One way to emit a lot of light? A spotlight floor lamp.

In this photo, the floor lamp is designed to create a spotlight effect, but it still looks decorative so it won’t stick out. If you decide to get something like this, just make sure you find a soft bulb and position the lamp in a place where it won’t shine too bright into someone’s eyes.

Window String Lighting

Instead of searching for traditional overhead lighting solutions, think outside the box. These window string lights are a fun way to bring in some dim lighting, which makes for some very cozy relaxing at night!

Chandelier Sconce

If you don’t like the idea of putting a hook into your ceiling (which could be especially problematic in an apartment), but still want a pretty chandelier, consider doing something like this instead.

All you need to do is mount something to the wall, hang the chandelier from it instead of the ceiling, and plug it into the wall. Just make sure whatever you get to hang it from sticks out from the wall far enough.

Floor Lamp with Multiple Bulbs

Finding a floor lamp with multiple bulbs will help you get the most out of your non hardwired lighting. The more bulbs you have, the brighter the room, after all.

One thing to keep in mind when picking out a lamp like this, though, is that a lot of bulbs do still emit a bit of heat. So, try not to position the lamp right by your favorite chair because you might get a little hot.

Uplights

Ceiling lights shine light down, whereas an uplight sends the light upwards towards the ceiling. Both of these styles can bring a lot of light into a room.

You can go big with a floor uplight, which often looks like something you’d find on a theater stage, or you can opt for something a little more decorative like this table uplight.

Tree Lamp

Another way to get a lot of light out of a single lamp is to invest in a tree light, like this one. It’s simply a tall floor lamp with various bulbs up the base. They’re usually decorative and can fit right into a room’s decor. However, as mentioned before, pay attention to whether or not the bulbs put off too much heat.

A Pair of Table Lamps

If you have a bit of table space, consider setting up two table lamps in different sizes to double up on the light while still looking stylish.

You can opt for a large and small size lamp in the same style, like in this photo, or look for something that works together but isn’t too matchy. It all depends on your style and your space!

Candle Displays