How much light do I need in each room?

The right lighting in every room of your home is essential to create a welcoming, functional atmosphere.

However, working out how much light you need can be tricky without experience. That’s why in this article we’ll share some basic guidelines to determine the amount of light required in different spaces of your home.

How to choose the right lighting for each space

Lighting is a fundamental aspect of interior design that can completely transform the atmosphere and functionality of any space. Here are some guidelines to help you pick the right lighting for each room of the home:

Define the purpose of the room

Before selecting the lighting, consider how the space will be used. Is it a living room for relaxing or for family activities? A kitchen where meals are prepared or a study where you need to concentrate?

Understanding the purpose of the room helps you decide the type and amount of light you need.

General lighting

Every room should have a general light source that illuminates the whole space evenly. This can be achieved with recessed ceiling lights, surface fixtures or ceiling lamps.

General lighting provides a bright base that allows mobility and visibility in the room.

Ambient lighting

Also known as decorative lighting, this creates a welcoming atmosphere and complements the general lighting. You can achieve this with floor lamps, wall sconces or indirect LED light.

Ambient lighting is ideal for adding warmth and depth to a room.

How to know how much light you need in each space of your home

To work out how much light each room needs, it’s important to consider several factors, such as the room size, the use it will get and the location of the light sources.

Below are some general guidelines for the right lighting in different rooms of your home.

Living rooms and bedrooms

These spaces lend themselves to soft, warm lighting that creates a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere. A popular choice is to combine ceiling lights with strategically placed floor or table lamps to create focused light points.

This combination lets you adjust the lighting to the activity at hand — reading, watching TV or simply relaxing.

In these rooms, around 10–20 lumens per square metre is enough for adequate lighting.

For this, our Glass Floor lamp can be a perfect fit. Made with a ribbed glass tube, it creates a luminous effect that floats in the atmosphere, dressing any space with elegance and sophistication. Its structure is built from a steel tube, while the PCB LED technology designed by Insolit guarantees efficient and long-lasting lighting.

Its dimmable light function with a foot dimmer also lets you adapt the intensity to your needs and preferences. Fully customisable, this lamp gives you the chance to add a unique touch to your décor.

Kitchen

The kitchen is an area that requires brighter, more functional lighting because of the activities carried out there — cooking, chopping and cleaning. It is recommended to install recessed ceiling lights for general lighting, complemented by lights under the upper cabinets to illuminate the work surfaces.

This combination provides even, shadow-free lighting that makes cooking tasks easier and improves safety in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, it’s important to plan for at least 50–100 lumens per square metre for effective lighting.

The TR Up model by Insolit offers the perfect combination of style and functionality for this space. With its circular design and indirect light, this suspension lamp provides a welcoming, elegant atmosphere.

Equipped with state-of-the-art LED technology and height-adjustable, it’s ideal for adapting to any space with ease. Its surface installation makes it versatile and practical, while full customisation lets you create the perfect atmosphere for your culinary needs.

Bathroom

In the bathroom, it’s essential to have even, shadow-free lighting to ease personal-care tasks such as putting on make-up, shaving or styling your hair. It is recommended to install ceiling lights for general illumination, along with lights around the mirror to illuminate the sink area.

It’s important to avoid direct lighting onto the mirror, as it can cast unpleasant shadows on the face. A popular choice is to install lateral or upper-mirror lights for even, glare-free lighting.

For bathroom light levels, plan for at least 70–80 lumens per square metre for adequate lighting.

In this space, the TR Moon model is a great choice. It is a circular designer wall sconce specifically designed for bathrooms, with IP44 and Class II certification, which guarantees its resistance and safety in humid environments.

Featuring a 5 mm circular mirror and a perimeter dimmable light with integrated dimmer, this sconce offers soft, adjustable lighting to suit your needs. Made with extruded and curved aluminium profile and a polycarbonate gel diffuser, the TR Moon combines durability with elegance. Its flexible PCB LED technology, designed by Insolit, ensures efficient, long-lasting lighting. Its fully customisable design also lets you adapt it to your bathroom’s décor.

Home office

If you have a home office, it’s essential to have proper lighting that promotes concentration and productivity. Dimmable ceiling lights are recommended so you can adjust the intensity to the specific demands of your work.

It is also important to have an adjustable desk lamp to illuminate the work area in a focused way. This combination provides optimal lighting that reduces eye strain and improves performance in office tasks.

For light levels, plan for at least 75–100 lumens per square metre for optimal lighting in the work area.

In this case, the Focus Line Table desk lamp can be the perfect addition to your office. With its machined aluminium design and stainless-steel projector axis, this lamp brings a touch of elegance and modernity to your workspace.

Its black fabric-covered power cable gives it a sophisticated look, careful even in the smallest details. With the integrated On/Off switch you have full control over the lighting, while the USB 1A input lets you keep your mobile devices charged and ready to use at all times.

In short, the right lighting in every room is essential to create a comfortable, functional home environment. With the right combination of ceiling lights, floor lamps and sconces, we can create a balanced and welcoming atmosphere in every corner of our home, improving our quality of life and overall wellbeing.

Frequently asked questions about how much light each room needs

How is the amount of light needed in a room calculated?

The amount of light is calculated from the lumens needed per square metre, which vary depending on the room’s use. A kitchen or bathroom requires more light than a bedroom. Multiplying the surface by the recommended lux gives the total luminous flux required.

How much light does a living room need?

A living room usually needs a medium lighting level, around 100–200 lux, combining a general layer with accent and task light points for reading areas. Layered lighting allows you to adjust the level to each moment of the day.

Is a lot of light better, or layered lighting?

Layered lighting is always preferable to a single powerful source. Splitting the light into several layers — general, task and accent — lets you regulate the atmosphere, avoid glare and adapt each room to its different uses.

Find the lighting solution for every room in the Insolit designer ceiling lamps collection.