7 mistakes in living room lighting

Proper lighting sets the mood of an interior, makes it functional, and contributes to comfort. Together with OBI experts, we explain how not to make mistakes in choosing and planning lighting.

You didn't plan the lighting in advance

Experts recommend planning the placement of sockets, switches, lamps, and lighting fixtures before renovation. This is important to make concealed wiring, leave outlets for sockets, and avoid damaging the finish. For example, recessed spotlights should be installed under a suspended or drop ceiling — it's not possible afterward.

Design: Mikhail Novinsky

How to make an electrical plan?

Experts from the construction company "Good" suggest letting your imagination run wild. Before starting the renovation, think about what kind of lighting you want in each specific area, where you would like to add extra lighting, how many lamps you need in the room and what kind. Literally: take a pen and paper and walk through your apartment, jotting down ideas as you go. Then mark sockets and switches on the measurement plan and discuss it with the renovation team.

You didn't consider furniture and appliance placement

The placement of switches should be planned considering the arrangement of furniture, so that you don't have to search for them behind a cabinet or dresser. Correct switch placement is at 75–90 cm from the floor and 15 cm from the door. Another important factor is placing switches on the side of the door handle.

The same applies to sockets for appliances. To avoid having to use an extension cord from a socket to the TV, plan in advance where you would like to place household appliances.

Design: Galina Lo

Successful purchases: Schneider-electric Blanca switch, OBI.

The product is made in an aluminum color from durable and long-lasting plastic. It is only for rooms with normal humidity, for concealed wiring, and is wall-mounted. The package includes a wide mounting frame.

Legrand Etika frame, OBI.

A 1-gang frame for a socket or switch.

Legrand Cariva dimmer, OBI.

Used to regulate the electrical power of a load, usually for adjusting the brightness of incandescent or halogen lamps.

Only one chandelier was installed under the ceiling

Having only one light source in a room creates dark corners and makes it feel smaller, so it's important to plan several lighting scenarios. For example, participants in our column Elena and Yaroslav regret not thinking about this during renovation. "We have been living in our apartment for almost a year, and I often feel short of light and space. Also, during the renovation phase, we could have arranged sockets or direct electrical supply for wall sconces, floor-standing, or suspended lights," Elena said.

Design: Elena and Yaroslav Loshkiny

Successful purchases:

Lumion chandelier, OBI.

Suitable for a living room with low ceilings. White metal frame with wear marks, ornamental metal shades.

Sofia ceiling chandelier, OBI.

Ornamental plant motifs made of chrome-plated metal and glass in a modern style. 16 bulbs evenly arranged in a circle. E27 base allows using small energy-efficient halogen lamps.

J-Light chandelier, OBI.

Designed for installation on high ceilings. 8-arm structure. Shades made of transparent decorative glass. Materials are resistant to mechanical damage, moisture, and corrosion.

You didn't consider the shape and size of the room

Proper lighting distribution can hide imperfections in a space. For example, suspended chandeliers and bowl-shaped lights make the ceiling appear higher, while lamps with shades visually lower the ceiling height. Point lighting and LED accent lighting visually reduce the room size, making them suitable for large rooms.

Design: Anna Ermann

Successful purchases:

J-Light Selina pendant, OBI.

Features a restrained and minimalist design, suitable for local and general lighting in kitchen zones, above bar counters, in cafes, bars, country houses, and verandas.

Eglo Pasteri floor lamp, OBI.

Base made of steel, gray textile shade.

CMI wall sconce, OBI.

Light fixture made of natural wood, can only be used in indoor environments. Model with a standard base, maximum lamp power of 60 W.

You chose lamps with 'cool' light

Light temperature plays an important role in comfortable living. For the living room and other living spaces, experts recommend choosing warm white light — less than 3300 K. It helps relax and is pleasant for the eyes.

Design: Alena Chekalina

Successful purchases:

Led Rev "Vintage" lamp, OBI.

A designer LED lamp for lounges, bars, office use, or home.

Led Rev Diamond lamp, OBI.

Energy-efficient with low heat emission. Light spread angle: 360 degrees.

Led Rev "Filament" lamp, OBI.

Durable, provides excellent color rendering.

You bought low-power devices

Did you know that according to established standards, 10 W of light is required per square meter of room? If less, the room will be uncomfortable and even dangerous to health because constant insufficient lighting reduces visual acuity?

Design: Dasha Ukhlinova

Successful purchases:

Six-point spot, OBI, made of chrome-plated metal with white acrylic shades. Included are stationary LED modules at 4.3 W, 300 lumens each. Light spread angle: 180 degrees.

Two-point spot, OBI,

Made of black metal. Included are halogen lamps 2xGU10 at 42 W, 330 lumens each. Light spread angle: 360 degrees, can be mounted on ceiling or wall.

One-point spot Luminarte Spot, OBI.

Constructed from metal. The spotlight can rotate in the vertical plane. Transparent glass diffuser does not obstruct light flow, and the built-in LED emits cool white light.

You forgot that you can save on electricity

Modern lamps help save electricity, thus reducing utility costs. Choose energy-saving lamps (their luminous efficacy is 50–90 lumens per watt) or LED accent lighting.

Design: Olga Syrukh

Successful purchases:

LED strip "Era", OBI.

With special adapters, you can mount lighting fixtures of any length. The strip is cuttable and easy to connect and power. Lifespan exceeds 30,000 hours.

CEILING CHANDELIER MW-Light, OBI.

The fixture can be controlled via a mobile app using Bluetooth to change brightness and lighting temperature. The inner circle changes colors in the RGB palette. The light fixture is equipped with built-in speakers and plays music from your phone.

CEILING CHANDELIER J-Light, OBI.

The model is ideal for small spaces with low ceilings. The structure can be mounted on any canvas, including suspended and drop ceilings. Easy to mount and connect to the network without professional help.

On the cover: design project by Andrey Rybakov.