Why the big light is the problem, and where the three small ones should go.

Turn off the ceiling light. Most living rooms are lit from the one place that flatters nobody.
Three heights
Put one lamp low, near the floor, one at eye level beside a chair and one high, reaching over the sofa. Light at three heights makes a room feel bigger at night.
Warm bulbs at 2700K, dimmers everywhere, and the big light only for finding keys.
Where to start
- A floor lamp that reaches over the sofa
- A table lamp on the sideboard or console
- A pendant hung low over the dining table
Read next · MakingInside the workshop in JutlandJournal
GuidesHow to choose a sofa you will keep for twenty yearsSeat depth, frame, fabric and the one measurement everybody forgets: the front door.Read the guide
Living with oiled oakWater rings, sunlight and the ten-minute job that keeps a table beautiful.
Lighting a living room with three lampsWhy the big light is the problem, and where the three small ones should go.
Inside the workshop in JutlandEleven makers, one kiln, and a travertine saw that takes a morning to cut a single top.
Start with the fabric
Order up to six fabric swatches and three wood finishes. Hold them against your wall, your floor and your dog — then decide.
- White-glove deliveryCarried in, assembled, boxes gone
- 10-year guaranteeOn every frame and joint
- Repairs for lifeBy the workshop that made it




