How many lights a room needs depends on its floor area and on how much each light can cover. Most of our product pages give that second figure as a lighting area in square metres (“suited to spaces of about 5–10 m²”), which turns the question into simple addition. This guide explains the method, lists the real lighting areas of our ceiling lights, wall lights and floor lamps, and works through five rooms, from a 6 m² hallway to a 30 m² open-plan space.
The method in three steps
- Measure the floor area. Length × width: a 3 × 4 m bedroom is 12 m² (about 130 sq ft).
- Add up the lighting areas. Take the lighting area on each product page and add them together. Use the low figure of each range: if the low total already covers the room, the room will not be dark in the corners.
- Spread the light in layers. One central light rarely reaches every corner on its own. A common approach is three layers: a ceiling light for the whole room, wall lights or floor lamps for the edges, and a lamp where you read or work.
The lighting area is the manufacturer’s estimate for one light. Dark walls, a dark floor or a high ceiling absorb more light, so aim above the floor area in those rooms. The light colour matters too: see warm white vs cool white.
Real lighting areas of our lights
All figures come from our product pages.
| Light | Type | Lighting area per light |
|---|---|---|
| Large Acrylic Chandelier | Ceiling | 15–30 m² |
| Acrylic Flower Chandelier | Ceiling | Ø 40: 3–5 · Ø 50: 5–10 · Ø 60: 10–15 · Ø 70: 15–20 · Ø 80: 20–25 m² |
| Pleated Fabric Dish Pendant | Ceiling | Ø 50: 5–10 · Ø 60: 8–12 · Ø 80 and 100: 10–15 m² |
| French Wabi-Sabi Chandelier | Ceiling | 3–5 m² |
| Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade | Floor lamp | 10–15 m² |
| Amber Dome Arc | Floor lamp | 10–15 m² |
| Cowhide Tube | Floor lamp | 5–10 m² |
| Space Age Chrome Globe | Floor lamp | 5–10 m² |
| Adjustable Polished Metal Spotlight | Wall | 10–15 m² |
| Spanish Marble Alabaster | Wall | 5–10 m² |
| Walnut & Hammered Copper | Wall | 5–10 m² |
| Pleated Glazed Ceramic | Wall | 5–10 m² |
| Travertine | Wall | 3–5 m² |
| Classic Fabric | Wall | 3–5 m² |
| Crystal Disc | Wall | 1–3 m² |
| Two-Tier Plaster | Wall | 1–3 m² |
The range is wide: one Large Acrylic Chandelier covers as much as five to ten Crystal Discs. Small wall lights are accents; large chandeliers and floor lamps do the main work.
Five rooms, worked out
| Room | Floor area | Example combination | Total lighting area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallway | 6 m² | 2 Travertine wall sconces | 6–10 m² |
| Bedroom 3 × 4 m | 12 m² | Pleated Fabric Dish Ø 60 + 2 Classic Fabric beside the bed | 14–22 m² |
| Dining room | 15 m² | Acrylic Flower Ø 60 over the table + 2 Pleated Glazed Ceramic | 20–35 m² |
| Living room 4 × 5 m | 20 m² | Acrylic Flower Ø 70 + Amber Dome Arc | 25–35 m² |
| Open-plan space | 30 m² | Large Acrylic Chandelier + Spanish Marble 75 cm + Cowhide Tube | 25–50 m² |
In the open-plan example the low total (25 m²) is below the floor area, so add one more light, for example a Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade (10–15 m²) in the reading corner, to reach 35–65 m². A living room with no ceiling point works too: a Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade and an Amber Dome Arc together cover 20–30 m², enough for 20 m².
Size the central light to the room as well: our guides to living room ceiling lights and bedroom ceiling lights explain the diameter, and types of floor lamps compares the lamps that light the edges.
Frequently asked questions
How many lights do I need in a 20 m² living room?
Enough for the low figures of their lighting areas to add up to at least 20 m². Usually two or three lights: for example an Acrylic Flower Ø 70 (15–20 m²) and an Amber Dome Arc floor lamp (10–15 m²).
Is one ceiling light enough for a bedroom?
It can cover the area: a Pleated Fabric Dish Ø 60 is suited to about 8–12 m². But a ceiling light alone leaves the bedside in its own shadow, so most bedrooms add a pair of wall lights or lamps for reading.
What does “lighting area” mean on a product page?
It is the floor area that one light is designed to cover, as stated by the manufacturer. Treat it as a guide: dark walls and high ceilings need more light, pale walls reflect more.
See our pendant lights, wall lights and floor lamps, and our guide to living room lighting ideas.
