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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Big light on in the living room?

334 replies

ViviPru · 20/01/2014 21:17

I've just had one of those peculiar moments whereby something that you thought you knew to be a universal truth is turned on its head.

I was commenting to some friends about how irksome and peculiar I find it that another friend only has one light source in their living room, the main ceiling light, which they have on all evening. It's really bright, not on a dimmer and I find it really hard to relax there. My two friends were baffled saying that's what they do too (never been to their houses in the evening so I wouldn't know) and made out like I was the peculiar one as we rarely use our main overhead ceiling light.

Now all these years I've never questioned it, as far as I was concerned, in the evenings one would have a couple of table lamps on, enough light to read by, that's how it was at home growing up, that's what my parents do and what DH's parents do. Obviously I know some people have the overhead light on as you can see through windows at dusk but I slways just assumed these folk were the peculiar minority.", or they'd just stuck it on to clean/find something/perform a task.

Another friend has impaired eyesight so she likes a lot of light at all times, which is completely understandable. But those whose eyesight is fine, I can't understand why anyone would want to sit in glaring bright light all evening... But according to my friends I'm the minority...

I don't care what anyone does in the comfort if their own home, I'm not saying no one should use the main light but that I genuinely thought that barely anyone did... According to my friends this is completely at odds with reality.... What say you??

OP posts:
Divinity · 21/01/2014 20:07

Has to be big light. I can't stand the flickering on the tv otherwise as it hurts my eyes. Besides soft lighting means I fall asleep. Literally. I do fall asleep in seconds once I'm in bed so I think a dimly lit room is a signal to my brain to start the shutdown process.

ViviPru · 21/01/2014 20:28

Grin @ I fear we overshoot 'intimate' and hit 'brothel'.

I think JapaneseMargaret sums up well with
Maybe some people just aren't doing it right...

I simply can't envisage a stylish room in the evening lit by a Big Light. It's a dichotomy.

OP posts:
HanSolo · 21/01/2014 20:38

Gosh- I can't believe all these weirdos that sit in the dark! Shock

Wink

Big light on here, can't stand not being able to see things (such as loofahs!).

My favourite lamp got broken in our recent house move, so I don't even put that on any more...

scratchandsniff · 21/01/2014 20:43

I absolutely hate it when people have the big light on. It's one of my bugbears. I feel like I'm still in the office if the main light is on, not relaxing at all.

scratchandsniff · 21/01/2014 20:45

I absolutely hate it when people have the big light on. It's one of my bugbears. I feel like I'm still in the office if the main light is on, not relaxing at all.

Moreisnnogedag · 21/01/2014 20:48

We've gravitated towards being a big light only family. DS broke the floor lamp and besides DH insisted on switching on the big light even when the floor lamp is on.

His parents have the place lit up like the 4th of July. Big light. Two floor lamps. Table lamp. Twinkly lights.

He insists the room is bright during the day no matter what and is somehow surprised that DS won't nap with him but will fall asleep on the couch with me.

LadyBeagleEyes · 21/01/2014 20:50

Nobody is sitting in the dark, we just have cosy lamps giving ambience to the room. I have a lamp beside me that I can read with fine without glaring overhead lights, which is like sitting in a waiting room.

Ledkr · 21/01/2014 20:52

As soon as its dark I close curtains and put lamps on and light candles and fire if its cold. I love it. So much more relaxing than a big overhead spotlight!

FannyBazaar · 21/01/2014 20:53

I have reassessed my lighting and discovered I have a fairy light thing which has been hanging in my living room for a number of years now, never turned on. I have found a plug and plugged it in in case of dim loving friends visiting.

I have always though there was something wrong with hotel rooms for not having overhead lights and only annoying side lamps, seems I'm in the minority. Forever searching for the proper light switch in hotel rooms...

I also hate sunglasses, is there a connection there? And blinds or curtains closed during the day if you are not sleeping is sinful, even if the sun is brightly shining in.

WitchWay · 21/01/2014 20:54

I hate the big light on but DH prefers it unless watching TV

moondog · 21/01/2014 20:56

Also loathe folk closing curtains before properly dark.
MIL was a bugger for this. That and sealing every door of every room as you go in/out. Thus trapped in a box with big light resolutely on. Stress levels soared.
Obviously it was for economy's sake but so repressive.

ViviPru · 21/01/2014 20:58

Ahh bless you Fanny, that's so considerate. Smile

OP posts:
MrsKoala · 21/01/2014 21:15

My dad is an electrician, so every room has loads of different light sources and each time of day and season demands a convoluted combination of which ones are switched on and to what and dimness. If he goes out the first thing he does when he arrives home is berate me/mum for having x light on and y light off, and not dim enough/too dim. I have never managed to get it right.

Pils sit in the pitch dark with no lights on and just the light from the small crappy tele.

We have our overhead spots on but dimmed (i've never had one big light - see dad for reason why!) in the evenings. Dh likes it darker than i do tho, so the nob is constantly being adjusted.

moondog · 21/01/2014 21:20

'Dh likes it darker than i do tho, so the nob is constantly being adjusted.'

The man or the light? Grin
FAB to have electrician dad!

MrsKoala · 21/01/2014 21:24

Sadly moondog that particular nob cannot be adjusted - it is constantly set to dim! Grin

moondog · 21/01/2014 21:25

Hilarious.
I am shaking with mirth.

MrsKoala · 21/01/2014 21:25

Very much a joke by the way before anyone flames me! i just couldn't resist my inner Les Dawson.

moondog · 21/01/2014 21:27
Grin
androbbob · 21/01/2014 21:31

The only one that puts 'The Big Light On' in this house is my mum when she is babysitting. Blooming Blackpool Illuminations - far too bright. We use two lamps that have three dimmable settings, so can alter the ambience as required!

WookieWoo · 21/01/2014 21:32

My parents hated The Big Light in their living room so much they had it removed and the ceiling replastered!

Needless to say, I have inherited this "quirk" and go absolutely bonkers if anyone leaves a big light on in my house and I have an ever expanding collection of lamps to suit all tastes and occasions.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 21/01/2014 21:35

We don't even have one.

Have two table lamps, two floor lamps. Tis all good.

Sunflower49 · 21/01/2014 21:39

I'm 31, and have always hated sitting about in the dark-even as a kid I never understood why my parents liked to sit in the pitch black in the sitting room!

squoosh · 21/01/2014 21:58

It's like a brass gallows for an owl.

My Aunt would love that, but then she has little placards up around her house that say things like 'God loves this house but he sure doesn't clean it!'.

MadBusLady · 21/01/2014 21:58

I find that a bit sinister. Poor little owl!