Big light on in the living room?

[ViviPru]

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??

We only have a big light. I like to be able to see what I am doing.

No "big lights" here either, can't stand them on. We have two lamps and fairy lights.

I have a friend who uses the "big lights" I find it hard to relax and even harder to concentrate on conversation.

Your friends are wrong OP.

I hate the main light on. Only ever use table lamps.

"The big light"

MadBusLady I like how you kindly perform a service for them! And quite, regarding plush hotels and restaurants, the classier the place, the softer the lighting, generally... Now I guess we cold get a bit snobbish about this (moi?) but my friend who was incredulous did admit that her other friend calls the overhead lamp she has a penchant for "the smack light". Rather apt!!

I love my outlaws but fuck their house is sensory overload

big glaring light

telly or radio on blaring

heating cranked up to furnace level

I didn't think I had sensory issues but I do when I go there

Well, that's just it RhondaJean. I don't want to have to jump up and whip round changing the lighting at a key moment because I'm afraid of it bouncing off my flabby bits!

I hate having the big light on in the evening and will set the lounge up with the side lights and atmospheric lamp with the green shade then DH comes in, decides he wants to sew and puts the big light back on. Does my head in sometimes especially cos he has got a daylight task light thingy so doesn't really need the big light on.

I have 4 lamps and a floor lamp ( soft grey) plus fairy lights across the mantelpiece and candles .
I would shoot anyone who turned on the main light .

Big light only.

I'd like lamps etc but we don't have the space or money atm to change it all and make that work.

NotAddicted , "I like to be able to see what I am doing" what, autopsies? Restoring ancient tapestries?

I prefer the big light, but DH prefers the lamps. We actually have two big lights in this room, but often only have one on.

His parents never use their big light. My parents put all the lights on, including the big light.

We have open plan living room/dining room and a big light in each area.

Both are on dimmers and we put the dining room one on low at night which gives us a soft light.

We don't have any tables for a table lamp and don't like floor lamps.

Big light not bright enough for me. I have a halogen bulb upright lamp in the living room that can dim if required e.g if watching a film. Eyesight not brilliant and hate the dingy light low energy lightbulbs give.

iwouldgoouttonight - did the fluorescent strip hum?
We had one of them in the hall of my old student flat - we had whack it with the broom handle to kick start it.

I like the big light on for dark winter mornings! Weekend evenings, definitely prefer a lamp. But in the week if I am faffing with work stuff I prefer it brighter.

Love smack light and also never realised we are not alone in calling it the big light

Lamps all the way. Both dp and me hate the big light even though it's a beautiful chandelier and has a dimmer. Dp however hates the lamps too, he'd rather sit in the dark.

We have a central light but rarely turn it on. Big standing light, other floor light and two wall lights instead.

You try cross stitching in the murky gloom of a 40 watt table light. You can't even separate the threads properly.

Ragwort, nuts that I appear to have stumbled across something that's such a bone of contention in relationships. Hilarious thought of you in your head torch plotting your DHs demise.

I think I probably do have sensory issues actually. I get twitchy and anti-social when people have the Tv or radio on too loud.

I don't get out much.

This bugs me so much I have been forced to de-lurk and register just to comment. I cannot stand the big light OFF and really don't feel I can relax until I can really see properly even if I'm just chatting. What's even stranger is my Mum is a big light hater so never had one on as a child.

If i get home and the big light is off I can't stop myself turning it on- I have been known to ask friends if I can put it on when visiting their houses. I feel even more strongly if the tv is on, it makes it feel like the tv is just sucking everyone in. I had no idea people felt strongly the other way. Always assumed people just hadn't got round to turning it on as it got darker. You live and learn!

I hate the big light. It has an elaborate 8 candle bulb candelabra type fitting. On the rare occasions the all work it's far too bright. Slightly dodgy electrics and very high ceiling means there is rarely a full set of working bulbs.

ViviPru brilliant.

Welcome to MN RunTumMum! Even though you are quite, quite wrong.