Living room lights?

[TheFlakyPoet]

Spot lights are the easier option, but wondering if ceiling lights would be better in a long living/dining room with 2 ceiling lights, for softer lighting and more relaxing feel.

Probably a daft question but will the spotlights be in the ceiling? I have my main lights but have also set up Phillips Hue lights lower down in the room for when I want a softer atmosphere.

Never spotlights!

yes, spot lights in the ceiling instead of ceiling lights.

I really dislike spotlights, unless they're in a commercial setting. It would also depend on your decor.

We inherited spot lights in our flat. They're awful. They cast light in weird ways and don't illuminate the room fully in the way normal lights do. Photos taken inside once we've had to switch on the lights usually look shite because the lights shine too intensely in certain spots, but leave other areas dimly-lit. They even give me migraines because of the unevenness of their lighting, and I can't use my PC once it's gone dark for this very reason. I therefore only use lamps once the kids are asleep.

Thank goodness we're moving into a house, which hasn't been renovated since the 70s. We'll be having 2 ceiling lights just as you're thinking of. They worked perfectly in my mother's and grandparents' homes, so they surely will in mine. We'll continue to use lamps when we want a softer light for relaxation purposes.

Thanks so much for the replies, that's really helped.
I'm gravitating towards ceiling lights but as have really high ceilings i'll have to look for something that is height adjustable.

I'd go for lamps every time over any kind of ceiling light - much cosier.

Ceiling lights and table lamps for ambient lighting. Rooms need both.

Spot lights will make it look like landing lights of a runway. ✈️

We have small, dimmable spots that wash the artwork, as well as wall sconces and lamps. We always keep the spots dimmed very low and they're great for a nice, subtle glow, but I wouldn't want them as our main room lighting. If they were bright enough to light the room, I think they'd feel harsh, even at warmer temps.

Ceiling lights as a feature and use lamps for evening light. We never turn on the ‘big light’ 🤣

Not spotlights-
•lots of work to have put in if not already there
•a right pain to change the bulbs
•not the right kind of light

A ceiling light and lamps much nicer

I moved into a relatively new built house and the previous (original) owners purchased many spotlights in every room except two bedrooms.
I would never have chose to put them in a living room but here we are - six spotlights, which were like the kitchen ones - very cool and bright.
I've since changed them for Philips Hue ambient white which are dimmable and they switch on as a nice warm shade.
I do wish there was just one 'big light' though.
I typically use my lamps anyway.
I suspect it would be messy and expensive to add one retrospectively 🤔

A house with high ceilings sounds like it might be an old house, possibly Victorian etc.?
I would always choose a beautiful pendant light(s) in that scenario.
Light size proportionate to room size is essential though.

I don’t mind my kitchen spotlights (though also have a ceiling light and wall lights around the dining part) but would never have them anywhere else in the house

Ceiling lights for when you need to turn 'the big lights on' but plenty of table lamps for normal use.

Thanks everyone for your replies. We've gone for ceiling pendants with a spots on the outside, both on dimmers.

Ideally you want a mixture of different light sources at different levels (ceiling, wall, table)

I have a mix of

recessed downlights - just one in each corner, no runways, good for background light

central ceiling light

picture light on the wall

Table lamp

light strips embedded in some bookshelves (would have another lamp if I didn’t have these)

This, though we actually only have the ceiling lights because it’s a Victorian house with original roses and cornicing, and the ceiling woukd look odd without a central light. They’re literally never used. Table and standard lamps, wall sconces, pendants over dining table.

I don't use any of my overhead lights apart from occasionally in the kitchen.
Lamps are the way forward, or possibly wall lights but hard to retro fit them