Lighting ideas for open plan living area

[SunnyUpNorth]

Renovating an apartment at the moment that will have four ‘zones’ in the living area. There will be the kitchen, the living room area, the dining area and then a cosy reading corner.

Lighting is not my forte. The ceilings are very high and my lighting taste is probably quite simple which I feel would get lost in the high ceilings.

I’m wondering if I should do fittings that are similar to each other but slightly different eg a triple pendant version of something in the kitchen but a single version in the living room etc.

I don’t really like big statement pieces. Inherited some chandeliers in our current house which get so dusty and are impossible to clean so that sort of thing is out.

Help!

Hav8ng enough power points to have uplighters and floor lamps would be good for reading area. www.lightmynest.com/blog/lighting-a-room-with-a-high-ceiling

First of all I would put plenty of recessed lighting in the ceilings as your basic background light, then a single low hanging pendant over the dining table, two/three pendants over your island if you have one, strip lighting under your wall units to light the worktop, then plenty of lamps in the living area, including a floor lamp for reading. I don't think your dining pendant needs to match the island ones. Ideally all lighting should be dimmable.

Thanks both. Yes planning lamps for the reading area and couch area but it’s just which ones and what size that are stumping me.
By recessed lighting in the ceiling do you mean the type where a glass ceiling is made the light shines out around it like in a hotel? Don’t think there will be any budget for that!!

www.lights.ie/white-led-recessed-light-andrej-in-set-of-3-round-132667-ie-en.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=CjwKCAjw2cTmBRAVEiwA8YMgzVmbA5qAZ0TMfWgD8Phl40Md7M7nbZLv9_t2DqTz7_9apRH7ahQS4hoCO98QAvD_BwE

I'd avoid recessed lighting (assuming that means spotlights) completely. Pain in the arse when need to change a bulb plus horrible in any kind of living area.

Reading bit = something like this?
www.habitat.co.uk/double-779625

I have this Ikea lamp in my reading nook. The industrial look suits my decor. www.ikea.com/ie/en/products/lighting/floor-lamps/hektar-floor-lamp-dark-grey-art-60216549/

Ah ok, thanks I shall avoid spots as they would be impossible to change if they blew!

Floor lamps I’ve got lots of choices, but it’s the ceiling lights I’m struggling with. I’ve seen lots of nice things on habitat. The style I tend to like are the single glass pendant style but as it’s quite a large open plan room with high ceilings I think that style might look a bit lost. But I don’t really like big fancy lighting. Ceiling lights are hard!!