Interior lighting for living rooms: Reading lights

instance, to a book shelf in a reading corner also turns out to be a flexible reading assistant. However, before you immerse in the latest thriller or romantic novel you should observe one thing: it is important to avoid too sharp contrast between light and dark.

A bright

next to an armchair or a sofa in connection with a too dark surrounding light requires the eyes to constantly adapt to the changes in brightness. This results in a rapid onset of eye strain. In order to prevent this you do not necessarily need to switch on the central ceiling light in the living room. An uplighter or a light directed towards the wall provide for

ambient lighting that supports the zone light next to an armchair or a sofa. They do this by flooding the ceiling or the wall with light, the reflections created thereby ensure an indirect, soft basic lighting. It is also very helpful when the light fixture that supplies zone lighting is equipped with a dimmer. This allows the light intensity to be adjusted and thus the brightness can be tailored to suit all the individual needs. If you observe these few rules there is nothing to prevent your relaxing reading session in an armchair or on a sofa.

Gubi Bestlite by Gubi
Show the Gubi Bestlite by Gubi light family

Lumina Daphine
Show the Lumina Daphine light family

made of tubular steel that is reminiscent of a tripod and the parabolic lampshade develops a particularly strong visual presence that upgrades the entire living room. Therefore, this classic designed by Greta Grossmann in 1947 received the renowned Good Design Award. The Fork Terra, a result of a cooperation between Foscarini and Diesel, adds a touch of extravagance to the room. The floor lamp with its fabric lampshade evokes associations with a casual jeans fabric and thus promotes a carefree feeling of freedom. The adjustable shade as well as the dimmer for regulating the light intensity offer pure reading comfort.

The Cala Indoor proves that a reading light does not necessarily need to be adjustable. The eye-catcher with the foldable frame made from oak wood and the cylindrical shade looks like a classic easel in an artist’s studio – an easel that supplies soft light upwards and downwards. Thus, this light by Marset not only illuminates the reading area but also produces some ambient light – this is important in order to avoid sharp contrasts between light and dark. If there is a side table next to the armchair or the sofa a table lamp can be

recommended. For this area, Artemide also offers an appropriate light – the adjustable Tolomeo Basculante Tavolo provides for an excellent solution. Its unique feature is the charming lampshade made from parchment or satin. Another adjustable light is the Bourgie by Kartell. This table lamp is slightly reminiscent of the Baroque style and can be adjusted in height in three stages so that the diameter of the light cone can be adapted to the personal requirements. A table lamp also does not need to be flexible in order to supply cosy reading light. A prime example for this is the Goldman Tavolo LED which also attracts the art-loving human being. The delicate table lamp impresses with its elegant silhouette and the combination of the brass-plated structure and the green glass shade or the nickel-plated structure and the smoke-coloured glass shade. The noble piece by the high-quality manufacturer Flos is based on the legendary "Banker's Lamp" that was used by bank clerks in the 19th century for their work – this means that this light fixture represents a piece of industrial design art.