DIY Living Room Lighting Ideas

New to living room lighting and don't know where to start? Hometalk can help. We'll cover all the topics including light bulbs, finishes, length, and more. Check out the discussion boards, slideshows, projects, and you can even go ask a question. We can't wait to see what you choose to illuminate your space.

These Creative Living Room Lighting Ideas Really Shine

Light Up Your Living Room

Sync light and space: Consider the size and layout of a room. Large rooms benefit from more lights with less power. Smaller rooms suit single, bright lights.
Even out your lighting: Try not to cluster lights. If you have one central bulb, position floor lamps in each corner to even out the distribution of light.
What’s the mood of your room?: Match your lights to the mood of the room. Ambient lighting provides general illumination while task lighting is brighter and more focused.
Layer up your lights: Floor and table lamps need to complement your main lights. Work in a top-down fashion to ensure your ceiling lights don’t overpower lamps.
Dare to dim your lights: Dimmer switches can help you find the right light for every occasion. Only install switches with the help of a professional electrician.

More Living Room Ideas

Top Projects for Living Room Lighting

Here are our top DIY living room lighting projects. Illuminate your space!

Concrete and Gold Diy Lampshade

Lampshade made of concrete with gold leafing, using two empty soda bottles.

Juneolsen

15 Expensive-Looking Lighting Ideas That Might Surprise You

View Project Book

14 String Light Ideas That Are Cozier Than Your Bed

View Project Book

Red Solo Cup Party Lights

This light strand is inexpensive, easy to make, and will be great at any party! You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

I've been seeing DIY chandelier and light fixtures all over Pinterest so I finally decided to dive and (hopefully) make a tad bit more simplified version of what I have seen out there. I love how this came out and cannot wait to create different versions. You can do this chandelier in any color, more layers, less layers, different metallics, lights or no lights. The possibilities are endless.

Rachel Metz

How to Make a LAMP - Out of TEA CUPS!

Sometimes, it takes thinking out of the box to DIY a unique home decor item. Here is what I made with Tea cups.

Nikki Boyd

Bicycle Wheel and Chain Chandelier

I found some old bicycle wheels on the side of the road about a month ago with the intent of making something with them. When we did one of the Facebook lives someone mentioned a making a chandelier out of one and -POOF!- Here we go! Fair forewarning my hands are a bit sore from all the clamping, but it's a pretty fun piece and worth it in the long run. All you need is a bike wheel and LOADS of bike chain, a pendant cord and some chandelier hardware to make this industrial piece.

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Add A Hand-Painted Raised Pattern To A Lamp Shade Using Textura Paste!

Use Wood Icing™ Textura Paste to get the raised look of this hand-painted artsy pattern. Find a retailer near you at WoodIcing.com.

Debbie Dion Hayes Creative

Learn How to Do a Lampshade Restyle Using Old Batik Fabric Decoupage!

I used some lovely Batik fabric that I wanted to put to a good use as so love the patterns and texture On it. A large faded and worn lampshade which I was ready to bin however thought maybe I could resurrect it with a new fabric makeover!

Susan Goode

DIY Crystal Distressed Chandelier

Ever since I bought a new chandelier for our formal dining room, I knew I wanted to give my old one a makeover and use it in our breakfast area. For me, this chandelier was simply too plain and too boring but being the handy person I am I wanted to make it look beautiful so I did what anyone in my position would do, I looked for ideas on Pinterest. At the end, I decided to go for Crystal Distressed Chandelier.

AvantiMorocha

Concrete and Gold Diy Lampshade

Lampshade made of concrete with gold leafing, using two empty soda bottles.

Juneolsen

15 Expensive-Looking Lighting Ideas That Might Surprise You

View Project Book

14 String Light Ideas That Are Cozier Than Your Bed

View Project Book

Red Solo Cup Party Lights

This light strand is inexpensive, easy to make, and will be great at any party! You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

DIY Boho Fringe Chandelier

Rachel Metz

How to Make a LAMP - Out of TEA CUPS!

Sometimes, it takes thinking out of the box to DIY a unique home decor item. Here is what I made with Tea cups.

Nikki Boyd

Bicycle Wheel and Chain Chandelier

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Add A Hand-Painted Raised Pattern To A Lamp Shade Using Textura Paste!

Use Wood Icing™ Textura Paste to get the raised look of this hand-painted artsy pattern. Find a retailer near you at WoodIcing.com.

Debbie Dion Hayes Creative

Learn How to Do a Lampshade Restyle Using Old Batik Fabric Decoupage!

Susan Goode

DIY Crystal Distressed Chandelier

AvantiMorocha

Living Room Lighting Videos

Video tutorials on how to DIY your living room lighting. Get ready to be impressed.

Swirl Pendant Lamp DIY

I was looking at all the spiral lamps on the web and highly intrigued by the art forms. I started constructing it in my head and looking out for some handy materials that can be used to make one. This is a lamp that you can make with ease. Not only is it a great decor item for your living space, but a great addition to your parties. Using only simple materials like paper cups and sketch pad, you can produce a spiral elegant lamp, much of a designer's taste. Here I provide written instructions, as well as a video tutorial derived from my youtube channel EzyCraft. Have fun!

Kacy Sheng

DIY Boho Fringe Chandelier

Rachel Metz

DVD Cases Into Lampshade

I've been in need of a lampshade for a while and now I've finally decided to make one. Whilst searching for suitable materials I came across some old Playstation game cases and here is the rest ;)

NerdyKat

DIY Crystal Distressed Chandelier

AvantiMorocha

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Living Room Lighting Projects

Need the best DIY living room lighting ideas on Hometalk? You'll find them here.

Black Wired Basket Lamp

Hi everyone ! It was time to make a new ceiling lamp in the dining room. I saw some georgeous black metal baskets that are used as a candle holder or a modern fruit basket. But I immediately knew it would be a new lamp. It is so easy to make. You need a drill bit for metal, a vintage looking ,ready to use ceiling rose set and a led filament bulb.I had 2 projects.I recycled my old ceiling lamp for one project and just replaced the wires and for the other project I used a vintage ceiling rose in copper.

Nathalie van Ravels

From Brass to Sass

In an effort to transform my 1980’s home into an updated, eclectic haven, I needed to rid the house of the excessive brass fixtures and trims found in just about every room.

Wire Wreath Chandelier

Upcycle your Wire Wreath Forms! Create a beautiful Chandelier for any room in your home or hang from your Pergola in your backyard.

Barn Tree Place

Light up My Life With Some Magic!

This light was just not in keeping with the transformation I've be making of my room so it had to have an injection of life and colour.

Kathrine Connery

Black Wired Basket Lamp

Nathalie van Ravels

From Brass to Sass

In an effort to transform my 1980’s home into an updated, eclectic haven, I needed to rid the house of the excessive brass fixtures and trims found in just about every room.

Wire Wreath Chandelier

Upcycle your Wire Wreath Forms! Create a beautiful Chandelier for any room in your home or hang from your Pergola in your backyard.

Barn Tree Place

Light up My Life With Some Magic!

This light was just not in keeping with the transformation I've be making of my room so it had to have an injection of life and colour.

Kathrine Connery

Popular Living Room Lighting Discussions

Come and join our discussion board on DIY living room lighting. Learn something new!

Where can I find the little solar lights for bottle or mason jar?

/> Barbara

Where can I find little solor lights for jar?

View discussion

How can I hang a light from my ceiling w/o wiring or drilling holes?

/> Divababiexoxo

I live in an apartment and I can't drill holes in my ceiling or do any kind of renovation. So how can I hang a light or a light fixture from my ceiling without doing any wiring or drilling holes? Anyone's help would be really appreciated. I'm tired of these stand-up lamps that I have to use

View discussion

How can I update a hanging porch light?

/> Vickie Guy

I have a porch light that hangs from ceiling in front of my front door it is out dated and needs to be replaced but I am having a hard time finding a light that I like. I would like to find something that would be easy to clean.

View discussion

How do I find true "white" candelabra light bulbs?

/> Syl

I've tried several brands/types of candelabra bulbs for my dining room chandelier but all appear to burn with a yellow glow and i want a "white glow" because my decor is silver. Help!!

View discussion

New Living Room Lighting Projects

Looking for some new DIY living room lighting ideas? We've gathered them here.

Cover an Ugly Ceiling Light

Here is another great option for someone looking for a quick fix, or for a renter friendly option. If you have an ugly ceiling light this is a fun and cute way to add some style and charm! With some wire hanging planters and yarn you can make a custom ceiling light cover. You can make a sort of chandelier effect without changing out the light fixture itself or even thinking about messing with the wiring!

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

Teacup Pendant Light

Looking for a unique pendant fixture or set of fixtures for your home?... look no further!

Feathering My Nest - Lacey Haskell

Planter and Mardi Gras Bead Chandelier

I've seen DIY chandeliers online for years and have been dying to make one of my own but never got around to it. I love the ones with the wooden beads, but you'd be surprised how quickly your bill will rack up using them, since you need so many to do one chandelier. So I chose to use Mardi Gras beads from the Dollar Store instead. The final product wasn't exactly what I had envisioned (reminds me of a jelly fish--haha!) but it was close enough and it looks so much better in my kitchen than what used to be in its place.

Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team

Can Lights in a Home-built Rustic Light Fixture

Ok so the Edison bulb fixture wasn't bright enough for my kitchen to cook, but it looked so cool! I added a couple of can lights with a pull chain so I could turn them off when needed. I'm going to try to show you how to build the fixture with just the cans and then you decide which type of bulb you like more - or both. I hope to keep this up to code by using the existing ceiling box as an outlet. WARNING: Check local codes, and if you have ANY doubts, contact an electrician. Always make sure power is off before working on any electric circuits.Please look at my original post for more info just in case...https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-lighting/rustic-kitchen-light-fixture-35169318