We all think about changing the light setting in our homes. While daydreaming of dimmed and soft lights, ceiling drops, recessed light, and accent lighting, we tend to forget the setting job that must be done before the flash show starts.
Since lighting settings can be challenging, I created this article to help you with the process and to tell you how many lumens for living room are enough; also which factors to consider, etc. So, let’s discover more!
How Many Lumens for Living Room
To calculate the total lumens needed for a room, you have to multiply the room square footage by the number of foot-candle units required, depending on the room type.
According to the IES (Illuminating Engineering Society), living rooms require around 20 foot-candle, meaning an average-sized room of 216 sq. ft. will need 4,320 lumens.
Of course, this is not a rule carved in stone because there are multiple factors you have to consider. So, I will do my best to help you arrange the light in your living room by explaining how to measure the needed lumens and the crucial factors in detail.
Read more: How Many Lumens Is Good for Projector
Understanding the formula
I already shared the formula you should use to determine how many lumens for living room are enough. So, let’s see which numbers are a part of the total lumens formula.
Square footage
The first thing you should do to calculate the total lumens needed for your living room is its square footage. As you saw previously, I used the square footage of an average-sized living room for the formula.
However, you should measure your living room to get the right numbers. First, measure the width and length of the room. Then, multiply those numbers. The number you will get is the square footage of the room.
Typically, a small living room has measures of 10 ft by 13 ft and square footage of 130 sq ft. Medium or average-size living rooms have measures of around 12 ft by 18 ft, which equals square footage of 216 sq ft. Large living rooms are around 300 sq ft or more, with measures of around 15 ft by 20 ft (or more).
Foot-candle requirement
Now that you have determined the size of your living room, it is time to establish the foot-candle requirement. Foot-candle is a measurement system for light intensity on a one-square-foot surface. Simply put, a foot-candle is a light measured on a surface one foot away from the light source.
However, you don’t need to be a math geek and know all the definitions to arrange the lights in your living rooms. Moreover, you won’t even need a math formula to establish the foot-candle requirement.
The Illuminating Engineering Society has an already-established foot-candle chart that determines how many foot-candle units you need to perform a particular task comfortably in different spaces.
The requirements chart is based on application, that is, the type of room in question. For example, bathrooms or kitchens need more foot-candle units than bedrooms. It is considered that living rooms require around 20-foot-candle units. It is very important to understand that this number is general, and it doesn’t mean you must accept it.
Total lumens needed
So, now you have the square footage of your living room and an average number of foot-candle units required for living room lighting. To calculate how many lumens for living room are needed, you have to multiply those numbers.
I will use the approximate numbers for the room square footage I mentioned before to give you an idea of total lumens calculations.
- Small living room – 130 sq ft x 20 = 2,600 total lumens needed
- Medium living room – 216 sq ft x 20 = 4,320 total lumens needed
- Large living room – 300 sq ft x 20 = 6,000 total lumens needed
This calculation can determine how many lumens you need for a well-lit living room with an average height of 8 ft.
The important part you need to remember is that this is an estimated value. While the square footage of your living room is not changeable, multiple factors affect the foot-candle units required.
Also read: How Bright Is 600 Lumens
Factors That Affect the Total Number of Lumens Required
Generally, there are two principles of lighting design that affect the result for a specific space. The qualitative aspect of light is related to the aesthetic, while the quantitative aspect is related to the engineering, the practical part of the design.
Of course, you have to consider both principles, but I recommend you deal with the practical part first and then focus on the aesthetics.
The total lumens number you will need is directly affected by the room square footage, which is unchangeable, and the foot-candle units, which can vary. Even though IES recommends 20 units for living rooms, you have to consider the following factors.
- Room windows – Does the room have any windows; How many windows does it have?
- Ceiling height – 8 ft is the average height. Above that, you will need more lumens.
- Wall color – You will need more lumens if the walls are dark.
- Furniture shape and color – You should consider the furniture that the lights will illuminate.
- Personal choice of lighting types – Do you want ambient, task, accent, decorative lighting, or a mixture of multiple types?
Conclusion
Now that you know how many lumens for living room are enough and how to calculate them, you can start planning your new living room style. As you saw in this article, it is important to consider multiple factors while planning and arranging the lighting setting.
You can use the simple formula I shared and consider the IES recommendation for required foot-candle units. However, there’s no good or bad taste, which is why you should always make the light setting according to your preferences.