10 Designer-Approved Apartment Lighting Ideas for the Living Room and Beyond

Unless you're moving into a sprawling updated penthouse, renting apartments often comes with a unique set of issues—and lighting is no exception. But you don't have to sacrifice living in a stylish home. If your space is lacking natural light, interior designers have plenty of ideas to upgrade your home and let the light shine in. The right lighting can set the mood, save precious space, and improve the functionality of task-oriented rooms like the kitchen and bathroom.

We asked interior designer Kevin Dumais for his tips, tricks, and secrets when it comes to apartment lighting. Whether you're into minimalist lighting or you're leaning in a more maximalist direction, we've got you covered. Learn which types of lights will work best in your space (no matter how small).

If you feel like your home could use a dose or two of lighting improvements, keep scrolling to browse clever apartment lighting ideas and brighten up your space.

01 Try an Eye-Catching Flush Mount

Crystal Glow Versa Flush Mount - Elegant Design with Crystal Droplets for Bedroom and Living Room Lighting

Living room lighting ideas are limitless because there are so many ways to design this space. However, we've noticed that one thing most apartment living rooms have in common is low ceilings, which can be a challenge. Luckily, you can trick the eye into elevating your ceilings by installing an eye-catching flush mount chandelier.

02 Design for Day and Night

Vintage Glamour Black Iron Chandelier with Grey Glass Beads and Crystal Droplets - Circular Iron Frame with Black Finish and Vintage Glamour - Ideal for Ceiling Lamp for Bedroom and Dining Room Light Fixtures

"When considering oversized fixtures or lanterns, we like to make sure they look great lit and unlit," Dumais says. That way, it can light the way when it's lit and function as practical art when it's not (we always love a good double-duty piece). The black chandelier in this living room helps draw the eye up, adds visual interest, and provides multi-dimensional lighting in the space.

03 Go Unconventional

While a dining area may traditionally be a place for a large chandelier, we love this design choice to style a swing-arm light over the table. An added bonus of this type of light is the ability to move it back and forth when needed, which allows you to adjust your light source depending on the mood you'd like to set. Rather than distracting from the beautifully styled table with a fur throw and fresh flowers, the lighting adds just enough brightness and a minimalist black style to the sleek space.

04 Contrast Your Bathroom Walls

Bathrooms are a great place to experiment with wallpaper patterns, thanks to their smaller size and minimal wall space to cover. But the wallpaper alone isn't enough to complete a design—and the proper lighting can even make your statement colors pop. Choose warm, metallic accents like this gold wall sconce, mirror frame, and towel holder to complement cool blue hues on the walls.

05 Mix and Match Styles

Upgrade a simple chandelier by switching up the covers with a mix of vintage lights. The mismatched style in this dining area adds an elegant vibe to the room, but by using similar shades of glass and hardware, the chandelier feels intentional and eclectic. We love how the neutral hues in the lighting complement the artwork and warm, creamy tones on the wallpaper.

06 Hide a Lamp in a Bookcase

If you're short on space, hide a smaller lamp in a bookcase. "A small lamp can be nestled on a bookshelf or inside a cabinet to add highlights and whimsy," Dumais mentions. It will also add dimension to your lighting plan without overtaking the surfaces on your credenza or side tables. Pick a lamp that's a little sculptural and interesting to look like a piece of art on the shelves.

07 Replace Bedside Table Lamps With Sconces

Engraved Elegance Alabaster Sconce: Handcarved Alabaster Wall Light with Globe-like Contours and Burnished Brass for Living Room, Kitchen, or Bedroom Wall Lighting

Replace your bedside lamps with sconces to save precious nightstand space. "If you have a tight space, a sconce or pendant is a nice alternative to your typical bedside lamp," Dumais advises. "You can get the scale of light and quality you need without sacrificing valuable surface real estate."

08 Hang a Picture Light

Picture lights are traditionally used to showcase paintings or library shelves, but they can double as a reading sconce if hung directly over a banquette or chair. Best of all, a picture light will instantly elevate your space and make it look more expensive—and we consider that a win. Cozy up to the light's soft glow when you're going for a moody vibe.

09 Install Dimmer Switches

Don't forget to put your lights on dimmers. During the day, your new fixtures can shine bright to illuminate your space—but in the evening, it's nice to create a warm, relaxed glow with the flick of a switch. In this living room, soft lighting is complemented by burning candles that make us want to curl up and stay forever.

10 Drop a Low Pendant in the Bathroom

Elegant Alabaster Refinement Pendant - Natural Alabaster with Steel and Tumbled Brass - Ideal Hanging Light Fixture for Bedroom, Perfect Pendant Light for All Your Bedroom Needs

Most run-of-the-mill apartments have only overhead lighting in the bathroom, which is less than ideal for getting ready in the morning—especially if the room is low on natural light. To make your bathroom lighting more dimensional, add funky sconces flanking the vanity mirror. If you're looking for a more space-saving solution, try styling a low pendant that hangs at the standard height of a sconce.