How do I light a living room properly?

Layer three kinds of light instead of one bright overhead. Ambient light sets the base (an overhead on a dimmer, or indirect lamps), task light serves specific spots (a reading lamp at the chair, 1,500+ lumens), and accent light adds depth (picture lights, a shelf lamp). Keep every bulb in the room within the same color-temperature lane — 2700–3000K feels domestic — and favor CRI 90+ so wood and fabric colors read true. Three modest sources beat one bright ceiling fixture every time.