15 Awesome Lighting Ideas for Rooms without Ceiling Lights

Are you looking for lighting ideas for rooms without ceiling lights? Friends of ours recently moved into their new home and were disappointed to discover that their living room and master bedroom have no ceiling lights.

This seems to be a common issue with houses built before 1980. Lighting trends used to favor low-level lighting over harsh overhead lights in rooms where people spent a lot of time. But now we know a combination of both really gives the best lighting.

After spending so much on the house and the move, our friends didn’t want to shell out big bucks to have an electrician install new ceiling lights. So, they decided to get creative and try to find their own lighting solutions. After discussing their issues, we came up with this collection of 15 alternative lighting options.

#1 Spread out your bedroom swag

To light a room with no overhead lighting, create a canopy of hanging swag lights. Edison bulbs add a romantic touch and are stylish enough to not require a fixture. This post from Lampsplus.com has great ideas for hanging pendant lights.

#2 Or, get your swag together

If you’d rather have your hanging lights a little more focused, try out this idea for a bundle of swag lights. Group a few oversize pendant lights together to create a makeshift chandelier. Visit the Design Dilemmas Discussion page on houzz.com , to see this creative trick for DIY ceiling lighting.

#3 Give your swag a friend

If you’ve found the perfect swag light, why not give it a friend? Pair a pretty vintage pendant light with a matching table lamp to provide different lighting options. This post from www.apartmenttherapy.com highlights coordinating DIY lights found in a designer’s apartment.

#4 Let your swag standalone

Don’t miss out on the right light just because you need lighting ideas for rooms without ceiling lights. Use a standalone swag light chandelier to complement your living room décor. If you aren’t sure about the chandelier chain, hide it with a with a ruched fabric cover as suggested in this post from Heather at Setting for Four.

#5 Reach out for more light

A modern style dining room doesn’t need a traditional ceiling light. Opt for a contemporary swing-out wall sconce instead. Sf Girl loves this modern option used in the Freunde von Freunden apartment to add stylish overhead light in the dining area. It reaches out over 6 feet from the wall to create overhead lighting where there was none.

#6 Then extend that reach 

If you like to make a statement, then this lighting alternative is for you! The Decorista encourages the use of statement sconces to put the finishing touch on your space. This oversize modern wall sconce lights the room and adds style in a big way.

#7 Mix it up for more light

Mix and match your lighting ideas for rooms without ceiling lights by combining wall sconces and pendant lights. Create stylish accent lighting and ambient lighting like this room featured on Coco Lapine Design.

#8 Or make a pair 

When a single lamp won’t cut it, why not opt for two? Put a pair of matching lamps in the same room to create even more light. Two lamps are better than one when lighting a room with no overhead lights.

#9 Because two is more stylish than one 

If you want lighting that matches your unique style, you can find it in a lamp. Or two!  A pair of trendy floor lamps like these industrial style lamps featured on Home Design Lover will let your style speak for itself.

#10 Unless that one is a flower! 

If two lamps are not your ideal solution to light a room with no overhead lighting, try a large arc floor lamp instead. This fun oversized flower lamp from lampsplus.com stands on the floor, but arcs over the couch to provide light right where you need it.

#11 Or a big light with big function 

Do you need light over the dining room table but don’t have ceiling lights? Maybe a large arc floor lamp could do the job.  Michael from Inspired by Charm, used this classic floor lamp to fake an over-the-table light.

#12 Elevate your lighting by stringing it up 

Don’t get tied up trying to figure out how to light a room with no overhead lighting. Hang up some pretty string lights to create a warm, cozy atmosphere. Make use of string lights to help combat the industrial feel of the space.

#13 Or string it along  

To take advantage of a beamed ceiling with no light fixture, try stringing lights along the beams. You’ll create a lot of light and a modern look.

Check more basement ceiling light fixtures for your underground room.

#14 You can also let it hang down 

For a dreamy and romantic atmosphere, casually drape string lights from your bedroom ceiling. Urban Outfitters created a magical space with loosely hung fairy lights in this bedroom with no ceiling fixtures.

#15 Or step it up 

Instead of letting your string lights hang down, make them climb. If you’re stuck on how to light a room with no overhead lighting, try this trick by archzine.fr for a makeshift lamp. Wrap a rustic ladder in globe lights for lighting you can use anywhere there’s an outlet.

What Do You Think? 

What did you think of our list of lighting ideas for rooms without ceiling lights? Hopefully, it will be a good resource for those struggling to find lighting solutions for a room with no overhead fixtures.

Please let us know your thoughts about these lighting ideas in the comments. And if you know anyone looking for alternative lighting options, share this post to help them out!

Featured photo by Adrián Tormo on Unsplash

Pinterest photo by Atilla Taskiran on Unsplash (modified)