As a general principle, it is well to visualize the furniture in the room when looking at the architect’s drawings and it is advantageous even to cut out pieces of paper representing the furniture in scale.  By placing these on the drawings the furnished room is readily visualized and the locations of baseboard outlets become evident.  It appears that the best method of lighting a living-room is by means of decorative portable lamps.  Such lamps are really lighting-furniture, for they aid in decorating and in furnishing the room at all times.  A number of these lamps in the living-room insures great flexibility in the lighting, and the light may be kept localized if desired so that the room is restful.  A room whose ceiling and walls are brilliantly illuminated is not so comfortable for long periods as one in which these areas are dimly lighted.  Furthermore, the latter is more conducive to reading and to other efforts at concentration.  The furniture may be readily shifted as desired and the portable lamps may be rearranged.

Such lighting serves all the purposes of the living-room excepting those requiring a flood of light, but it is easy to conceal elaborate lighting mechanisms underneath the shades of portable lamps.  Several types of portable lamps are available which supply an indirect component as well as direct light.  The former illuminates the ceiling with a flood of light without any discomforting glare.  Such a lighting-unit is one of the most satisfactory for the home, for two distinct effects and a combination of these introduce a desirable element of variety into the lighting.  Not less than four and preferably six baseboard outlets should be provided in a living-room of moderate size.  One outlet on the mantel is also to be desired for connecting decorative candlesticks, and brackets above the fireplace are of ornamental value.  Although the absence of ceiling fixtures improves the appearance of the room, wiring may be provided for ceiling outlets in new houses as a matter of insurance against the possible needs of the future.  When ceiling fixtures are not used, switches may be provided for the mantel brackets or certain baseboard outlets in order that light may be had upon entering the room.

The merits of a portable lamp may be ascertained before purchasing by actual demonstration.  Some of them are not satisfactory for reading-lamps, owing to the shape of the shade or to the position of the lamps.  The utility of a table lamp may be determined by placing it upon a table and noting the spread of light while seated in a chair beside it.  A floor lamp may also be tested very easily.  A miniature floor lamp about four feet in height with an appropriate shade provides an excellent lamp for reading purposes because it may be placed by the side of a chair or moved about independent of other furniture.  A tall floor lamp often serves for lighting the piano, but small piano lamps may be found which are decorative as well as serviceable in illuminating the music without glare.