If you have a living room with big picture windows, make the most of them.
The main question can be how? Use light and semi transparent curtains that let light in all day. The room will seem much bigger.
What if you don’t have big picture windows, or if the living room doesn’t get much sun during the day? In that case, you will need to look for a way of using artificial light to make up for the lack of natural light.
That doesn’t mean you have to put lamps everywhere. You should, however, place some lamps in strategic locations, such as on the dining table or beside the sofa.