List the dark tasks
Walk around the room after dark and name the task that lacks light: finding a coat, reading on the sofa, or using a dining table. This is more useful than deciding the room needs three additional lamps. Note the existing outlet locations and the furniture that must stay. Borrow a portable lamp and test the most promising positions. A small light near the task can be more helpful than another bright light far across the room.
Keep the route visible and clear
Choose positions that allow the cord to reach a suitable outlet without crossing a doorway or the main route through the room. Do not run cords beneath rugs or trap them under furniture feet. If a product needs wall mounting, follow its fixing instructions and the lease rules; plug-in does not automatically mean installation-free. Avoid adapting a cord or socket to make an unsuitable location work. Change the lamp position instead.
Test controls and daytime clutter
Sit in each regular seat and try the switch. A cord control hidden behind the sofa will make a useful lamp inconvenient. In daylight, check whether the extra base, shade, and cable crowd the room even when the light is off. Keep the manufacturer's instructions and original rental fittings together if anything was temporarily changed. Add the next lamp only after living with the first; you may find that one carefully placed source solves the problem you noticed.
