Expert tips on finding the light bulb
Choosing the right light bulb for your home is just as important as selecting the right lamp or shade. After all, lighting has a big impact on the ambience and can completely transform a room. So before you start shopping, there are a few things to consider. Let’s start with the right cap fitting. Generally, there are four main cap types used for light bulbs: Edison screw caps (common code E14 and E27), bayonet caps (B22 and B15), spotlight caps (GU10 and GU5.3) and capsule bulbs (G4 and G9). Be sure to select the tight cap, as the wrong one will not work in your chosen light.
Next, carefully consider what type of light you would actually like (and need). Here you need to decide between brightness (watts and lumen output) and the actual colour of the light, measured in degrees Kelvin. The latter is especially important because colour temperature will help you to create different moods or perform different tasks. Ranging from daylight (6500K) to soft white light (2700K), you’ll need different types of lights for each room. In general, we recommend opting for a lower Kelvin of 2700 - 4000 for the bedroom and living room, while you need a brighter and cleaner light in the bathroom and kitchen (between 4000 - 5000K). For some more expert’s tips on choosing the right light bulb for your home, read through this handy how-to guide.
What are the different types of light bulbs?
There are three main types of light bulbs – LED, CFL and halogen. The former stands for Light Emitting Diodes. This type of bulb is made to last. Seriously, because, unlike any other light types, LED bulbs can last up to staggering 25 years. And by using 90% less energy than a traditional lamp, LEDs are also by far the most energy-efficient type of bulb.
CFL bulbs on the other hand are relatively cheap and available in a range of different sizes and design. The abbreviation stands for Compact Fluorescent Lamp and as you might have guessed, they produce a warm, soft and more diffused light. Their drawback? They can take quite a long tog to achieve maximum brightness.
And finally, there are halogen bulbs. They produce an instant, crisp and bright light, similar to traditional incandescent lamps. Halogen bulbs reach maximum light instantly but generally have an expected life span of less than two years.
