Choosing the right light bulb may not seem like the most exciting task, but it’s one of the most impactful decisions you can make! The right bulb can enhance your space, save you money, and even improve your mood. Whether you’re lighting up your living room, creating a cosy bedroom atmosphere, or setting up your workspace, the type of light bulb you choose can make all the difference.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about picking the right bulb cap, lumens, watts, and colour temperature, as well as the right bulb for your lounge, bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom to create the right mood for your home.
PICKING THE RIGHT BULB FOR YOUR FITTING
When selecting a light bulb, it’s important to consider the cap fitting to ensure compatibility with the socket. Here are the common cap fittings you should know:
1. Bayonet Cap: This is the most common type of cap, and it is installed by pushing in and twisting. There are two sizes: B22 (22mm diameter) and B15 (15mm diameter). These are used in various fittings.
2. Edison Screw Cap: Named after Thomas Edison, this type of bulb is installed by simply screwing it in. The most common sizes are E27 (27mm diameter) and E14 (14mm diameter).
3. Spotlight bulbs: These bulbs come with various caps such as GU10, GU4, GU5.3, and are installed with an easy push or twist and lock action.
4. Capsule bulbs: These bulbs have various caps, G9 & G4, and come in a small capsule shape. They are easy to install by simply pushing into the socket.
LUMENS FOR BRIGHTNESS
When choosing a light bulb, it’s important to understand lumens and watts to find the right brightness and energy efficiency for your home. Watts measure energy consumption, indicating how much electricity a light bulb uses, while lumens measure brightness, indicating how much light the bulb produces.
For instance, a traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb produces around 800 lumens of light and uses 60 watts of energy. On the other hand, a modern 10-watt LED bulb can also provide the same 800 lumens, but it uses only 10 watts of electricity! Remember, the higher the lumen, the brighter your bulb will shine.
COLOUR TEMPERATURE – KELVIN (K)
The Kelvin scale was developed by the British mathematician Lord Kelvin in the early 20th century and is used today to measure the colour temperature of a light bulb. The lower the number, the warmer the light, and the higher the number, the colder the light. Choosing the right Kelvin can affect the overall ambiance of a room. For example, a warm white 2700K – 3000K light bulb provides a warm, yellowish light, a cool white 3500K – 4100K light bulb has a neutral white light, and a daylight 5000K – 6500K light bulb has a bright, crisp white or blue-toned light.
LOUNGE & DINING AREA LIGHT BULBS
For lounge & dining areas, we recommend using warm white 2700k – 3000k light bulbs to recreate the look of incandescent light. You can create a cosy, inviting atmosphere with our range of warm white LED vintage filament bulbs, which produce ambient light for a soft, romantic atmosphere.
KITCHEN LIGHT BULBS
Kitchens require bright illumination for food prep and cooking, so use neutral and fresh cool white LED bulbs with high lumens for a clean look without being too harsh on the eyes.
BATHROOM LIGHT BULBS
Bathrooms benefit from cool white light that mimics natural light, perfect for applying makeup and daily grooming. Always ensure the bulbs are suitable for the bathroom environment. You can browse our cool white LED bulbs here.
BEDROOM LIGHT BULBS
For a serene sanctuary in your bedroom with calming, soothing light, we recommend using beautiful vintage filament LED light bulbs in warm white colour with low lumens for a soft, ambient light and relaxing glow. Our range of warm white LED vintage filament bulbs will do the trick.
DIMMER COMPATIBILITY
If you prefer to control the brightness of your lights, dimmer switches can be a game-changer. However, not all bulbs are dimmable, so be sure to check the packaging for dimmable bulbs if you want to use them with dimmer switches.
SMART BULBS
Convenience at Your Fingertips Bring your home into the smart age with smart bulbs. These can be controlled remotely via smartphone apps or voice assistant devices such as Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Smart bulbs allow you to adjust brightness, colour, and even set a time for when your lights turn on and off. With colour-changing options and app control, you can adjust the lights from anywhere. Smart bulbs are great for people who love tech, convenience, and energy efficiency all in one.
In summary, choosing the right light bulb is all about understanding your space, how much light you need, and what kind of atmosphere you want to create. Whether you go for the affordability of an incandescent or the energy efficiency of an LED, the right bulb can enhance your home in ways you may not have imagined.