A Guide to Choosing the Right Light Bulb

Bulbs can sometimes be an afterthought when it comes to buying lights. Whether you’re moving into a new build property or completing a renovation, we get so excited in transforming our spaces with an overall look, that we forget we need the light bulbs as the finishing touch or to turn the light on. Unless its LED built in, which is whole different ball game for another day.

In the modern years, the majority of the bulbs have moved from halogen to LED. The five most popular household light bulbs are E27, E14, GU10, G9 & B22. If you’re unsure what light bulb you need, it should be stated on a sticker around the lamp holder or on the instruction manual that comes with your light. The below image illustrates the standard appearance of each of these bulb types:

So, you’ve found the perfect light & you know which bulb is recommended. Now it’s time to consider the kelvins of the light or as it’s more commonly known; warm white or cool white bulbs. To help you decide, it’s important to think about the function of the space that you are intending on installing the light.

For example, a cool white bulb is more popular in kitchens as we prepare food and a daylight bulb would be more common in bathrooms where we need a brighter type of light for tasks such as grooming or applying makeup.

A warm white bulb can be a common choice for a bedroom or living room light. This softer type of light helps create a more relaxing atmosphere, which is ideal when you want to unwind or when you’re ready to hit the pillow after a busy day.

Here is the kelvin scale in reality on this vanity light from Magnalux.

Ranging from warm white (2700K/3000K) to cool white (4000K) to daylight white (6000K)

Watch Out – Something that will hopefully make your decision a little easier in the near future are CCT bulbs. This essentially means that one bulb can be altered from either cool white or warm white by a switch that is built into the bulb. These bulbs are starting to emerge on the market at the moment although are only available in some outdoor fittings such as the Amelia Range from Fumagalli.

Another variable that you may wish to consider before buying your bulbs are the lumens and wattage of the bulb.  Lumens relates to the measurement of light and wattage is the power consumption of the light.

The higher the wattage, the more lumens there is. Again, it all comes down to the function of the light.

Right, so that’s all the technical information on choosing the right bulb out of the way. Now it’s time to have a little fun & create a dramatic effect with the style of the bulb and achieve that finishing look.

Exposed bulbs are a huge & popular trend that can help achieve not only an industrial feel but also a contemporary vibe.

This Alana light from där lighting as seen in the below image, a simple alteration in the shape & colour of the E27 bulb can be very effective in changing the overall impression of the fitting.

Top Tip Did you know the majority of lights can be made dimmable? If you prefer your light to have the dimmable function, all you need are dimmable LED bulbs & an LED dimmer switch installed.

As you can see it’s a not one rule fits all when it comes to bulbs. So, it’s important to also check with your electrician for advice as some lights have different requirements.

So, hopefully now with this practical guide you feel much more confident about choosing the right bulb for your lights & you can complete your home with the perfect finishing touches.