Our guide to choosing the right light bulb
The language and lingo associated with light bulbs can be confusing at the best of times. With so many options to choose from and words like 'lumens' and 'the kelvin scale' dashed about, finding the right bulb for your light fitting can be challenging!
We've summed up our range of energy efficient LED bulbs in this handy guide to make life a little easier (and hopefully a little brighter).
The Basics...
All Tom Raffield lights are designed to fit a standard E27 screw bulb (or E26 if you’re in the US). If you opt not to choose a Tom Raffield ceiling kit and want to use an existing rose you will need to check if your fitting takes a bayonet or screw bulb. We only sell E27 screw bulbs via our online store.
All of our bulbs are LED and incredibly energy efficient.
We’ve picked a selection of our favourite bulbs depending on your light shade and preference, all of which give a warm white light, and are available to buy online.
The typical halogen uses £11 of electricity a year, while a replacement LED would use only £2 worth.
- The Energy Saving Trust.
LED AND LOW ENERGY BULBS
Today’s LED and low energy bulbs are a fantastic alternative to traditional incandescent bulbs. These bulbs not only look the part, but will save you money from your electricity bill in the long run.
It's estimated that by switching from incandescent bulbs to LED you can cut your energy costs (associated with lighting your home) by up to 75% in one year.
LED lights have a much longer life span than traditional bulbs – 20 years is not untypical – and also have the advantage of reaching full illumination almost immediately.
In the past, energy saving bulbs have received a bad reputation for being dim and taking a long time to reach full brightness, but those days are behind us. New technologies pioneered by lighting brands such as our friends at Tala LED mean that sustainably crafted, quality bulbs are now accessible to the mainstream.
Furthermore, with the ban on importing or producing new halogen bulbs in the EU now in force (the law came in to play on 1st September) there's no better time to switch to LED lighting.
THE RIGHT KIND OF BRIGHT
Light is measured in two ways: by brightness in watts/lumen output, and by the colour of light, known as the Kelvin scale.
Watts and lumens (brightness)
Traditional incandescent bulbs were measured in watts, which is actually a measure of power. However, since energy-saving and LED bulbs were introduced it is a less useful measure as new bulbs use a lot less power to produce the same amount of light. So instead it is measured in lumens.
As a rough guide, 350 lumens would be suitable for a bed-side table lamp, whereas you might want between 1,500 and 3,000 lumens from more than one bulb to light a living room.
Kelvin scale (colour)
The colour of light can have a dramatic effect on the mood of a room. Most people will want a warm yellow light as opposed to stark white or blue light for their home.
As a rough guide, the warm-yellow light to light your home would be around 2,700 on the Kelvin scale, while candle light is around 1,500K and direct sunlight around 5,000K.
FIND THE BEST SHAPE
Once you’ve found the right colour and brightness it’s up to you to decide on the shape and aesthetic of the bulb.
Depending on your Tom Raffield light, you might prefer a sculptural bulb (particularly recommended to complement our Cape and Skipper Pendants), or exposed filaments (which work well with our Wheal Range of lights), or if the bulb is hidden then a simple Crompton bulb may do the job!
The choice is yours...
If you require further assistance choosing the right light bulb for your Tom Raffield light then please talk to a member of our team - call +44 (0)1326 722725 or email contact@tomraffield.com.