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A guide to choosing the right LED light bulb

22 April 2022

Not sure which LED bulb is right for your light? This guide covers everything you need to know, from brightness and colour temperature to which bulb suits which Tom Raffield design
Cove Skipper Pendant Small with a Tala Porcelain II LED light bulb

Choosing the right bulb matters more than most people realise. The wrong one can flatten the atmosphere of even the most considered interior, while the right one can make a design sing. This guide covers everything you need to know, from lumens and colour temperature to which bulb suits which Tom Raffield light.

Tom Raffield Mooring Table Light
The Mooring Table Light looks great paired with the Elva Light Bulb.
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Our Verso Lighting Range with the Porcelain II Light Bulb.

LED bulbs and fittings

Tom Raffield lights are designed to fit a standard E27 screw bulb (or E26 if you're in the US). If you're using an existing ceiling rose rather than a Tom Raffield ceiling kit, check whether your fitting takes a bayonet or screw cap before ordering.

All our bulbs are LED. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LEDs use significantly less energy to produce the same light output, last considerably longer, and generate far less heat. Better for your electricity bill, and better for the environment.

Discover the benefits of switching to LED

Brightness and colour temperature explained

It helps to understand two things before choosing a bulb: how bright it is, and what colour light it produces.

Brightness is measured in lumens rather than watts. Watts only tell you how much energy a bulb consumes, not how much light it actually gives out. As a rough guide, 350 lumens suits a bedside table lamp, while a living room typically needs between 1,500 and 3,000 lumens spread across multiple bulbs.

Colour temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale. The lower the number, the warmer and more amber the light feels. Candle light sits at around 1,500K, direct sunlight at around 5,000K, and a comfortable domestic setting somewhere around 2,700K. Our exposed filament bulbs sit at 2,200K, producing a particularly rich, inviting glow that suits living spaces where atmosphere matters as much as visibility.

The Drift Pendant featuring the Porcelain III.
The Drift Pendant featuring the Porcelain III.

Opaque bulbs for concealed fittings

Opaque bulbs are the practical choice. They produce a strong, clean light output and work particularly well in designs where the bulb sits within the shade rather than on show. Less decorative than exposed filament options, but dependable where brightness is the priority.

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Compact in size but strong in output, the Crompton Golf Ball is a reliable, no-fuss bulb for designs where the fitting conceals the light source. We recommend it with our Stem Table Light and wooden wall lights.
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The Crompton 11823 produces 470 lumens of warm white light, a solid choice for larger or more enclosed designs. It works particularly well with our Urchin Lighting Range and Leven Lighting Range.

Exposed Filament bulbs for warmth and character

Where the bulb is part of the design, an exposed filament is the natural choice. These bulbs produce a warm, amber glow and add a sculptural quality to any fitting that leaves the light source visible.

Tala Elva light bulb
The Elva has a distinctive filament structure within a tinted, blown-glass form that softens and warms its glow. A versatile choice that works beautifully in our steam-bent table lights, the Kern Pendant, and smaller pendant designs.
Tala Gaia Light bulb
The Tala Gaia shares the Elva's warm, tinted character but in a larger form, making it better suited to statement pendant lights and floor lighting. We recommend it with our Wheal Floor Light and Skipper Floor Light.
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The Globe's sapphire filament array produces a warm, soft light with a distinctive visual quality — as much a talking point as a light source. Well suited to smaller shades such as our Skipper Pendant Small and Verso Pendant Small.

Coated bulbs for a softer glow

Frosted and coated bulbs sit between opaque and exposed filament options. They soften the light source without concealing it entirely, making them a considered choice for fittings where some of the bulb remains on show.

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The Porcelain II uses a phosphor coating to diffuse the filament and control glare, producing a soft, comfortable ambient light. We recommend it with our Hanter Lighting Range and Skipper Lighting Range.
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The Porcelain III is moulded from matte glass, individually mouth-blown and sandblasted to a smooth, silky finish. A beautifully crafted bulb in its own right, and a natural pairing for our Skipper Pendant Large.
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The Gold Crown's mirrored golden cap reflects light upwards through its glass form, producing a soft, directional glow that adds depth to any interior. Well suited to our Skipper Wall Light and Arame Wall Light.
Tom Raffield Hanter Table Light
The final flourish. When the bulb is fully on display like in our Hanter Table Light, choosing the right bulb is a vital decision to set the tone for your space.
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Make or break: our Arame Wall Light illustrates the importance of having a bulb that compliments your light fitting.

Ready to choose your bulb? Browse the full Tom Raffield light bulb collection and find the right match for your fitting.

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Posted: 22.04.22
Updated: 24.04.26

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