Lighting Buying Guide

Types of lighting and lamps

Floor lamps often boast adjustable lighting using three-way bulbs. Floor lamps take up very little space and are convenient lighting for reading areas. Choose torchiere lighting, which sends the light upwards, shade lighting, which focuses the light of the floor lamp out and down, or a floor lamp with a combination of the two.

Table lamps have been in homes for centuries. Table lamps range from 25 inches to 34 inches in height and are the most-used general lighting in all homes. Whether lit by candles, as in the alabaster lamps of ancient Egypt, gas, or electricity, lighting with table lamps has always been a popular choice for home lighting. Table lamps look best when the lamp base and the shade are in proportion to each other. When you sit, the lampshade should be at eye level and the light globe unseen.

Accent lamps are smaller lighting lamps, useful in less spacious rooms such as the hallway, bedroom, bathroom or entryway. These lamps are usually less than 20 inches in height and use a smaller light bulb. Accent lamps are most often used as decorative lighting or to illuminate little areas, such as your craft table or desk. They can also create an ambient glow near bookcases or hobby collections or in an unused corner of a room. Accent lighting under kitchen cabinets or backlighting on the top of kitchen cabinets is currently popular. Also popular is lighting for curio cabinets and picture lighting for artwork.

Ceiling fixtures, such as chandeliers or flushed lighting fixtures, are a traditional way of lighting a kitchen, hallway or bedroom. Ceiling light fixtures add a general glow to a room, but may be inadequate when used alone. Using an additional lamp helps to counteract the harsh shadows cast by ceiling light fixtures. Decorative ceiling light fixtures, such as chandeliers and pendants, make a beautiful and functional addition to any room. Other modern ceiling light fixtures include track lighting and recessed lighting.

Wall-mounted lighting, such as sconces, is a popular way to illuminate porches and hallways. Wall sconces over a sofa set or in a dining room will add to the ambiance of your home. Home lighting creates moods and warmth in home décor, and wall sconces make dramatic focal points in your room. Most wall mounts or wall sconces shed soft lighting and are meant as room accents only. Many wall sconces must be hard wired into your wall. Overstock.com recommends professional installation of these wall light fixtures.

Bathroom lighting can be difficult to get right. Too much glare or too little illumination: it always seems to need adjusting. Update your bathroom with a lighted vanity mirror. Beautiful and modern vanity lighting is an excellent addition to any home décor. Like wall-mounted lighting, sconces and vanity lighting must be hard wired into your wall. Professional installation of these wall light fixtures is recommended.

Picture lights make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your wall art and photos. The added light brings out colors and details you might not notice under the regular lighting of a typical room. Most picture lights mount to the frame, and many are cordless. You can find them in a variety of styles and finishes that coordinate with a variety of frames. Typically, you want picture lamps that feature a warm white light. If you go cordless, make sure it is energy efficient so you won't be replacing batteries too often.

Outdoor lighting, or garden lighting, is more popular than ever before. Outdoor lighting makes a home safer by the use of timers, which can make your home seem lived in while you are away. This lighting also welcomes you after dark when you arrive and is great for your peace of mind. Garden lights can prevent accidents in the dark, patio lighting makes the outdoors a second living room and deck lighting or garden lanterns can illuminate a party with your friends. You have several types of outdoor lighting to choose from: landscape lights, utility lighting, safety lights and solar outdoor lights.

Lamp shades

The choices in lamp shades are seemingly endless. If you're replacing lamp shades, no matter what color, texture, or size tempts you, select a shade similar to the original for a sure match. As you choose your lamp shades, consider the size and the way it directs light. Lamp shades should never be too large in proportion to your lamps. When purchasing new lamp shades, remember that package sizing is listed in three dimensions: first, the diameter of the top; second, the diameter of the bottom; and third, the height of the shade. After you determine the correct size, think about how you will be using the lamps. Opaque lamp shades focus the light down, while transparent lamp shades lend the most light to a room.

Tiffany lamps feature stained glass shades. Any type of lamp--a floor lamp, table lamp or accent lamp--can be a Tiffany style lamp. The beautiful stained glass shades are soldered together with copper foil, and they provide you with an array of color and style choices. Watch out for Tiffany style lamp shades that are made with plastic; these are cheap imitations, as are entirely glass lamp shades made from a mold.

Lamp harps

Lamp harps are the U-shaped supports that arch over the light bulb. These are used to establish where the shade will rest on the lamp. Choosing a smaller harp will lower the shade on your lamp, whereas a taller one will raise the shade's height. Never choose a new harp that allows your light globe to be visible below the bottom of the shade.

Light bulbs

• Watts are units of electricity, one watt being equal to 1/746th "horsepower."
• Lumens are units of light, 1600 lumens equals about 100 watts.
• The life of a bulb is how many hours it will last.

Incandescent bulbs have a filament inside which glows when heated by electricity. They are sold in a range from 15 to 200 watts, cost very little, can be used with dimmer switches and are offered in a variety of colors to suit your taste and home décor:

• Clear bulbs emit a strong clear light.
• Soft white bulbs soften the edges of light in a room and are the most popular lighting today.
• Yellow bulbs are usually used to discourage the gathering of bugs in outdoor areas.
• Amber bulbs imitate gas flame lighting.
• Blue bulbs filter out the yellow aspect of an area.

For many years incandescent bulbs were the only type of lighting available. Still our favorites in lighting, they are now sold in a variety of shapes for different lighting uses.

• A-line bulb is better known as the standard light bulb and comes in multiple watts.
• Candle bulbs are decorative and often used with accent lamps.
• Ceiling fan bulbs are made specifically for these light fixtures.
• Flame bulbs are similar to a candle bulb but are wrinkled to appear flame-like.
• Flicker bulbs emulate a flame and are most often found in candelabras.
• Globes are round, need no covering and are used often in vanity lighting around mirrors.
• Reflector bulbs are used in recessed lighting or as spotlights.
• Tubular bulbs are handy under counters, in cabinets and over paintings or pictures.
• PAR bulbs (parabolic aluminized reflector bulbs) are safe for outdoor use and come as halogen bulbs or regular bulbs. Halogens will last longer than regular spotlights and are less likely to fail in extremely cold weather.

Halogen bulbs are the same technology as incandescent; however, they are more efficient, last much longer and produce more lighting for the same expenditure of energy.

Fluorescent light bulbs have trapped mercury vapor in their tubes and a coating on the inside. Electricity makes this vapor send off an ultraviolet ray and the coated tubes make the rays visible as light. Fluorescent bulbs last for years and are the most energy efficient lighting you will find. The long-term savings are great, since they use much less wattage than regular incandescent globes and last nearly sixteen times longer. Fluorescent lighting won't work without a ballast (a device used to limit the amount of current in an electric circuit).

Modern fluorescent lighting offers color options instead of the standard greenish bulbs. The different colors are used for different reasons:

• Cool white: used most frequently in offices, schools and workshops.
• Soft white: lends a softer aura to a room.
• Natural color: gives a high-color interpretation of colors in the area.
• Sunlight: use if light from the outdoors is minimal or low.

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