It’s hard to imagine a time when electricity wasn’t a readily available utility, and maybe sometimes we take that for granted. We also may be missing out on energy savings at a time when every dollar can help our household budget. Understanding how much electricity is used in household lighting, particularly LED lights, can make …
Let’s make the mundane interesting! Welcome to a detailed history of LED lights, including: What: LED aka light emitting diode The Who: Nick Holonyak The when: 1962 The how: by accident And then where: at General Electric in America. The caveat is that Mr. Nick Holonyak is the pioneer of the first visible LED. After this …
I always used to associate recessed lighting with a modern, sleek look in a room. That’s not only the case, though. Recessed lighting can be used anywhere. It is an unobtrusive style of lighting. It can also go with anything and perform any function. Where you position recessed lighting in your living room depends on …
Yes, a handyman can install recessed lighting. However, local requirements determine whether a handyman can do certain electrical installations, including recessed lights, and it is usually not recommended. Major electrical jobs require licensed professionals. Even if you’re an avid do-it-yourselfer and think you know all about electrical wiring and circuits, it’s probably best to hire …
LED lighting, used worldwide every second, has many applications. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used for industrial, commercial, and private uses. There are several types of LED lighting, some of which may flicker or blink or have a strobe light effect at times. Why do LED lights flicker? How can I avoid it or stop the …
Recessed lighting offers considerable benefits to a variety of living spaces. Choosing recessed lighting offers homeowners the opportunity to illuminate entire spaces, whether a small room or a large room with vaulted ceilings. The minimalist profile fits into nearly any design scheme. Some questions that you are likely to have before running out and purchasing …
Ever since electrical lighting became a household staple, there has always been a concern about the safety of the light bulbs used. Anyone over the age of 50 can probably remember older, large bulb Christmas lights and the worry over overheated bulbs on a dry evergreen. Fortunately, as the science behind light bulbs has evolved, …
LED lights are a great addition to your home lighting system. They are well known for their long lifespan. Manufacturers often provide the expected lifespan on the packaging. However, that lifespan has a wide range from 5 to 20 years. Therefore, the estimate from the manufacturer does not give direct insight into how long the …
LED lights have become increasingly popular in recent times, with people showing off the different ways they light up their rooms with strips of these lights. Some folks even put these lights in their cars for a unique look! However, LED light strips come in fixed lengths, so getting them at the exact length you …
LED lights are quickly replacing incandescent bulbs for every lighting use, including applications where dimming the brightness is desirable. LED lights provide better energy efficiency and longer life and they can be dimmed, but only with a little preplanning. Here are some things to consider as you work toward the customization of your lighting schemes …
Flashlights, like electricity, transformed our capabilities, illuminating the world and making things like camping and travel so much more accessible and easy. The tool has a unique and interesting history, and has evolved over time. Join me in discovering the history, and how flashlights actually work. The History of Flashlights The first dry cell …
Quicklist: Different Types of Light Bulbs Halogen bulb Incandescent bulb LED bulb CFL bulb Fluorescent tube Globe LED Bulb Twisted Fluorescent Lamp Incandescent Lamp Compact Fluorescent Lamp Mercury Lamp Tube Fluorescent Lamp Flame-Shaped Bulb LED Bulb Dimmer Switch Fluorescent Lamp Spotlight Bulbs LED Panel Halogen Lamp Corn Lamp Diode Adapter Circular Fluorescent Lamp Sodium Lamp …
When you have a flashlight that doesn’t work anymore, the first inclination is to change the battery. After you do, if the flashlight doesn’t work anymore, it can be very frustrating. The next most common problem here is that your flashlight bulb has burned out and needs to be changed. It is easier than you …
Quicklist: Types of Flashlights Incandescent Bulb Light Emitting Diode (LED) High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Pressurized Gas Solar-Powered Headlamp Lanterns Shake USB-Charging Utility Heavy-Duty Work Tactical When were flashlights invented? The first flashlight was invented in 1899 by English inventor David Misell. It was called “flash” light because the light couldn’t be turned on for long and …
We’ve all seen homes that are not lit up. Not only do they give a spooky vibe, but they can be a bit off-putting. That’s perfect for Halloween, but what about the rest of the 364 days? Not only does light add ambiance, it can be helpful as well as put residents at ease. When …
The living room, also known as the family room, is often the center of activity within the home. A room should have lighting fixtures to accommodate any activity that may be taking place, whether it be watching television, playing games or reading books with young children, or hosting parties and social gatherings with friends and …
When it comes to the lighting on patios, people tend to overlook how important it is and what a great source of ambiance it can be. It can be a lot of fun to spend time outside, and if the lighting is just right, it can be the source of great happiness. While that statement …
Up until last year, I spent one to two full days hanging Christmas lights. I then spent another full day in January taking them down. I had beome somewhat of a Christmas light expert over the years and became familiar with the many types of Christmas lights. Some years I did all this in the …
I would like to welcome you to our list of the 24 best online lighting stores. Much like you, I wanted to find some amazing lamps and other lighting fixtures online for my home, so I sat down and compiled a list of stores and what they offer. I also note whether they are U.S. …
Lightbulbs have come a long way in the past 150 or so years. Starting out with entirely toxic materials and hairstyles resembling Doc from Back to the Future, we have emerged triumphant, deliciously energy efficient, and with perfectly coiffed hair. The LED corn light is the shiny new alternative to high-pressure sodium lamps that are …
People tend to recoil when they hear the word mercury and for good enough reason. Thank goodness we finally know that radiation is bad (Rest In Power, Marie Curie), but there are safe ways to use its powers. This is proven with the mercury vapor light bulb! This type of bulb is a crucial step …
Well jeez, considering how long light bulbs have been around (since 1879!) the complexity of how they work is entirely underappreciated. There are far more complex things, like say, the internet, the CRISPR method, the human ego, octopuses… Alas, inventors started tinkering around with electric light in 1835, and to give you an idea of …
Enjoy full control over light color and timing with the SmartFX smart bulb! The SmartFX smart bulb is a new sensation for lighting enthusiasts, as well as pretty much anyone who likes amazing new inventions. These smart bulbs can use Bluetooth and WiFi technology to connect with any smart phone or bluetooth device. Now with a few …
Welcome to our gallery featuring a vast array of modern smart home lighting solutions. We’ve reached a point where “smart” technology has integrated with nearly every aspect of our lives, with the smartphone at the center of it all. Isn’t it about time that your home lighting took things up a notch? We decided to …
If you include chandeliers within the pendant light category, this type of light is probably the most popular ceiling lighting option for kitchen islands, dining room tables and possibly foyers. In fact, pendants are gaining in popularity as more and more designs become available. For example, the chandelier, once only formal and arguably gaudy, now …
Pendant lights aren’t a super popular living room ceiling lighting option; chandeliers and flush-mount ceiling lights are a bit more common. Lamps (table and floor) are also popular for living rooms. When living rooms have pendant lighting, it’s often complemented with recessed lighting (track lighting in older homes). Nevertheless, as you will see in our …
According to the United States Department of Energy, residential LED lighting uses 75% less energy compared to the incandescent alternative. Over time, that can result in an astronomical amount of saved energy if you equate for all of the homes using LED lighting in the world. And with the popularity of LED lighting constantly growing, …
Floor Lamp Buying Guide A floor lamp does more than just add light to a room. It can also help enhance your overall decor and can tie the look of a room together. Depending on the type or style of floor lamp you get, it can help illuminate certain tasks. In some cases, a floor …
Chandeliers can make the space in 2 ways. First, they can look amazing in their own right. A real showpiece for a room. Second, they illuminate a space and as we know, the light in any room can have a huge impact on the interior design. Light impacts your mood In fact, while it’s well …
The prospect of changing ceiling light bulbs fills me the kind of dread only unrivaled by report card days in grade school. I’m five feet even, so even with a fairly low ceiling and the assistance of a Gorilla ladder with a built-in project tray I still always chicken out and call my condo’s maintenance …
A bedside light of some kind is a necessity, at least for me. I like reading in bed or watching Netflix on my phone or iPad before going to sleep. I prefer not doing any of that in the dark. Sometimes our young kids show up in the middle of the night where I need …
Chandeliers aren’t often equated as kitchen lighting but when you check out our examples of kitchens with a chandelier below, I believe you’ll agree with me that it’s not a bad lighting source for a kitchen. However, any time you incorporate a chandelier into a kitchen, keep in mind you’re moving toward the more formal …
I’m not too crazy about relying on table lamps for lighting. Why? Because they’re more work to turn on than flipping a switch like you do for ceiling lights. An exception of course is if you connect your table lamp(s) to a light switch, in which case, that’s a different story. Another reason I’m not …
Typically living room chandeliers are smaller than the more grand foyer chandeliers. An exception may be if a living room has a vaulted or cathedral ceiling. in which case there is vertical space to hang something larger and more elaborate. The chandelier styles have evolved significantly from years ago. The term chandelier is usually perceived …
Do you think an expensive chandelier is too extravagant of a ceiling light option for a primary bedroom? I don’t think so if you’re building your dream home and you like chandeliers for your main lighting solution. But, if you’re having to swipe off other design elements in order to accommodate some swanky bedroom chandelier …
When it comes to your outdoor space, lighting shouldn’t be overlooked. Arthur Smith, Main Editor of LEDwatcher.com notes, “lighting is definitely one of the most crucial yet sadly also overlooked things when it comes to both interior and landscape design. But in a way it’s almost even more important if we’re talking out outdoor design, …
If pendant lights or a chandelier doesn’t work in your primary bedroom due to ceiling height, flush and semi-flush mount ceiling lights are a good option. These can be nicely complemented with recessed lighting. It’s important not to undermine your choice of ceiling lights in all rooms. The light fixture makes a huge difference to the room. …
Quicklist: Different Types of Lighting 1. Architectural lighting 2. Ceiling lights 3. Pendant lights 4. Recessed lighting 5. Track lighting 6. Under-cabinet lighting 7. Pendant lighting 8. Chandeliers 9. Wall-mounted lighting 10. Floor, table, and desk lamps When done right, lighting can brilliantly transform a space, setting the mood of a room and reflecting the …
Pendant lights are a type of ceiling light used most often in kitchens and dining rooms. It makes sense because the way they drop down, they’re ideal for illuminating rooms and large surface areas beneath them such as dining room tables, kitchen islands and kitchen peninsulas. While chandeliers are used in dining rooms, pendant lights …
Of course, if you include chandeliers in foyers, many foyers and entry halls have pendant lights (chandeliers are technically pendant lights, but usually placed in their own category within ceiling lights). When we set out to create this gallery without chandeliers and instead include only the more narrow definition of pendant lights, the number of …
Isn’t that chandelier in the all-white bathroom above gorgeous? I have to admit I never thought a chandelier in a bathroom could make the room, but in this example (and others below in our bathroom chandelier gallery), they do make the room. What’s interesting about the chandelier in the above bathroom is it’s a more …
Is the sweet, lovely season of summer around the corner? If yes, then we know you that must be most looking forward to spending your free time outdoors. You will probably have your friends over at your house in your backyard to enjoy some cool summery nights with you, by either playing cards or having …
While many homeowners may not care about closet lighting, this does not, by any stretch, lessen its importance. Truth be told, closet lighting is just too important to ignore. Generally, closets either completely lack illumination, or they are exposed to good-for-nothing bulbs; there is no in-between. These kinds of instances make the situation exceedingly inconvenient. Just …
When it comes to interior design, homeowners tend to overlook staircase lighting. And honestly, we don’t blame them. With so much to consider, including wall designing, choosing the right furniture, accessorizing the house, room lighting etc, it is thinkable to slip up on stairway lights. In fact, the majority of people are unaware of the importance …
Do you have a dark and dull garage that needs powerful illumination? When it comes to choosing the type of lighting for a garage, it can be very tricky to make the right decision. This is because firstly, the lighting options are far too many and secondly, the size of the garage can cause great …
The foyer or the entryway of your home is like the first look inside your house that makes a lasting impression on all your guests and also changes the entire look of the interior. As they say, the first impression is the last impression, and because it matters so much, it is important for the …
Quicklist: Different Types of Cabinet Lighting Halogen Lighting Xenon Lighting Fluorescent Lights LEDs Linear/ Strip Lights Puck Lights Rope Lights Surface-Mounted Lights Recessed Lights Hardwired Cabinet Lights Plug-In Fixtures Wireless/ Battery-Operated Lights There are so many things that come to mind if you think about renovating a kitchen. What theme should you pick? Would an …
When you have a foyer with a tall ceiling, a chandelier is an ideal lighting option. You can brightly light up the entrance to offer a well-lit entry for guests, plus they can look fabulous. However, if you have a lower ceiling, a chandelier is not the best ceiling light option because you don’t want your …
Solar lights use solar cells which converts sunlight into electricity. The first photovoltaic cell was developed in 1839 when French scientist Edmond Becquerel recognized the potential of harnessing solar energy for generating electricity. He and his French compatriot Augustin Mouchet proceeded to create the first solar-powered generators in the 1860s which were able to power small …
Light switches date back to 1884 when John Henry Holmes invented the quick-break mechanism. Even today, the quick break mechanism is used in some electric light switches. In 1917, William J. Newton developed the quick-break mechanism and devised the first toggle light switch. The toggle light switch has since evolved and led to a few …