A general background illumination is important to avoid the hard light to dark contrast if only a desk lamp is used. Indirect wall washers, a floor lamp or an uplighter will do nicely. For the desk lamp look for one which is adjustable for height and will reach over the area where you are working. It is most important to avoid working in shadows.

If you have a computer, try and light the wall behind it to avoid tiring your eyes when looking at the screen. Make sure the lights in the room do not reflect off the screen into your eyes.

Light bulbs, It’s now LED

With the introduction of new LED light bulbs both incandescent and fluorescent lamps are now obsolete. This technology has transformed the energy required to light a room. With light output now measured in Lumens, these super-efficient bulbs make a real saving to the amount of electricity used to light your home.

LED  (Light Emitting Diode)

With LED lighting, the modern technology used provides a very clear, bright light for your home. LED lights have a life of up to 30,000 hours, that’s 20 times longer than it’s equivalent output from an incandescent bulb AND it uses up to 85% less electricity.   This technology is now available to replace the traditional candle bulb.  The traditional 40 watt bulb can be replaced with a 4 watt LED bulb, same light output, less electricity used and less heat output.  The technology in this area is constantly improving the lamp life and the lumen output.  At present LED bulbs need a specialised dimmer switch which will operate at such a low wattage.

It's all about the Lumens, the new way to measure light output

There seems to be some confusion these days about how to measure the brightness of a bulb. It was relatively simple when we all used incandescent lights. You could choose from a 40, 60, 75 or 100 watt bulb, and we all have a rough idea how bright that will be. With the introduction of CFL and LED technology, this now has got a little bit more complicated.

Nowadays it’s all about the lumens!

A lumen is a standard unit of light as it is perceived to the human eye. Essentially it will tell you how bright something is, unlike a watt, which is actually a measurement of energy consumption or output. The lighting industry has standardised ways that it measures the total emission of light from a product and this information is now included on most product packaging.

BULB EFFICIENCY

This traffic light diagram explains the how the energy efficiency of bulbs has progressed and the approximate lumen output for the electricity used for the new LED lamps.

What difference will it make to my electricity bill, how much will I save?

This is an example of replacing 6 bulbs in your home with the equivalent LED’s

Replacing a standard 50 Watt bulb with 6 watt LED’s the following savings could be made over 12 months.

Replacing 6 x 50 watt bulbs with 6 x 6 watt LED’s, same lumen output, 264 watt electricity saving.

Running time

7 days per week 6 Hours per day, 26 weeks per year.

Electricity cost £0.13 per unit.

Lamp cost £5.00

Electricity saving = £62.00 per year

With LED bulbs now available in all the various cap sizes and with similar filaments to the original GLS and candle bulbs, they can be exchanged with standard incandescent bulbs and keep the same appearance. There is now no compromise between energy efficiency and the lighting pendant style you prefer. As the design of LED bulbs has improved they are now suitable for all decorative fittings, you can have "style and function". The best of both worlds.

With the correct outdoor lighting to complement the different plants, flowers and landscaping, your garden can be transformed into an ideal area for many purposes, such as garden parties or your own private retreat. However, lighting the exterior of a property often requires more planning and creativity than lighting an inside room. Searchlight offer everything from decking and pathway lights, to wall lights, bollards, post lights and porch lights, with a versatile range and endless lighting options for around the garden. With an extensive range of lighting choices and so many different styles of gardens, knowing where to start can be a little confusing. So we’ve listed some helpful ideas and tips for you to consider for making the most of your garden lighting.

Lighting Plan

Where and how you place your outdoor lights is paramount in garden lighting. Initially, we would recommend choosing the suitable places for your garden light points, taking into account where the lights would fit perfectly without causing any obstruction. You can create a better shadow effect in your garden by installing lights in front of plants.

Garden lights must serve the purpose of being both functional and ornate, by adding to the decorative element. However, they also need to be subtle and enhance a garden’s beauty when the sun goes down. And if you’re creative, you can control what is seen (and not seen) with tactical outdoor lighting.

Lighting Safety

As evening falls and daylight fades, it's nice to be able to throw a switch and light up the garden so you can stay out for longer. However outdoor and garden lighting can have other practical uses. For example, if you have steps in the garden, it is advisable to fit step lights to avoid tripping.

Post Lights are a great way of lighting up pathways for safety and helping to ensure the exterior of your home is lit for security. Outdoor wall lights and hanging lanterns create a safe and welcoming environment for the front of your home, in addition to enhancing the outside of your property.

Lighting Types

Outdoor lighting is IP rated – the higher the rating the more resistant the fitting is to the elements. All external lights should be waterproof, durable and compliant with safety regulations. IP44 rated garden lights are splashproof, and IP67 rated lights are water tight (submersible) and recommended for gardens near to the coast.

As outdoor lights are often left on for many hours, it is recommended to use LED or energy saving bulbs, as these consume minimum energy. Low wattage lamps are also considered safe, creating low level lighting around the garden in the evening, which isn’t overly bright and difficult for eyes to adjust to the light.

Lighting Styles

Style is vital in determining the ambience of your garden. A combination of small spotlights and post lights can create a sense of theatre, leading you from one area of the garden to another. By illuminating from the floor with uplighters, you can also highlight the best parts of your garden.

Decking lights and spike lights will illuminate your garden and patio area to create a space you can enjoy any time. Lighting up your garden, patio or driveway with bright and eye-catching outdoor wall lighting will help bring your garden to life, turning an ordinary garden into an extraordinary one.

Make your exterior lighting as stunning as your interior, with our extensive range of traditional and contemporary outdoor lights. Searchlight’s stylish and practical outdoor lighting is perfect for enhancing the outside of your property and bringing the garden to life, so you can enjoy it for longer once night falls.

Crystal lights are all the rage in contemporary home design. However, these lights go way back to the 14^th century when Louis XIV used crystal lighting in his magnificent palace at Versailles. Even before that the Egyptians had already discovered leaded glass and its dazzling lighting quality.

A Touch Of Splendour At Home

You can add a touch of glamour to your home by simply investing in any of the numerous styles of crystal lights we have available. The secret behind the amazing effects of these tips of lights comes through mixing a percentage of lead with molten sand.

The quality of well faceted crystal helps to send the light in all directions, making your ordinary home look ethereal. But this is not all you get from this traditional lighting option. There’s more including:

Versatile designs: Whatever type of interior or exterior décor you have, there will be a light to complement it. There are multiple styles from contemporary, vintage, glittering, antique and many more to choose from. In fact, you can get customized designs to fit any unique range of styles you need.

Everyday application: When most home owners in the UK think of crystal lights what comes to mind is aesthetics. However, these lights come in a range of uses from wall lights, table lamps, outdoor lighting, ceiling lights and many more. In essence, it is the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality.

Easy fixing: The design of that massive but lovely chandelier you see online should not intimidate you. Most of these lights in the market do not even need any skills in wiring. You will just need to fit them into the existing bulb holder and you are set.

Multiple colour selection: Lighting affects your mood and hence these lights come in a wide range of varieties to ensure you get the appropriate one for particular rooms. You can choose from gold, clear, glittering, dark red, black among other finishes. Whatever mood you want to set in your room there is an option for it.

The fact that these lights come in different bulb number options makes them ideal for different sizes of rooms. You can also choose the type of lighting you want be it such as halogen, incandescent and LED among others. In short, there is something for everyone.