How To Choose The Best Lightbulbs

You’ve found your perfect fixture to transform your room’s ambiance but did you choose the perfect lightbulb? There are four popular lightbulbs that come in various colors and shapes. Here’s how to choose the best lightbulbs for your needs.

Think about your location.

The four most popular types of lightbulbs are incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), halogen, and light-emitting diode (LED). Each type has various strengths in different rooms.

• LEDs emit a bright, directional light making them a great fit for task lighting. Since they also last up to 50,000 hours and are perfect for fixtures in inconvenient places.
• CFLs: For illuminating large spaces such as basements and kitchens, CFLs work well. These energy-efficient bulbs emit a variety of colors and are less expensive than LEDs.
• Halogen bulbs emit a white light similar to high-noon daylight. They are energy efficient and dimmable. However, they have a very short life span and warm quickly. It’s recommended to keep these bulbs away from fire-hazardous materials and to use gloves to change out the light. Halogen bulbs are great for recessed, pendant, and under cabinet lighting,
• Incandescent: If you’re looking for an inexpensive option or a warm light to use with dimmer, incandescent bulbs are your best option. It’s good to note that even though they last longer than halogen bulbs they don’t last as long as CFL or LEDs nor are they as energy efficient.

Watt about Illumination?

All puns aside, the amount of energy a lightbulb uses is referred to as watts. To produce a brighter light, a bulb will need a higher wattage.

How many lumens does your space need? Lumens refer to the amount of light radiated. So similar to watts, the higher the lumen, the brighter the light. It’s recommended most rooms use 20 lumens per square foot for a well-lit area. Extra dark rooms or walls with dark paneling should have an additional 10 lumens per square foot. The total number of lumens can be spread across a few fixtures and one light doesn’t need to handle all of the illuminations on its own.

Professional Installation

Although most homeowners can change a lightbulb, it’s another matter entirely to add recessed lighting, new fixtures and installations, and make sure each room is wired correctly and, most importantly, safely. Get in touch with us for personal help and consultation on all your lighting and electrical needs.