Lighting
Choosing light

Three numbers worth knowing.

Lighting is bought by looks and lived with by specification. These are the figures that decide how a room feels.

  • Colour temperature

    2700K is warm and domestic. 4000K is neutral and reads as workspace. Above 5000K feels clinical in a home, whatever the fitting looks like.

  • Lumens, not watts

    Watts measure consumption; lumens measure light. Around 400 lumens suits a bedside, 800 a table lamp, 1500 and up for a main ceiling fitting.

  • Beam and diffusion

    A bare bulb throws shadows and glare. Fabric, glass and paper diffuse it. The shade decides the atmosphere more than the bulb does.

Lighting questions

The practical answers

What colour temperature should I choose for a living room?

2700K to 3000K. That is the warm, slightly yellow light people associate with home. 4000K and above reads as an office and will make a living room feel cold no matter how good the fitting is.

How many lumens do I need?

Roughly 400 lumens for a bedside lamp, 800 for a table or floor lamp, and 1500 or more for a room's main light. Lumens measure the light produced; watts only measure the electricity used.

Are your lights dimmable?

It depends on the fitting and the bulb. Check the product page for the specific item — a dimmable fitting still needs a dimmable bulb and a compatible switch to work properly.

What bulb fitting do your lamps take?

The fitting type is listed on each product page. If you are replacing an existing lamp, check the base of your current bulb before ordering.

Can these be used in a bathroom or outdoors?

Only where the product page says so. Bathrooms and outdoor spaces need a fitting rated for damp conditions, so check that rating on the product page before ordering — it is a safety requirement, not a preference.