A Guide to Low Voltage LED Lighting

If you're running a low voltage (12-volt) lighting system in your home or business, why not change to some low voltage LEDs? They are cheaper to use than halogen bulbs and last up to twenty times longer. And, unlike regular energy savers, i.e. CFLs, their life span is not affected by frequent on and off switching.

However, before you change, you will first need to check the compatibility of your transformers and, if necessary, upgrade to an LED Driver.

Low voltage light bulbs are driven by a 12-volt electrical supply rather than the 220-240-volts needed to run conventional bulbs. This 12-volt supply is achieved using a device called a transformer.

Standard "halogen" transformers have a minimum load requirement of about 20 watts. As LED's use very little power, between 3 and 6 watts, they don't always satisfy this requirement. This will result in performance issues such as flickering and diminished light output. It will also shorten the lifespan of your bulbs.

LED drivers have no minimum load, so can be used to power individual and multiple LED bulbs without difficulty.

There are two main types of driver available; constant current and constant voltage. When choosing an LED driver, it is important to work out which you need.

-If you are powering an individual bulb, or several bulbs in series, i.e. in succession, then you will need a constant current driver.

-If you are running numerous bulbs in parallel, you will need a constant voltage driver.

Many customers are put off by the idea of upgrading to LED drivers, particularly as it can work out to be quite expensive. There are cheaper alternatives however.

One option is to change your low voltage fittings to mains voltage GU10. This cuts out the transformer/driver altogether. All you need to do is remove your existing fittings and transformer, and replace it with a GU10 lamp holder that connects directly to the mains supply.

With a GU10 LED bulb, the voltage and current requirements are managed by an in-built driver, so you don't need to worry about compatibility.

In summary, low voltage lighting users should always check their transformers before changing to LED. You could be saving yourself a lot of hassle and will ensure you get the most out of your LED bulbs.

Remember, low voltage is not synonymous with low energy. Energy is measured in watts. Only by switching to LED can you lower the energy consumption of your lighting and save money on your electricity bills.

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Outdoor Lights: Adding Grace and Beauty to Your Landscaping

Lighting and illumination are not merely functional requirements for homes and offices. Placed artistically, chosen for their aesthetic quality and maintained well, they add value and beauty to your exterior spaces like garden, pool-side, courtyard, veranda, porch, yard or lawn, create a specific mood or ambiance and make a style statement.

One factor to keep in mind is the general look of your home or office, provide a warm, welcoming feel and to match the outdoor lights correspondingly. For instance, if you have antique lighting inside, then ultra-modern exterior lighting may clash with it. Do a thorough assessment of your exterior space and identify the appropriate points at which lights should be placed. The size and style of your building is also an important factor as too much or too little lighting would be ineffective. Another point to consider is that exterior lights should also contribute to a feeling of safety and security by keeping dark or shaded areas well-lit and visible from inside and also from the street. If you have a large area that needs lighting, it's a good idea to divide it up into sections and provide appropriate lights. Keep your neighbors in mind when you place your lights as you don't want to disturb them.

Materials: A wide range of materials can be used to manufacture outdoor lighting fixtures. The main criterion is weather-resistance. Aluminum both die-cast and anodized, powder-coated steel, wrought iron, copper, antique finished bronze or brass, treated hardwoods like teak, tough polyurethane resins which can be molded into different shapes, etc are the materials chosen by manufacturers. Fitments are made of rust-proof stainless steel or toughened PVC, while wiring and conduits are made of weather-proof plastic. If you're located close to the sea, you will have to keep in mind the problem of salt-corrosion in mind. Since outdoor lights are wired underground, your conduits need to be able to withstand water, heat, cold and pressure.

Types: Post-mounted lights are suitable along driveways and you can purchase posts to match the fixture. Wall-mounted outdoor lights are for your basement, sides of the building, garage or back-entrance. These are ideal for security reasons. Porches can be fitted with ceiling mounted or hanging outdoor lights. Deck lights, outdoor chandeliers and garden lights are other options for your exteriors.

Style: is your personal statement. You can choose contemporary, antique, classic, etc in a variety of colors and finishes. Glass can be clear or frosted and the bulb wattage can be suited to your budget and needs. Solar lights and CFL bulbs are very popular and can cut your lighting costs considerably.

You can select fittings from your local dealer or order them from on-line catalogs. Many of them offer discounts on shipping or offer to install free installation.

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How Your Backyard Patio Can Benefit From Outdoor Wall Lights

There are a number of reasons why homeowners like to have their backyard patios illuminated during the night, including for security, safety and functionality. One of the best ways to provide adequate illumination to your patio is through the installation of some attractive wall lights (sometimes known as sconces). So, how can these fixtures meet each of the desired outcomes outlined above?

Security

It is a well-known fact that most would-be intruders are hesitant to enter spaces where they can be seen. As the patio is generally located quite close to one of the exterior entrances to your home, having wall lights in the space can help to deter undesirable people from prowling around your home. It is also possible to have your lights fitted to a sensor, which will turn them on when they sense movement during the night.

Safety

Whilst some people view safety as being under security, it is a completely separate issue. If your patio is situated close by to your garage or car port, it is important that you will be able to see your way to the back door when arriving home late at night. Having some wall lights on your patio should give you enough illumination to see a clear path to the door. Sensor lights are also a good option for ensuring safety.

Functionality

If you enjoy entertaining and having friends and family over, you will find that your patio becomes completely useless once night falls because you simply cannot see. The installation of some wall lights on your patio will make it a pleasant place to sit and eat, even when it is dark. This type of light is fantastic for creating a nice ambience and relaxing environment, as the illumination is not too harsh or bright.

When installing wall sconces on your patio, you should follow some basic guidelines to ensure that their placement is effective:

Install the lights anywhere but at eye level to avoid glare Install a timer or sensor if you want your lights to be on sometimes but don't want an exorbitant electricity bill Install lights where they will adequately illuminate hazards, such as steps and cracks

As you can see, there are a number of ways that your backyard patio can benefit from the installation of some well-placed and well-chosen wall lights. Not only can they increase the security and safety of the space, they can make it a much more comfortable and usable place once the sun goes down. There are a number of sconce styles available, making it easier than ever to match your home's decor.

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Alter Moods With Lighting

Making the most of your house is less to do with the room that you have and more a case of how you plan out your living arrangements. Most of us accept the status quo and simply assign a room its function as a result of perceived thinking. But more and more people are creating multi-use rooms that can be transformed from bedrooms to entertainment spaces, to multimedia presentation suites. Room layouts can be reconfigured to help you get the most out of your room and allow all your family to enjoy your home as effectively and flexibly as possible. Sofas can be transformed into beds, allowing you to have more guests to stay without having to put them up on uncomfortable camping mattresses. Living rooms can quickly turn into a multimedia viewing suite by the use of an overhead projector and conservatories can go from a summer only space to a room suitable for all the year round with the effective deployment of modern heating solutions.

Lighting is a central feature of using your rooms flexibly and the impact that it can have on the look and function of a particular space is extraordinary. Dimmers, for example, are great to alter the mood, but also useful if you want to transform your third bedroom from a haven of soft slumbers to, for example, a study. By simply increasing the light intensity you can make a real difference to how the room is used, freeing up other space for new activities. To get the most out of your rooms, it's optimal to have three different permutations of lighting in each living space as this gives the maximum flexibility.

Overhead lighting is predominantly for illumination, letting you use a room for a variety of purposes, from viewing a film to working on a model aeroplane. Wall lighting is great for creating a particular atmosphere and can be used in conjunction with overhead lights to help give the room maximum flexibility. Finally, by using table and floor lamps around the space, you can ensure that there are specific pools of light that are ideal if your family want to use the space for two different things, such as reading and listening to music.

There is a wide range of lighting available online and there are many different styles and designs to choose from. However, whether you want something for your bedroom or the boardroom, make sure you try to visualise the overall effect in conjunction with other design elements in the room, such as the furniture and wall coverings, as this will make a huge difference to the overall effect.

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Garden Illuminations

Garden illuminations are lights which are meant for the garden. They come in a wide range of styles and they also vary in terms of voltage and power sourcing. The illuminations are normally manufactured for specific areas within the garden hence you do not have to spend too much time looking for the best lights for the different areas within the garden. With the huge range of lights in the market today, it is highly unlikely that you will miss to find the perfect one for your garden.

The importance

Garden illuminations come with two major benefits making them important within the garden. The very first benefits of the garden illuminations are security. A well lighted home or garden has this secure atmosphere to it and you will therefore always be comfortable when moving in and out at night. Criminals also have a fear for lights and they keep away from such lighted areas. With your garden well lighted, you will be more at ease at night.

The second benefit of the garden illuminations is that they add a touch of beauty and class to your garden both at night and during the day. Apart from illuminating your garden at their best, their styles and designs will stand out even in the dark leaving your garden looking attractive. The lights are also very attractive during the day and they will serve as beauty features within your garden. This means that you will need to carefully consider the style of the lights that you choose for the garden so that they do not look awkward in the garden during the day.

Common types

Garden illuminations are of different kinds but the most common include garden spotlights, lanterns, lamps and bollards which are perfect markers for the driveway and paths within the garden. You will also find hanging lights, wall lights and fairy lights which are mostly for decorative purposes. The fairly lights can be used during special occasions as beauty features but there are people who choose to use them continuously within their garden adding that spice to the natural ground.

When choosing your garden illuminations, always ensure that you consider all important factors. This way, you will not only enjoy your garden at night but you will be sure that they will serve you for a long time. The quality of the lights is something that cannot be ignored since it determines the durability of your illuminations.

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How Do Halogen Bulbs Work?

In 1958, halogen bulbs were introduced to the world. These light bulbs are a lot brighter than traditional ones, and they have been the most common choice for headlights for a number of years now.

Another great thing about these lights is that they are a lot more energy efficient than traditional bulbs, and they last a lot longer. They are very similar in design to traditional lights, even including a tungsten filament, but instead of glass, they are made from quartz. This allows the lights to be a lot smaller than others because quartz can handle hotter temperatures and be closer to the filament than glass can.

Regular Lighting

Until 1958, all households were lit using traditional electric light bulbs. These are made with frosted glass that surrounds argon and/or nitrogen, and there is a tungsten filament in the middle. When the light is plugged in and turned on, the filament in the bulb heats up to about 2,500 degrees Celsius. The tungsten gets hot, white hot actually, and this light is the incandescence that we see.

The biggest problem with regular light bulbs, besides the fact that you usually end up breaking at least one from every package by dropping it, is that they don't last very long. Usually you get about 750-1,000 hours of use from one light. This is because the tungsten evaporates and ends up depositing itself on the glass, leaving a thin area that ends up breaking, which is what leads to burnout. You also get more heat than light, which means that they are not very energy efficient and you waste all that heat.

Why Halogen Is Better

You will find some similarities between traditional and halogen lighting, including the fact that that they both use a tungsten filament. One of the biggest differences is the fact that instead of glass, the outer part is made from quartz. These lights are much smaller than traditional lights because the quartz can withstand much hotter temperatures. Instead of argon or nitrogen, the gas used comes from the halogen group. These gases can combine with tungsten vapor, which is what helps to make these bulbs last so much longer.

When the temperatures become too high, the gas combines with the tungsten atoms while they are evaporating. This causes them to be recycled, making the lights last a lot longer than traditional light bulbs. Another bonus is that you get more light and less heat from your bulbs. Just remember not to touch the bulbs with your bare hands though. You can get a bad enough burn from traditional lighting, and these get even hotter.

The next time you need to replace the bulbs in your lamps and ceiling fixtures, spend a little bit more and get yourself some long-lasting halogen bulbs. They give off a lot more light, they are much more energy efficient, and they will last longer than other bulbs. Sure, you may be paying a little bit more now, but you will end up saving money in the long run.

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Contemporary Modern Lighting Illuminates Any Home

Decorating your home can be quite a challenge if you are not up to the task. You need to decide on the color that you want for your walls. You need to consider the tiles you will put on the floor. You also have to give some thought to the lighting fixtures you will have installed. Given that every decision you make is vital in giving you the design of your home that you desire, the number of contemporary modern lighting fixtures available is enough to confuse anyone in their quest to make the right decision.

Of course, you will find that your tastes and personal preferences will naturally come into play. Then there is also the issue of the current design or style of your home. In short, zeroing on the exact style that you want for your interiors is difficult enough. How much more could finding the right contemporary modern lighting fixture be? It sure does not help that today's contemporary modern lighting fixtures comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Nevertheless, putting all that difficulty aside, you just need to read this article so that you can get a few ideas that will enlighten you (pun intended) regarding all the ways you can light up your home.

So, how do you pick the right contemporary modern lighting fixture for your home? the following are some helpful hints which you can use.

- Floor lamps Modern homes can benefit from contemporary floor lamps. These floor lamps are made from different materials - wood, metal and combinations of both. If you want something interesting, you can go for those with unusual yet attractive designs. Just be sure to pick floor lamps that go well with the other pieces that are present in the room. Dare to be creative? Pick floor lamps with bold colors. They will surely provide illumination as well as liven up your room.

- Side lamps For lamps to adorn side tables, you can opt for contemporary side lamps. These lighting solutions can give an otherwise drab room a dash of color. Of course, when you want some vibrancy in the room, you have to choose acrylic side lamps that come in different shades - blue, red, pink, orange, purple, and loads more! Then there are chrome side lamps that go well with chrome furniture. If you are not one to experiment, you can pick side lamps with wooden designs. These go well with wooden furnishings.

- Chandeliers and ceiling lights There are now more options to choose from when it comes to chandeliers and ceiling lights. You can take your pick from different designs to complement the room you intend to install a chandelier in. Plus, your room can get a whole new look when you pick interesting ceiling lights to give you the illumination you need.

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Set the Stage With LED Spotlights

LED Spotlights are a fantastic combination of form and function that really deliver great results when it comes to lighting your home. Traditionally spotlights are more commonly associated with commercial settings such as clubs, bars, restaurants or shops, but nowadays homeowners are beginning to opt for spotlights in order to replicate the same stylish results in their own homes.

"LEDs are particularly advantageous because of their generous energy savings and astonishing 30,000 hour lifespan, so switching now will tide you over through the upcoming winter and many years to come." It doesn't take an interior designer to tell you why spotlights are great for the home. Their main benefit is that they help complement modern interiors with a stylish streamlined appearance. Because of their compact design, spotlights are a lot less intrusive than traditional household bulbs that tend to dominate the ceiling space and overall appearance of a room. They are far more discrete and can even be recessed to maximize the concealment of the bulb.

In addition to this spotlights are a lot more versatile and open up a number of opportunities when it comes to designing the lighting system for your house. They can be recessed in ceilings, walls, floors or furniture, or you can choose to mount them in a host of different ways. A fixture with rotational fittings means that you can realign your spotlights and change the appearance of a room every day.

The directional light produce by this type of lighting gives you an opportunity to experiment with the way you use light in your home. Instead of opting for general illumination from a single bulb you can be more meticulous about where you choose to put your light. Spotlights can be used to accent particular features of a room, whether they be paintings, columns, alcoves or worktops. A choice of different beam angles are available, ranging anywhere from 60 degrees to 120 degrees. These give even more options when deciding what type of LED Spotlights you want to use. Spotlights with narrower beam angles create a more concentrated pool of light, perfect for highlighting specific features of a room. Spotlights with larger beam angles distribute light over a wider area and can be used for more conventional purposes.

If you feel that a room is too claustrophobic you can turn your LED Spotlights towards the walls and create an effect that 'pushes out' the walls. This can make a room appear larger without actually being so. LED Spotlights are available in both warm white and cool white light. Warm white is the archetypal light temperature for homes and creates a comfortable atmosphere. Cool white is much more intense and is more effective at creating concentrated lighting effects or enhancing the appearance of colours. To really open up the lighting opportunities in your home you might consider using both colour temperatures in combination.

With the winter weather approaching keeping our houses warm is going to be more expensive than ever. Offset this expense by adopting LED Spotlights into your home today.

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All About Modern Light Fixtures

Interior design is not something that is best left in the hands of interior designers. You can have your hand in it to if you know a bit about using modern light fixtures to create a look that you have in mind. In fact, with strategic placement of modern light fixtures and some accessories, you can make your design seem like it is the work of a professional.

Basically, all light fixtures fulfill the main purpose of illumination. You can easily get a reliable light from a plain bulb. However, with these, you can get that and more.

Modern light fixtures are great in creating perspective and giving a room a pleasant ambiance. For instance, a wall sconce can add a touch of drama to your bathroom. On the other hand, a floor lamp can provide your study with a good source of illumination as well as accentuate the beauty of the other pieces inside it. Pendants are also great for decorating and lighting up your bathroom.

Additionally, recessed ceiling lights and accent lighting are great lightings to get for your bedroom. The subdued lighting that they provide makes your room for rest and sleep really conducive. Chandeliers are also part of the wide array of modern lightings that you can install in your home. Depending on the size of the room, you can find a chandelier of the right size that can serve the dual purpose of beauty and functionality.

These modern light fixtures are made from sturdy materials. Plus, they use different types of finishes for sophisticated and attractive looks. You may find fixtures with any of the following finishes: chrome, brushed steel, flute glass, polished nickel, antique brass, black or white baked enamel and bronze.

Then, you can also benefit from devices that go with these lighting. You can find dimmers for controlling the amount of light that comes from your modern flush mount fixture. There are low voltage reflectors and tracks that cater to your specific needs. In short, your modern light fixtures allow you to express yourself with these features.

In conclusion, modern light fixtures are not only functional pieces that give off light, but hey are also works of art. The modern fixtures just let you have your shot in designing your home without ever having to attend formal interior design classes and more to have that unique look and feel of your home.

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Buying LED Tape - Some More Advice

Buying LED Tape isn't rocket science. In fact, its very straight forward. Here is some more advice on buying LED Tape that will be useful to both first-time and repeat customers.

Chip Size - 3528 or 5050?

The LED chips used by LED Tape come in two main varieties; 3528 and 5050. These numbers refer to the physical dimension of each individual LED chip. 3528 are smaller, measuring 3.5mm by 2.8mm, while 5050 are larger, measuring 5mm by 5mm.

The chief difference between these two types of chip, as well as size, is power consumption and brightness. Generally speaking, LED Tape that uses 5050 chips is brighter and more power intensive than LED Tape that uses 3528 chips. As well as this, 5050 chips achieve a much wider distribution of light than 3528 chips, creating a smoother, more consistent lighting effect.

In our opinion, tape using 3528 chips should be used for decorative purposes, as the light is more precise. Tape using 5050 chips should be used for ambient purposes, as the light is more diffuse.

LEDs per metre

This is pretty self-explanatory. The main types of LED Tape available are 30, 60 and 120 LED per metre. With a greater number of LEDs per metre, the distance between each individual LED is smaller, making for a more consistent beam of light. When deciding on which to use, ask yourself the following questions: what effect am I trying to achieve and how much light do I need?

For example, designers of signage and light boxes are very cautious about the number and type of LEDs per metre they use as they try to reduce the spotting effect created by each individual LED and achieve a more even distribution of light.

Colour

When we talk about colour we are not just talking about red, green and blue. We are also referring to colour temperature. LED Tape comes in three main types; warm white, cool white and colour changing RGB. The former two are not colours per se, but rather colour temperatures. Warm is a close match to a halogen bulb, while cool white is much clear and brighter. Colour changing RGB gives you the option of 16 static colours, including white, and 4 colour changing modes.

We recommend using warm white in residential areas as the soft light helps to promote relaxation. It should also be used where more traditional decor is in evidence. Cool white is better for making a space feel more contemporary. It works particularly well in kitchens and bathrooms.

Colour changing RGB should be used wherever you want to create a party atmosphere.

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Should You Choose Modern or Antique Table Lamps For Your Home?

Whether you choose modern or antique table lamps for your home depends very much on your existing interior styling and personality. However, that said, your existing styling doesn't necessarily need to dictate the type of table lamp you choose as often an accessory in contrast to surrounding furnishings can add a really electric touch to your home.

Let's have a look at antique lamps. Some antique lamps are made with brass or wrought iron stems and often topped with fabric type lamp shades. However antique lamps can also have bases made from ceramics or porcelain. Antique lamp bases from China and Japan very often feature ceramic or porcelain bases. Another familiar style of antique lamp is the directors desk lamp which has a glass (often green glass) verandah style head and a brass base. The sort of lamp you might find in your state library.

Another popular antique lamp is the leadlight lamp. These are very intricate and ornate lamps and often very colourful. These lamps are really very beautiful and can work in a contemporary design as well as an old world styled space. The Parisian influence in antique table lamps is evident by their embroidered fabric shades often found with tear drop crystals or tassels hanging from the bottom of the shade. These are very often found in reproduction specialty stores.

Modern table lamps are generally much more minimalistic in design than your antique lamps. Due to their newer and more advanced design that are very often more functional than a period piece. Their lines are often very simple utilising arcs or angles to set of their heads. Due to the fluid nature of these designs the bases are often made from smooth metals such as stainless steel or brushed stainless steel for a more demure look. Their heads or shades can often be made from glass or other smooth, simple and elegant compounds. These modern designs are very often works of art in their own right and can be ultra modern or just downright kooky. Some modern pieces use unexpected designs for their bases such as petrified rope or a base in the shape of an animal. The options are endless.

Due to their recent design and use of state of the art materials and technology, the end result is often very much more functional than an antique piece. So as far as a reading lamp goes, you might find a modern lamp to be more functional than an antique one. Many modern table lamps are touch lamps whereby they will switch on if you touch any part of the lamp; no more searching for the cord and/or the button to activate your lamp.

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Buying LED Tape - Some Advice

There are many things to consider when it comes to buying LED Tape. Today we are going to take you through some of these considerations including length, luminosity, power consumption and voltage. But first, what is LED Tape?

LED Tape is a type of lighting fixture that features a series of low-voltage LED's mounted to a flexible strip. Due to it's flexibility, LED Tape is capable of handling applications that are otherwise too difficult or impractical for older lighting solutions.

Length

As LED Tape can be cut to size, it is possible to scale it to the exact requirements of your project. Cutting LED Tape is a fairly simple process and can easily be done yourself, but most customers prefer to have the tape prepared in advance. If this is the case you will need to forward your measurements.

The first thing to check is the frequency of the cutting points on the particular tape you have chosen. The most common intervals are 2.5cm, 5cm and 10cm. Your measurements will need to be rounded up or down depending on which type of tape you are choosing.

Next, you will need to take your measurements. For example, if you are installing tape onto the underside of kitchen cabinets, you will need to measure their length, compensating wherever necessary for the increments at which the tape can be cut. So, for example, if the cabinet measures 53cm exactly, you will need to round down to 50cm (if using tape with 5 or 10cm cutting intervals).

Once you have all your measurements, send them in an email. Your retailer will do the rest.

Luminosity

Luminosity, measured in lumens, describes the brightness of the tape. Retailers usually advertise the brightness of their tape on a per metre basis. Sometimes it can be hard to work out whether a particular type of tape is bright enough for a particular application. That is why we separate our tape into three categories; low, medium and high brightness.

Generally speaking, low brightness should be used for decorative purposes, medium brightness should be used for task lighting, and high brightness should be used for general purpose illumination. A forth option is to simply install a dimmer switch, which will allow you to vary the brightness of the tape as required.

Power Consumption

Like luminosity, the power consumption or wattage of LED Tape is advertised on a per metre basis. The overall power consumption of your tape can be calculated by multiplying the wattage per metre by the number of metres you will be powering from a single power supply. The resulting figure should be used to determine the size of the power supply you need.

Voltage

LED Tape is a "low-voltage" lighting fixture, as opposed to a "mains voltage" fixture. This means it requires a transformer to convert, or transform, the mains voltage from 240-volts to the 12-volts needed to power the tape. Transformers are available in two main varieties; mains ready or "plug and play." They also come with different maximum loads, depending on the power requirements of the tape

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How to Select the Perfect Contemporary Table Lamps

Contemporary lamps are all at once useful sources of illumination while providing a means of aesthetic pleasure. As accessories, lamps offer an opportunity to exhibit a personal flair for artistic expression as much as they may be the unique accent to a room's decor. In one device, there is an opportunity to benefit from the significance of this history-making utility as well as indulge the senses in making a statement or simply blending the warmth of lighting with design.

Contemporary styles of lighting present a wealth of choices in color, size, materials and designs. It is possible to search and find exactly the right piece for the room for which it is intended. It is also possible to decide on a look that will serve the purpose for many years going forward while remaining relevant, regardless of how designs may change. This may mean choosing something that has more mainstream appeal versus something avant-garde or catering to a specific theme.

Here are some of the many materials used to fashion contemporary lamps:

· Ceramic · Porcelain · Wood · Brass · Metal · Clear Glass · White Glass · Rippled Glass · Crystal · Lucite · Ivory · Mother of Pearl · Concrete · Leather · Sculpted or Carved · Figurine · Stainless Steel · Mirrored

The materials from which contemporary table lamps are made lend themselves to creative artistry. Ceramic is versatile in creating all manner of shapes, carvings, and finishes. Glass lends itself to more dynamic depths of color, even creating a metallic or gem appearance. Oddly enough, concrete can be easily formed into artistic shapes that demonstrate the unique characteristics of the form with pockets of air revealed around aggregate.

Designers work hard to provide a little something for every taste. There are minimal designs that work well for the efficient environment, stout pieces that work to help fill a space, neck lamps to maximize the visual space around the base, gourd shapes, obelisks, columns and many more. Sculptured pieces are striking in their detail depicting the human form, animals or even vines that twist and climb their way up to vintage glass. Settling on just the right design evokes sympathetic pleasure and satisfaction every time the sun goes down. The warm glow of a table lamp provides comforting illumination to enjoy a respite at the end of the day and makes the home a welcome place.

Home decor is a unique and individual experience. When you focus on lighting as your primary inspiration, you can expect to get something new and original.

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An Introduction to LED Flat Panel Lighting - Features and Benefits

Lighting has come a long way from the old filament/fluorescent bulbs. These types of bulbs have been used for decades, while all other home or DIY products have improved and advanced Lighting has relied on tried and trusted technology.

All that is now changing with the advent of LED lighting. LED can create stunning effects and well lit spaces used correctly, all at a fraction of the cost of filament and fluorescent solutions.

The newest way that has hit the market is LED Light Flat panels

These fantastic products come in all shapes and sizes suitable for large commercial properties to small residential houses.

The are simple to install and energy efficient.

The core Energy benefits are:

Low Power Consumption Green Energy Saving Lower monthly Electricity bills cost Reliable and Easy to maintain Save up to 85% of your monthly lighting cost

All these benefits add up to long term savings, even though the initial cost of purchasing a flat panel may be expensive, in the long run it will save you more money in maintenance and electrical bills.

LEDs are an extremely reliable technology, most flat panels have a product life of 50,000 hours!

The great thing about LEDs is that you can also purchase multi colour LEDs to create striking and visual interior effects.

New flat panel designs provide great illumination, lighting is the key to all types of interior design. The wrong type or lack of lighting will destroy the interior of any building no matter how well it was designed.

Good illumination can make you feel better, work harder, feel more relaxed. These flat panel enable these positives to flourish simply because they are so great at providing a clear even illumination pattern.

The positioning of these flat panels can either be on Panel roofing or even on the side of the wall. They can be hung, fixed, screwed in.

The choice of colours, is a very personal decision, try and imagine what sort of feel and ambiance you are going for. If the look you are going for is a modernistic feel, then a bright clear white light would be your best bet. However if you are going for a more homely and comfortable look, than a yellow light would be more suitable.

The use of colours is not only limited to just yellow and white, you can use a multitude of different colours, to create amazing effects. The choice is yours.

Choosing the Perfect Light Fixture for Your Victorian-Style Bedroom