Whether you’re a professional chef with a culinary flair, entertaining friends, or simply cooking for the family, kitchen lighting is extremely important. Your space and your requirements need to be taken into consideration when choosing which lights you should use, the spacing and location of these lights, and even the type of light that you require. You will find that functional lighting is necessary when using your kitchen, but that does not mean you are limited only to function. There is a wealth of choice for your lights, and we will help guide you to making the most out of lighting your space.
Ceiling Downlights.
Downlights give you the best, most functional option for lighting surfaces where task lighting is important. These can be fitted under a cabinet or directly into the ceiling, offering functional task lighting when you really need it. When dealing with anything sharp or hot, its best to be able to see exactly what you are doing to avoid any mishaps or serious accidents. You can view our range of downlights here.
Ceiling Shades
These can also offer diffused task lighting for larger spaces, as well as conscious design for larger kitchens, adding another element to your personal aesthetic. These lights work excellently for kitchens with an integrated dining room or eating space, adding in a more comfortable feel to your kitchen when entertaining or spending time at the dining table. We carry a large range of different ceiling lights that will suit any home interior.
Drop Pendants
When considering a larger kitchen with a higher ceiling, drop pendant lighting may be more practical, and can give your space that beautiful finishing touch. Using the rule of odds and aligning three pendants above an island can give a fantastic focal point to your kitchen, while still providing useful lighting to your surfaces. It also adds a wonderful statement piece to your kitchen, bringing design into a functional space. Take a look at our range of kitchen pendants lights for some inspiration.
Decorative Lighting
There is no reason why you should have bright task lighting at all hours of the day. Layering light is the perfect way to change the mood throughout the day, transitioning between practical work and those comfortable evenings when dinner has finished. Combining wall and ceiling lights with functional downlights on separate switches gives you the option to layer your lighting, dimming downlights to make way for the ambience of a more decorative light when the kitchen is no longer in full use.
If adding extra lighting is not possible, one way to achieve a more customisable ambience is by using our Dim to Warm Downlights. These downlights allow you to change the warmth of your light from a functional cool tone down to cosy glow using a dimmer. This not only allows you to combine task lighting and ambience, but allows you to considerably alter the mood of your space at the touch of a button.
The choice between warm light and white light for your kitchen depends on your preference and kitchen's purpose. Warm light with a lower color temperature (around 2700K) creates a cozy, inviting ambiance, perfect for family gatherings. White light (4000K or higher) provides clarity, making it ideal for task-oriented kitchens, enhancing visibility and cleanliness. Consider your kitchen's function and personal style when deciding which color temperature suits you best.
Planning your kitchen lighting is crucial for both functionality and aesthetics. Start by identifying key task areas, such as countertops, sink, and stove, and choose task lighting like under-cabinet fixtures. Incorporate ambient lighting with ceiling fixtures and add decorative elements like pendant lights for style. Balance brightness for a well-lit kitchen.
Whether you’re a professional chef with a culinary flair, entertaining friends, or simply cooking for the family, kitchen lighting is extremely important. Your space and your requirements need to be taken into consideration when choosing which lights you should use, the spacing and location of these lights, and even the type of light that you […]
Grey remains a hugely popular colour for interior design. It's highly versatile, can introduce warmth when combined with other colours, and it's suitable for a myriad of interior design schemes from Scandi to modern design.
As it's such a versatile colour it does go with a wide palette of colours. But it's important to pair them correctly so it doesn't leave your room feeling cold.
To help you execute grey in your home with precision, our interior design guide looks at what colour combinations go with grey in the home.
What Colours Go With Grey Walls
If grey is becoming your dominant colour across your walls you might be wondering what complementary colours work well with grey walls to help lift them. Let's explore how interior designers avoid allowing this wonderfully versatile colour to draw the warmth from your space.
Grey & Black
For modern interior design, black is a must have accent colour that will provide definition to a room. It's a great colour match against grey which is generally a lighter, softer shade.
Black can be used as an accent colour in this setting, from table leg accents, to side tables and small decor accessories.
Introducing additional colours into the mix will create a softer interior, including shades such as crisp white, cream and earthy green. Or keep things dramatic like this bedroom look, a moody and modern, with darker shades of charcoal grey enhancing this masculine aesthetic.
Grey & White or Cream
The most classic pairing you will see with a grey is white for a no-nonsense, complementary colour that will lift your interior, especially with the use of a lighter shade of grey, or a soft stone shade.
White could be introduced in a number of ways. Perhaps you have chosen to paint your walls grey up to a picture rail. By painting above the picture rail up to the ceiling in a bright white shade, not only does this contrast help to lift the room, but as you enter the room your eyes are instantly drawn up to the ceiling, making the room feel taller than it actually is.
White can also be introduced through furnishings, textiles and curtains to soften the room.
If white feels like too much of a harsh colour pairing to grey, cream is a great alternative that will bring in warmth, and light to the space.
Cream can be used through skirting boards, architraves, doors and in more conventional home furnishings and decor accessories. Pair with other like neutrals such as earthy green and brown for a Scandic, boho design look.
Grey & Mustard Yellow
If you're looking to achieve a more bolder style interior, yellow is an inviting and dynamic colour pairing to grey.
Mustard yellow especially will bring warmth to the space which is a welcome colour against blocks of light or dark grey. Layer this colour throughout with home furnishings, textiles and curtains.
If you're looking for a powerful trio of colours, introduce navy blue as an accent colour that packs a punch!
Grey & Red
Introducing red to a grey interior creates a dramatic, eye catching room. Just like black, red is best used as an accent colour in this instance to avoid an overbearing interior.
Subtle touches of red will define the space and bring warmth. Add red cushions, chairs with red accents and small decor accessories.
Grey & Earthy Green
If you've opted for a greige (a mature cream/grey shade) then a neutral home decor scheme is probably on the cards. You have a huge choice of other shades on the neutral colour spectrum that work amazingly well together.
Earthy Green is a beautiful complementary colour for grey for a number of reasons. It brings in depth without becoming overbearing, it can act as a defining, grounding colour when used in places such as skirting boards and architraves, and it works so well with other neutral colours too such as cream and brown. Grey also brings out the natural greens of houseplants, adding a wonderful sense of nature to a living room or bedroom.
As well as using earthy green on architraves and skirting, introduce it with linen curtains, cushions and throws.
Grey & Blush Pink
Blush Pink lends a much softer approach to pairing with grey, it offers a really whimsical, pretty feel that works well in living rooms and bedrooms.
Blush pink is a popular colour for small decor accessories such as wall prints, this will help to break up the monotony of grey walls. It works beautifully when introduced as home furnishings, cushions and throws.
Grey & Orange
Similar to yellow in it's ability to inject a much needed pop of colour to your interior, orange is the perfect pairing for a soft stone grey. This colour combination works particularly well in modern or Scandi style spaces, adding a zesty energy to the room.
What Colour Accent Wall Goes With Grey?
A focal point in a room is always a good idea, and it's a smart way to break up the monotony of grey walls. Go for a neutral, timeless accent wall such as cream, white or earthy green. For a more daring look, introduce a black, blush pink, red, mustard or even blue tones.
If you only want to introduce grey as an accent colour, Grey Pendant Lights are a perfect way to appreciate this colour, whilst not being overbearing in the space. They'll add a timeless look to your space, whilst adding character and definition to the ceiling.
For a versatile colour that can bring warmth and definition to a space, grey is a perfect choice as it works well with myriad of decor schemes and complementary colours.
FAQs
Grey is a versatile neutral shade that effortlessly complements a wide range of colours. Whether you opt for vibrant red accents or soothing blues, grey acts as a perfect backdrop. It's the ultimate canvas, allowing you to experiment with various colour palettes, making those grey pendant lights a timeless addition to any decor.
To infuse warmth into a grey room, focus on lighting. Opt for warm-toned bulbs to soften the coolness of grey walls. Incorporate table lamps and floor lamps with soft, ambient lighting. Add cosy textiles like plush throws and cushions in warm hues. Introduce wooden furniture to bring in a natural, inviting feel.
When choosing colours to complement a grey sofa, consider a versatile palette that enhances your decor. Soft pastels like blush pink or serene blue add warmth and contrast. Earthy tones such as olive green and mustard create a cosy ambiance. For a modern touch, opt for bold accents like deep teal or vibrant yellow.
Grey remains a hugely popular colour for interior design. It’s highly versatile, can introduce warmth when combined with other colours, and it’s suitable for a myriad of interior design schemes from Scandi to modern design. As it’s such a versatile colour it does go with a wide palette of colours. But it’s important to pair […]
There is no better way to complete a room than with a pendant light that truly complements your interior design choices. But with an abundance of beautiful lights to choose from, it can often be hard to envision which pendants would work best.
Your choice of pendant light will depend on the size of your space, the style of your home, and whether your light will be the focal design point of your room. The choices may seem overwhelming, so let’s break it down into manageable steps.
First, consider your space.
The size of your space will dictate the size of the pendant light that you need. Choosing one single decorative bulb for a large living room may not give the aesthetic you desire, nor will it provide adequate lighting. Similarly, picking an enormous, ornate chandelier for a small hallway may dominate the space too much and inhibit movement.
Work with the space you have and use a tape measure to make sure you’re choosing a size that complements the space. In larger rooms such as dining rooms and living rooms, a larger statement piece can offer the light needed, as well as finish the aesthetic, whereas in smaller spaces, several smaller pendants work as decorative lighting. The cable drop will very much depend on the height of your ceiling, so do take this into consideration when choosing your pendant light.
What is the style of your space?
Your lighting should complement your interior design choice and reflect your home. Just as careful consideration was taken into picking out those key pieces of furniture, the same consideration should be used in selecting your lights.
For a traditional styled home, glass pendants with brass accents offer a touch of elegance, whereas a modern or minimalist home calls for something more linear with contrasting lines and monochromatic colour schemes. For a home that reflects bohemian or vintage tastes, you may find that wicker works particularly well, giving a fascinating play of light when illuminated, and in more industrial or rustic styled spaces, matte black, brushed brass, and wood really bring a room together.
How many lights?
At this point you will already have a good idea how size can influence your choice of lighting, as well as the design and style of the room. This should narrow down your choices of pendant lights, and how many are needed.
When lighting any space, the Rule of Odds works best. An odd number, whether one, three, five matching or similar lights adds a striking visual to any room, drawing you in to the pendants themselves rather than the spaces in between. To further customise this decorative choice, playing with different drop lengths for each pendant light gives yet another touch of personalisation to your lighting display. Some lights are large enough to add their own presence to your space, whereas smaller lights can give a stylish twist to your décor.
At Elesi, we make the decision process easy, with our easy to navigate categories that allow you to view style, colour, and location to allow you to narrow down your search and find the perfect lighting solution from our extensive range of pendant lights.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]There is no better way to complete a room than with a pendant light that truly complements your interior design choices. But with an abundance of beautiful lights to choose from, it can often be hard to envision which pendants would work best. Your choice of pendant light will depend on the size of your […]
Your garden is an important part of your home and makes a big difference when it comes to quality of life. We look at some modern garden lighting ideas that can enhance your garden's appearance, functionality, and security.
Modern Outdoor Wall Lighting
Many outdoor wall lights consist of straight lines and simple colours. These could be metal up-down fixtures, which shine light upwards and downwards at the same time; wall lamps, usually with rectangular or square shapes; and linear wall mounted light fixtures.
Most modern outdoor wall lighting feature sleek materials and colours. Black is wall lights are a particular trend right now as well as brushed chrome and nickel. Cube and rectangular shapes are also very popular for outdoor wall lights.
One particular outdoor lighting idea which can look very modern, is a brick wall light, which sits flush in a wall, replacing one brick. This is a great approach if you prefer a more minimalist look and feel to your outdoor living area.
Modern Garden Lighting Ideas
Try lighting your garden with floor uplighters and wall lights to create a focal point on particular spaces. For example, floor lights can go on the edge of pathways, to make it easier to navigate, and wall lights, or even floor lights can be used to illuminate plants, much like how you may use lighting to highlight paintings or design features indoors.
Stake lights offer a stylish solution to lighting a garden. These wonderfully versatile lights offer spotlighting into key features of your garden or driveway while remaining hidden.
If you are after a larger and more design conscious solution, a bollard light can really add to a contemporary exterior. Practical and design conscious, a bollard can light entryways, driveways, and even garden paths. Check out our range of bollard lights.
Ceiling Lighting Ideas
If you have a summerhouse, or a covered area, ceiling lights can be a great, and rather discreet way of lighting the space. It’s also where you can explore your creative side, by choosing lighting that would normally only be found in the home.
Dome or caged pendant lights are a great choice and you can experiment with a range of contemporary designs to get the perfect look. Edison style light bulbs can also work in a contemporary setting. Try stringing them together across covered areas or in your summer house to create a warming and inviting atmosphere.
How To Choose Colour Temperature
If you are looking to use lighting to improve your home security, then your lights will need to be very bright. You'll want to choose a high colour temperature, ideally between 5000K- 6000K.
For ambient lighting, however, a bright daylight bulb isn’t going to help with creating a nice atmosphere and feel. Try something at 4000K or lower for a warm glow. You can also consider mixing colour temperatures to create a more picturesque view.
You can even try mixing colours, with some blue or green lights highlighting certain areas of the outside space. Find out more about colour temperature in our guide: What is Colour Temperature?
We hope these modern garden lighting ideas have inspired you. As you can see, modern and contemporary lighting can totally transform your garden or outside living space. Shop our collection of outdoor wall lights today to discover more.
We look at some modern garden lighting ideas that can enhance your garden’s appearance, functionality, and security.
Smart lighting has been around for a little while now. And, every year
Smart home technology is becoming more advanced and more accessible. We look at how this innovative technology can put you in control of your home lighting.
What are the Benefits of Smart Lighting?
Smart lighting technology is enormously popular due to the benefits it provides. The programmable nature of smart bulbs can save you money, make it more convenient to light your home and provide greater security.
Smart bulbs and switches have come forward in leaps and bounds in their ability to automatically set moods and scenes in your home. What used to be the stuff of science fiction is now available at your fingertips.
But, much like in the pre-smart days, you still need to plan our lighting carefully. Fortunately, technological advances mean we can include a level of flexibility that has never been available to us before.
How Does Smart Lighting Work?
In the early days of smart lighting, smart hubs were required to control and manage your home lighting, however, these days, there are plenty of smart bulbs that simply require a mobile app. Many systems can now be voice activated giving you even more control.
Virtually all Smart home hubs run over Wi-Fi and many already include an app to control them. Popular smart home systems include
Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home and Samsung Smart Things.
However, with the ability to pretty much do everything at the touch of a few buttons on a smartphone, the future will likely see smartphones wholly replacing hubs.
How to Choose Smart Bulbs and Lighting
When choosing a smart bulb, many of the things to keep in mind are the same considerations as those that are relevant to non-smart bulbs, including cap fitting, whether it is a trusted brand, wattage and lumens.
However, one consideration specifically for smart bulbs is their compatibility with certain apps and hubs. Most smart bulbs are compatible with Google Home and Alexa, but not all appear to work with Apple Home or Samsung Smart Things. We recommend you check compatibility with your smart bulbs and switches before buying.
When choosing smart ceiling lights, downlights or wall lights, the features to be mindful of are the same as when choosing a normal bulb, but you can also choose styles and finishes.
How to Choose Smart Switches
Smart switches work much like ordinary light switches, however these can also be linked to the cloud so they can be controlled remotely. This way, using a system like Google Home or Alexa, you can control them by a schedule.
When choosing a smart switch, again make sure it is compatible with the software you are using, be it Google, Alexa or Apple.
You may also want to check more advanced features such as movement sensors, which allow you to set your lights to switch on when you walk into a room. Very clever!
Unfortunately many smart switches aren’t particularly attractive and don’t tend to fit into period or classic decors. Retractive switches, however do offer the ability to work with smart technology, without compromising on appearance.
A retractive switch sends a momentary signal, rather than maintaining a switched-on position. So, that signal can be programmed to trigger a wide variety of functions. The switch could raise and lower a blind or shutter, control lighting, turn up a thermostat, or even control an entertainment system.
How To Plan Your Smart Lighting
Once you’ve chosen and installed your smart lights, a great step to take is to set up various scenes. Scenes are one of the fundamental aspects of smart lighting systems. They allow you to program light settings for a variety of situations in your home.
For example, you could have one for parties, one for relaxing, one for reading, one for eating and so on. This way, you can easily tell Google or Alexa to change the whole lighting set up in your house, instantly setting the scene.
Popular scenes include;
- Dinner - A Dinner scene might light the dining room wall sconces and turn off or dim the living room lights
- Night - This scene could turn off most lights in the house but keep a dimmed light across the hallway or stairs to make it safer for anyone coming back late
- Party - The perfect party scene, might use different types of coloured lighting. It may also dim the lights so that the ambience is better for chatting and having drinks with friends.
- Reading - This scene could turn on the wall scones next to your favourite reading chair and dim the lights elsewhere.
Smart lighting also allows you to integrate new colours into your lighting plan. Whilst we are used to different colour temperatures, smart bulbs allow us to integrate blue, green, red, purple and many more light colours into our homes.
Previously you would need to buy a specific colour lightbulb to achieve this. However, few of us want a red or blue bulb in our living room on a permanent basis. With smart lighting, you can use scenes to create coloured lighting for certain scenarios, then, revert to a more normal colour afterwards.
How does smart lighting save energy?
How often have you forgotten to turn the lights off? With programmable smart lighting, this is a thing of the past. The ability to program individual or groups of lights throughout your home, can help cut down on energy usage.
For example, you can schedule the lights to turn on, or turn off at a specific time. You can dim lights in the evening to reduce energy consumption.
Lights can also work with motion sensors so that they only come on when you enter a room, and automatically switch off when you leave.
How does smart lighting improve home security?
Smart lighting provides a significant boost to your home security. They do this in a number of ways, ranging from simple measures to far more advanced methods.
A simple step would be to program dimmed lights across your garden and entrance at night. A level of illumination is more likely identify persons and always creates a psychological deterrent
In a more advanced setup, smart operated lights can work together with security cameras to keep your house safe. For example, motion sensors can detect movement and automatically turn on a light. Not only does this light guide welcome visitors, it will also deter any criminal activity.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]We look at how smart home technology can help you take control of your lighting, heating, music, security systems, and much more.
LED lighting continues to be the most popular form of lighting. Whilst there are still both incandescent and halogen bulbs being used in households, with the staggering increase in energy prices, there's never been a better time to make that switch to LED lighting if you are yet to do so.
Whilst the initial cost of LED bulbs is marginally higher, when you look at the life expectancy and the longevity of a LED bulb over time and with the cost savings, LED lighting is a smart move to make. Let's explore the longevity of LED's further.
Longevity of LED's
The lifespan of LED bulbs has always been a huge driver in why people choose LED to light their homes. Compared to their traditional counterparts such as incandescent and halogen, there is a massive jump in the average lifespan as demonstrated on the image below.
Individual LED bulbs offer a whopping average of 25,000 + hours as their lifespan. This is opposed to a traditional incandescent lasting for just 1,200 hours! Using these figures, if an LED bulb was used for 6 hours a day (much more than the average daily usage), then your LED bulb would last for a whopping 7.6 years without the need to be changed. In comparison to a standard incandescent bulb which would only last for 3 months!
Whilst LED bulbs can be slightly more expensive, with hours more use, the cost savings that are created over time will continue to pay for the bulb over, and over again.
Environmental Factors
Whilst LED bulbs have better longevity, there are still other things that will help to increase the lifespan. Higher than normal temperatures in a ceiling, or roof space creates a lack of airflow around the bulb. This lack of airflow or poorly regulated mains power supply can be detrimental to the lifespan of an LED bulb. This is one of the biggest causes of a reduced lifespan as it creates far more strain on the LED.
Slow Start Dimmers
Whilst LED bulbs already offer incredible longevity, there are also other ways you can stop the LED's from straining during use. If you have a dimmer switch installed on the circuit, invest in dimmer switches which use soft start technology. This technology enables the dimming settings to be changed in that period. The mechanism causes a slow build up, meaning less strain on the LED and improved longevity of the LED driver. All of our dimmer switches at Elesi feature soft start technology. This means your bulbs can benefit from this each, and every use.
LED bulbs offer longevity and cost savings to a household. Take a look at our full range of LED bulbs to help make that switch today.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]There’s never been a better time to make that switch to LED lighting. We look at the life expectancy and the longevity of an LED bulb over time along with the cost savings.
Downlights are a great choice for task lighting throughout a house, whether that's over a kitchen worktop, garage or work space. They should only be used where you really need and want to create an even, bright spread of light. So, you've decided what rooms you need them in, but, what about choosing the right downlights? There are many different specifications to consider and understand. You might also be wondering, what are fire rated downlights? And, is this important?
The fire rated specification is an incredibly important part to understand when purchasing downlights for your safety. Let's explore what fire rated downlights are, and what to look for in the buying process.
What Are Fire Rated Downlights?
Downlights are a form of recessed lighting which means they are embedded into your ceiling. Downlights can be placed on the outside of a ceiling, but they are generally embedded where a hole is cut into the ceiling and the downlight is placed.
When a hole is cut into a ceiling/plasterboard this creates a potential channel for fire to quickly spread upwards. This is where a fire rated downlight becomes incredibly important. The fire rating restores the fire integrity of a ceiling once the hole has been cut for the downlight to be fitted. It basically blocks the potential passage and risk by sealing the gap, and slowing the spread of a fire.
To achieve a fire rating, the downlights will have had to have passed a fire resistance test that replicates the behaviour of a fire. The Electrical Safety Council recommend that fire rated downlights should be used in all buildings. They are not legally required, but it is strongly recommended to do so based on the resistance that they provide if a fire was to break out in the property.
Different Types of Downlights
Downlights come with different ratings, fire rated to 30, 60, 90 minutes, or all three. The rating of the downlight must match the fire rating of the ceiling, and structure of the building. Generally, fire resistance for a standard home you should be looking for downlights with a 60 minute rating. Whereas a top floor flat may require at least 90 minutes.
Next time you are choosing downlights, take a look at the fire rating specification. If you are not sure what fire rating you need, always consult your electrician beforehand so they can advise.
Whilst fire rated downlights are not legally required in a home, they are strongly recommended to be used, and will provide appropriate measures should a fire ever occur. Explore our full range of LED fire rated downlights.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]The fire-rated specification is an incredibly important part of downlight safety. Let’s explore what fire-rated downlights are, and what to look for in the buying process.
Cream has always been one of the most popular neutral colours for interiors. This muted colour has the ability to add a blank canvas to a home. Whilst its renown for working with a multitude of different colours for a homely, warm look. It is often favoured over the likes of bright white as it is considered a warmer neutral, and less clinical than plain white.
Although, cream gets a bit reputation for being labelled as being 'boring'. But by combining cream with the right colours it can help lift your interiors. Let's take a look at the colours which go well with cream.
Which Colours Go With Cream?
Cream & Green
Cream is on the same spectrum as other earth like colours. Because of this, earth green, olive and forest green complement cream really well throughout interiors. This also gives an opportunity to incorporate one, or two more earth colours into the mix, such as brown.
Cream & Brown
As it's another earthy neutral, brown works harmoniously with cream. Brown is also set to be returning as an interior trend in 2022, so there's never been a perfect time to try it with cream.
Generally, cream will become the base colour in a home, brown can be complemented by using it in decorative accessories and in key pieces of furniture. Focus on wood, and leathers to be in keeping with the natural look.
Cream & Navy Blue
Adding a nautical influence to your interiors can easily be achieved with cream and navy blue. Try cream walls and add in decorative navy blue accessories, or a geometric navy blue print for a striking contrast. Incorporate other neutral accents and natural furniture for a nautical, natural influenced interior.
Cream & Light Grey
If you want to keep things a little bit more neutral, light grey is a great pairing for this neutral favourite. You can afford to feature grey a bit more heavily too as it doesn't need to work as just an accent colour. Cream is considered a warm neutral, and as grey is a cooler colour, this is why the two balance each other well. You could also incorporate a third colour such as taupe seamlessly into this setup.
Cream & White
Of course, we can't forget to mention cream and white. You would definitely need to incorporate other colours into this setup though to avoid it feeling boring, and tired. Cream and white work together well as contrasters, as bright white is just that. This match works well when walls are painted in cream and the ceiling is highlighted in bright white. It gives a sharp contrast, that's clean and brightens the rest of the room effortlessly. Try some screwless White Metal sockets and switches to avoid making this particular colour choice fussy.
Cream & Pink
Combining cream and pink isn't for the most daring, cream is a great balancing neutral and will tone down the pinkest of accents. Whether it's baby pink or fuchsia pink, cream has the ability to pair well with any hue of pink.
You don't want pink to overpower the room, so it works best when placed as an accent colour against cream, through furniture, textiles and decor accessories.
Cream & Yellow
Maybe not canary yellow, but a muted yellow can look fantastic against a cream backdrop. Yellow will help to really draw the warm tones out of cream, whilst helping to uplift the room too. Add a pop of colour by creating a feature wall or even a mural for a gentle touch of yellow.
Cream is a highly versatile neutral that complements a huge range of colours. As it's so versatile, it can be combined with more than one colour for a striking interior.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]Cream is a highly versatile colour that works well with a multitude of other colours. Let’s take a look at what colours cream goes well with.
Downlights continue to be a great choice for lighting many rooms in a home. Providing task lighting to areas that need it most, with a sleek, unobtrusive finish that works with a range of different interior styles.
When it comes to choosing downlights, it can be quite overwhelming when met with different terms such as colour temperature, lumens, CRI, lux etc. Whilst every feature of a downlight is worth considering, CRI is a feature that should help your buying decision. The wrong CRI can make the objects in your room look a completely different colour. Whilst a low CRI could cause headaches, lack of productivity and even affect your sleep cycle. We explore high CRI downlights and what to look for when purchasing them.
What Are High CRI Downlights?
CRI stands for colour rendering index. It is the measurement of how artificial light represents the full colour spectrum of natural daylight. CRI is measured between 0-100, 100 being the highest level. The higher the CRI, the more accurate representation of the colour of objects in a room. This provides greater clarity and precision of tasks.
So, what is considered high CRI downlights? The UK downlight market has always been dominated by low CRI downlights with a CRI of less than 82. Anything above 95 is considered a good CRI level.
In 2021, The Soho Lighting Company launched their range of high >95-97 CRI downlights. Such enhanced levels of CRI are imperative for downlights, providing a well lit space that will aid tasks, rather than hinder them. The improved clarity that high CRI can bring also has the ability to lift your general mood and home life.
The Benefits of High CRI Downlights
Having greater clarity and a truer representation of colour from high CRI downlights brings a number of benefits to a home. High CRI reflects the true colour of objects in the room. This helps to reduce eye strain that can be associated with carrying out tasks in a poorly lit room.
There are also a number of potential health benefits that have been explored, and linked to high CRI. One being the impact on overall mood. Anecdotally and with many studies, it is proven that a sunny day has the ability to lift our moods, and the same can be said for high CRI lighting which is the closest to perceiving daylight as possible. Whereas a poorly lit, orange glow of a light can cause a depleted mood. As well as eye strain and the symptoms associated with that, such as headaches.
Numerous other studies have cited the importance of sunlight on the human body including improved mood, better sleep quality, lower blood pressure and improved productivity. It's time to take a look at your current downlights to check their CRI, and arm yourself with this knowledge next time you are purchasing downlights, or new bulbs.
Take a look at our full range of LED High CRI downlights. They are available in a number of different finishes, all fire rated, with the ability to change the colour temperature to suit your room, and mood.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]We explore using high CRI downlights in your home, what to look for when purchasing them and the benefits they can bring to your interiors.
With Spring on the way, it's time to start thinking about getting the exterior of your property ready and well lit so you can enjoy the space into the evening. For outdoor and bathroom use, IP65+ rated lighting is recommended to meet with safety regulations, and to keep your home safe.
In this IP rated lighting guide, we explore what IP65 means and the ideal lights for bathroom or outdoor use.
What Is an IP Rating?
IP stands for Ingress Protection. This is used to determine the levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from dirt and moisture.
The higher the IP rating, the better protection that it offers against dirt and moisture. When we talk about lighting in bathrooms, think of the bathroom as being split into various water risk zones, as the below image shows.
So, what does IP65 mean? The first digit which is 6 determines the protection against solids, and provides total dust ingress. The second digit determines the protection against liquids with 5 protecting against low pressure water jets from any direction.
In a bathroom, zones 1 and 2 are required to have an IP44+ rating. Generally it is better to go higher, as an IP65 provides better protection against dirt and moisture.
IP65+ is also the preferred rating for outdoor lights. Although, IP45 and above would typically be considered splash proof. If you need Patio or decking lights, we recommend IP65 or above as these areas are often cleaned by using a power washer.
IP Rated Lighting For Outdoor & Bathroom Use
The flaxman bulkhead wall light in nickel lends itself to both bathroom and outdoor use with its nautical, industrial style. The expert hand creation of each light provides a variance in finish which denotes craftsmanship and prestige. IP65 rated, this light will not corrode with exposure to the elements.
Made with real solid brass, the Hopkin IP65 prismatic wall light adds a nautical, vintage edge to an exterior. Perfect for outdoor or bathroom lighting as it will not corrode.
Hand crafted in solid brass with an ungalvanized polished brass finish, this Art Deco wall light is a sophisticated redesign of the original nautical bulkhead, with thick prismatic glass and an IP65 rating.
For a coastal property that is exposed to the elements, a nautical light that provides protection and won't corrode, the Kingly wall light is a smart choice. The brass ages naturally beautifully, but can be brought back to its original finish with a suitable brass polish.
This nautical bulkhead wall light is great for illuminating a larger outdoor space. The soft sheen of the nickel finish lends a contemporary twist on a classic wall light.
The solid brass Carlisle half cover wall light is a sensational light for both bathroom and outdoor use. Adding presence and style, this versatile light is made from hand blown prismatic glass and solid brass for durability.
While zones in a bathroom can take a lower IP rating, it's generally best to go higher to IP65 for better protection against moisture. Take a look at our full range of outdoor & bathroom wall lights to make the most of your outdoor space.
[related_products is_auto_added="1"]In this IP66 lights edit, we explore what IP65 exactly means and the ideal lights for bathroom or outdoor use.