The Scoop On Selecting The Right Bulbs For Your Home Lighting Fixtures

Light bulbs and home lighting fixtures sure have come a long way haven't they? No longer are your bulb choices limited to the pear-shaped type of yesteryear. And lighting fixtures now come in every size, shape, and design imaginable.

But make no mistake about it, the light bulb is the most important component of your home lighting fixtures. The lighting that it provides is critically responsible for determining the mood of each room.

For example, a bedroom will typically have softer or more ambient lighting, whereas a bathroom will have brighter or more task lighting.

You can learn more about the various types of lighting and how to use them in your home by clicking here... Home Lighting Hopefully, this page will shed some light (no pun intended) on which bulb types are best for your home lighting and home interior decorating needs.

However, if you've been thinking of giving your home lighting fixtures a makeover, I highly recommend that you visit Bellacor. There you will find lots of great ideas to dress up any room. The three basic light bulb categories for interior lighting are Incandescent, Fluorescent, and Halogen.

Incandescent

While incandescent bulbs come in several shapes, you are probably most familiar with the common pear-shaped bulb that has been around for ages. Incandescent bulbs are the most inefficient source of lighting available.

Only 10% of the electricity flowing to the bulb actually produces light. The other 90% is lost as heat. These bulbs are popular because they are inexpensive and have excellent color rendering abilities. Below are specific incandescent bulb types and their uses:

• A-Bulb - a pear-shaped bulb with multi-purpose uses for the home.

• Low Voltage Tube - a tubular-shaped bulb about 5 inches long and used in appliances, cabinets, and decorative fixtures.

• Reflector - a funnel-shaped bulb used in directional home lighting fixtures to focus light on something specific.

• PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector) - a pear-shaped bulb with a silver cap on it to help generate indirect light.

• Low Voltage Strip Lights - tiny bulbs encased in flexible plastic used as task and decorative lighting.

• Globe - round globe-shaped bulb typically used in the vanity area of a bathroom

Halogen

Halogen bulbs provide the closest approximation to natural daylight, known as "white light". These bulbs come in various shapes and sizes and are very energy efficient. Consider using some of these in your home:

• Low Voltage MR-16 - small bulbs about 2" in diameter gives a small focused light from a distance and is used in track fixtures and recessed down-lights.

• PAR (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector) - come in various sizes, shaped like small auto headlights that are intended to project a small light over a long distance.

• High-Intensity - small tubular shaped bulbs that provide high output and are used in task lamps, torcheres, and pendant home lighting fixtures.

Fluorescent

Fluorescent bulbs have moved beyond the notion of producing cold, clinical lighting. There are many choices today that produce warm hues that will do a wonderful job lighting your home. There are also compact versions that screw into just about any home lighting fixture.

These bulbs are still the most energy efficient and last about ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. You should definitely consider using these where you need light for long hours each day, such as in your kitchen.

• Tube - tubes are 5"- 96" long and require special home lighting fixtures, but provide great work lighting.

• Compact Tubes - U-shaped tubes, ranging in size from approximately 5"-8" that can be used in many standard lamps, recessed lighting and special fixtures.

If your home could use a little spicing up, then don't miss an issue of DecoDreams, our FREE e-zine. You'll find lots of tips to help busy weekend decorators like yourself. Click here for more free interior decorating ideas.

And if you would like to explore some excellent books on home lighting fixtures and more, please check out the recommeneded resource links listed below.

Increase Your Knowledge About Home Lighting and Home Lighting Fixtures - Recommended Reading

Right Light: Lighting Essentials For The Home - This is a wonderful book for any individual who is decorating their home or any design professional who wants to know about as many lighting options as possible. It is packed with tips, tricks and ideas to make successfully lighting your home easy.

Find out which home lighting fixtures are right for your project with...Lighting: Recipes & Ideas, - I bought this book just before moving to my first owned little apartment. This is a beautiful book with many practical solutions for lighting. Well illustrated pictures with great ideas.

Click here for more great ideas to help you with your home decorating!

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