Decorating tips: how to choose the right light bulbs?

Each room is lit differently. A living room is not lit in the same way as a corridor. Choosing the right bulb is therefore essential, and you need to select them according to the room being lit and the atmosphere you want to create. In this article, you’ll discover their technical characteristics: intensity, colour, base… which will help you choose the most suitable bulb for your projects! We’ll also show you the different types of bulb available and their specific uses in your living spaces.

Key technical characteristics of light bulbs

When choosing your bulb, the first thing to check is that the wattage does not exceed that indicated on the luminaire, as this could damage it.

Choosing a bulb also means choosing the colour of the light (kelvins), the intensity of the light (lumens), the colour rendering index (CRI) and some of the bulb’s functions (dimmable/variable or not). Kelvin, lumens and CRI are technical characteristics that enable us to assess these factors.

Kelvin (K) determines the colour of light. To reproduce the most natural light possible, we generally recommend choosing a temperature of 2700 Kelvin. This value provides an optimum balance, avoiding light that is too warm (2200 kelvin) or too cold and white (4000 kelvin).

The lumens (lm) indicate the power of the light intensity. See our blog post on lumens to understand the spectrum of light intensity.

The colour rendering index, known as CRI, measures a lamp’s ability to reproduce colours faithfully.

All this information is essential for optimising the lighting in your home.

The different types of bulb bases

The bulb cap is key to connecting the bulb bulb to your light fitting. By fitting into the socket, the base enables the electrical current to be transferred to your bulb and thus illuminate your decorations. The higher the electrical output, the larger the base. So, for public and commercial environments, E39 or E40 bases are preferred for 250 watts and above.

To find out which base to choose, simply identify the letter and number corresponding to the shape and diameter of the base.

E-ended bulbs are very commonly used, especially in residential areas. The letter E stands for screw-in bulbs, in particular LED bulbs, which are favoured over the old incandescent bulbs. For bulbs with atypical bases, you can choose a base adaptor that enables these bulbs to be installed in all your light fittings.

Screw base

Nowadays, the screw base is the most widely used base, whether for residential or commercial use. They are available in a range of sizes and for a variety of uses.

The E14 base is a screw base with a small diameter (14mm) and is most often used on small light fittings such as table lamps or light fittings requiring more bulbs.

The E27 base is also a screw base and is undoubtedly the most popular base, with a diameter of 27mm. Also known as the ‘Edison screw’, the E27 base lights up every room in the house and even your garden. It is ideal for ceiling lights and single-bulb luminaires.

Unlike the E14 and E27 bases, the E10 base, or miniature base, and the E40 base, or Goliath base, are used for technical or intensive use, such as car headlights or street lighting.

Bayonet base

Despite their decline in popularity, bayonet base bulbs still have some notable advantages. They are robust and resistant to shocks, making them practical in environments where vibrations are frequent. The bayonet fixing system makes installation quick and safe: just press the spring at the bottom of the socket to insert the bulb.

The B22 base is available in LED format. It is generally used with low-energy or halogen bulbs.

The GU10 base consists of two pins corresponding to the GU, while the number 10 indicates that the pins are spaced 10 mm apart. The GU10 base is found in recessed spotlights and ceiling lights.
In addition to bayonet and screw bases, there are various other types of base adapted to specific uses: plug bases (G13, G5) and more specific bases such as G4, G9, MR16, etc.

The different types of bulb

There are four main categories of light bulb in the world of lighting. Some of the older ones (incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs) have gradually given way to LED bulbs, which are more efficient and consume less energy.

Incandescent bulbs

Based on old technology, incandescent bulbs consume a lot of energy.

Halogen bulbs

These are more efficient than incandescent bulbs, consuming 30% less energy, but are fairly expensive.

Compact fluorescent bulbs

They are an interesting alternative to traditional light bulbs. However, the presence of mercury in the bulb makes it polluting.

It is important to note that we do not offer incandescent, halogen or compact fluorescent bulbs on our website.

LED bulbs

They produce light with a low voltage and offer a good light-to-energy ratio. They last 30 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

To create the right atmosphere, choose the right bulb

For a warm, subdued ambience

Bulbs with opaline glass filter the light, creating a soothing, comfortable atmosphere. Spherical or tubular, these bulbs are ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms.

In children’s bedrooms, certain bulbs protect the retina and prevent glare. The lampshade accompanies the bulb, filtering the light and reducing its intensity.

For powerful, functional lighting

Bulbs with transparent glass are ideal for powerful, direct lighting. They not only add lightness to your decor, they also have a functional aspect that allows the room to be properly illuminated. They can be used on a desk for optimum lighting, or in an entrance hall, kitchen or hallway.

What’s more, when bulbs are dimmable, they make lighting even more ergonomic: they allow you to regulate the intensity of the light as you wish. If you want to light your home with a more natural light, opt for 2700 Kelvin bulbs.

Decorative and practical at the same time, filament bulbs stand out and enhance your room.

« Mirror bulbs » provide both direct and indirect lighting: part of the bulb filters the light, allowing you to illuminate your room with multifunctional lighting. In this way, one of the two sides of the bulb can be used to subdue the lighting effect, creating an original, personalised atmosphere.

For unique, intense lighting, there are bulbs with special designs that add a touch of originality and personality to your room.

For example, the Noma light bulb by Tala, with its highly graphic shape, and the resolutely retro light bulb by Zangra can, on their own, change the atmosphere of an interior and make it sublime.

Would you like to find designer, functional light fittings for your bulbs? Let yourself be inspired by our selection of lighting fixtures on our site. And for a decor that’s lit up down to the last detail, check out our articles on the different types of sockets and switches.