How to Choose the Right Light Globe - Everything You Need to Know
Choosing the right light globe can be an overwhelming process.
With lots of choices and many considerations to make, from energy-saving options to affordability to which lighting works best in certain rooms, wouldn’t it be nice to have a shopping guide to finding the best light globe for your situation?
Well, you are in luck because we’re going over the basics of choosing the right light globe for all your lighting needs. Let’s get started!
Know Your Base Type
First things first, check the base of your light fitting. After all, it won’t matter if you choose the perfect light globe if it doesn’t fit in the base.
You will find your lamp base number clearly printed on the bottom of your current globe. It will be a combination of a letter and numbers. These codes correspond to specific fitting types with specific names such as Bayonet Cap Base or Edison Screw Base.
But, that’s not really important. For you, the most important part is simply finding the base number and purchasing new light globes that match your base.
Filter your Oz Lighting online shopping results by lamp base size on the left of the search page.
Get Technical
Don’t worry - we won’t get too technical here. But for the sake of saving money and considering energy costs, you will want to understand a bit about the technical aspects of light globes.
Your options include:
- LED
- LED Filaments
- Carbon Filaments
- Smart Globes
- Fluorescent Globes
LED (Light Emitting Diodes) Globes are the most common, energy-efficient and long-lasting light globes with both dimmable and non-dimmable options. In most situations, we’d recommend choosing an LED light globe.
LED Filament Globes are decorative LED globes that emit a warmer, vintage style light. They’re perfect in fittings that show off the look of the globe itself.
Carbon Filament Globes are similarly decorative globes made from carbon versus LED. Great, again, for showing off the globe itself to create a soft, vintage vibe.
Smart Globes connect with a smart device to light your home in tune with your requirements. Gently wake up in the morning as your lights fade in and wind down in the evening as your lights automatically dim with the sunset.
Fluorescent Globes have all but been replaced by LED globes for their better energy efficiency and lifespan. However, for the sake of understanding what they are, fluorescent light is the result of a chemical reaction happening within the glass of the globe.
Lumens Over Watts
Once you know the base size of your fitting and what technical light globe version you need, it’s time to talk about light power.
Back in the day, the amount of power a light globe correlated to the amount of light emission measured in watts. So, if you were shopping for old-fashioned light globes, you might base your decision on wattage.
But now, energy-efficient technology means we can get more light with the same amount of power. So, a better measurement for light emission is lumens. And that’s what you should focus on when choosing the right light globe.
Now, brighter isn’t always better. So, choosing your lumens will depend on where your light globe will be installed, what type of fitting it’ll be installed within, and what kind of vibe you’re going for in the room of installation.
But more on that later.
Consider Investing in Higher Quality Globes
While cost doesn’t always equate to quality, you will want to consider investing in higher-quality light globes instead of always taking the cheaper route.
You will want to consider the lifetime cost of your light globes. So, the two main factors that can save you money, in the long run, are energy efficiency and lifespan.
The lifespan of a light globe is generally measured in hours. In general, if you are buying a cheap light globe that will only last a few months, you may be saving money now. But in the long run, you will spend a lot more by constantly replacing your globes.
Furthermore, energy efficiency is huge. By investing in lighting that will help you save on your electricity and power bills, it’s a no-brainer when compared to globes that eat away at your energy bills.
What Mood Does Your Lighting Create?
In every room of your house, you want your lighting to set a certain tone.
Thinking about these subtle details might seem minute but they really make a difference.
Light globes have colour temperatures on a spectrum with warm, reddish tones at one end and cool, bluish tones at the other.
The three main types of colour temperatures when it comes to light globes are Warm White (between 2000K-3000K), Cool White (4000K), and Daylight (between 5000K and 6500K).
The best colour temperature for you is a personal preference. But here are a few guidelines:
- Warm White light globes emit a yellowish, candle-like light. A 2400K light globe will be slightly more candle-like while a 3000K light globe will still make your room feel warm and inviting but with slightly more brightness. These light globes are perfect for lounge rooms and bedrooms.
- Cool White light globes are essentially neutral light. Not too many reddish tones, but not too many bluish tones either. These light globes work well in kitchens, garages, and workspaces.
- Daylight (between 5000K and 6500K) is the coolest light globe colour temperature with the bluest tones and can sometimes come across as quite harsh. However, they often work well in bathrooms where high-quality light is required.
So there you have it… a quick and easy guide to choosing the right light globe.
Still confused about some of the lighting terms we just discussed? Read our blog on the top key terms to know in lighting.
Be sure to check out our full range of light globes and use our convenient search filters on the left side of each page to find the perfect light globe for you.