blog.castlegatelights.co.uk

Author: pracero

  • Should I Switch to LED Lighting?

    There is a lot of discussion at the moment about the benefits of switching to LED lighting. Although many people are still wary about making the move to this new technology, the amount of people who are making the leap shows that it is definitely becoming a popular choice. If you are thinking of adding LED lights to your home, here are the things you need to know.

     

    • LED stands for light-emitting diode and is one of the most energy efficient lighting forms.

     

    • Residential LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting

     

    • They also last 25 times longer!

     

    • LED Lights are cooler than normal incandescent lights, reducing the risk of burnt fingers when you change the bulb!

     

    • LED lights are used in a variety of applications from residential homes to traffic lights.

     

    • LED’s contain no mercury therefore have a smaller environmental impact that their incandescent rivals

     

    • In 2012 49 million LED lights were installed in the US, saving around $675 million in energy costs per year.

     

    If you are thinking of adding LED lighting to your home, make sure you take a look at the full range available at Castlegate Lights. Are you already a fan? Get in touch via our Facebook or Twitter page to let us know why you made the switch.

  • Summer Lighting Concepts

    The lighter nights are (apparently!) just around the corner so what better time to dust off your garden furniture and start planning your summer lighting concept. There’s nothing better than kicking back in your garden, watching the sun slowly set and enjoying a BBQ with friends and family. With the right lighting you can stay up until the early hours and we’ve picked out our favourites from two must have brands in our outdoor lighting section. Take a look at our top picks and let us know which one you would prefer in your garden!

     Castlegate Lights Pic

    1. Elstead Lighting Feiss Baton Rouge Medium 2 Light

    2. Elstead Lighting Caterbury Single Light

    3. Elstead Lighting Feiss Chelsea Harbour Single Light

    4. Forum Lighting Zeta Single Light

    5. Forum Lighting Omega Single Light

    6. Forum Lighting Ceres Single Light

  • Vampire Appliances – Castlegate Lights Infographic

    It may be ‘oh so quiet’ when you finally decide to turn in for the night, but many people do not realise that once the lights are turned off – the vampires of your home make themselves known. These vampires are not a job for Buffy, instead they come in the form of your household appliances. Lying in wait, ready to drain your finances!

    Here at Castlegate Lights we know how important it is to tighten the purse strings, especially after Christmas – this is why we have put together a handy guide to the appliances around your home that will eat up the power, even on standby. Taking the time to carry out a quick sweep of your home to turn off your appliances could make a real difference to your energy bills. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to slay those house demons and take control of your home.

     

    Castlegate Lights - Infographic

  • Light Up Your Home Ready for Christmas

    The holiday adverts are appearing on our screens, supermarket shelves are full of chocolate and festive goodies and here at Castlegate Lights we cannot wait to start decorating our homes for Christmas! Whether you prefer a classic, traditional approach or prefer to throw caution to the wind and experiment with new colours and styles, our Christmas lights selection is the perfect place to start shopping. Here are our top picks from this years’ selection.

    Red Parcels with Snow Top and Green Bow

    Nothing says Christmas is coming like these fun, festive parcels lights from Premier Decorations. This set of three lights incorporates 40 warm LED lights and a stunning green mesh bow. We offer these lights at a fantastic £29.99 so grab a bargain and add a few more presents under the tree!

    Presents

    Konstamide Star Lights

    Fans of the minimalistic Christmas look will appreciate these beautiful LED star lights by Konstsmide. The 10 acrylic stars are filled with white LED’s that are perfect for outdoor use, if you are looking to give your home a classic holiday look, these stars would look fantastic draped across the guttering.

    Stars

    Konstamide Small Standing Acrylic Polar Bear

    Say hello to this little festive fellow! We love this cute standing decoration from Konstsmide, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use it is the perfect addition to the family home. The light incorporates 64 white LED’s giving it a cheery Christmassy glow. Take a look at the other additions to the family and add more holiday creatures to your home this year in our full Christmas Lights collection.

    Bear

  • Brand in the Spotlight: Eglo Lighting

    Brand in the Spotlight: Eglo Lighting

    This month we turn our brand spotlight on one of our most popular lighting brands, Eglo Lighting. Eglo are one of Europe’s leading suppliers of contemporary lighting and here at Castlegate Lights we are constantly impressed with the company’s innovative designs.

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    Who are they?

    Eglo are a worldwide provider of decorative home lighting, focusing on design trends in the lighting industry to ensure that they are at the forefront of the industry. Each lighting design is a team effort between the experts in the company who work hard to create pieces that combine forward thinking design with accessible, stylish home lighting. Eglo see themselves as trendsetters, valuing simplicity and providing customers with easy to understand installation instructions. By listening to the needs of their customers they have been able to create a diverse range that is both versatile and aesthetically pleasing.

    Signature Style

    Eglo

    The Eglo range is extremely diverse, with lighting solutions for both indoor and outdoor use. Each piece is crafted to reflect the brands promise to offer only the highest quality lights, using sleek chrome and aluminium finishes to create something that really grabs your attention. There are even lights designed to brighten up children’s bedrooms, combining bright colours and cartoons with the same quality Eglo technology.

    If you fancy giving your home a modern lighting twist, make sure you take a look at the full Eglo Lighting range available right here at Castlegate Lights. Do you have a favourite piece from the range? Share it with us on our Facebook page!

  • Autumn Lighting: Work the New Season into Your Home

    The days are getting shorter and darkness has started creeping in earlier, yes the summer is coming to an end making way for autumn/winter 2013. Just as the fashion trends change, so do home décor concepts. The bright and breezy look that worked well for the summer just will not cut it when you need your home to feel warm and cosy, this is why it is important to start planning how you will transform your home for the coming season.

    Here are our expert tips to creating the perfect autumn lighting concept for your home;

    Lamps
    It is important to supplement your existing wall or ceiling lights with lamps placed around the home. Not only with floor and table lamps in your chosen colour scheme look great, they will help illuminate areas in your home that can look dark and dreary in the colder months. Choose complimenting designs and ensure that you place lamps in places that you wish to highlight.

    Think outside of the box
    One of the best things about this time of year is the fact that you can really get creative with your lighting. Christmas lights do not have to stay around the tree, instead using string fairy lights as quirky ways to highlight and illuminate your home. Placing clear lights in a fishbowl is a modern way to bring light to a dining area or brighten up a sideboard. Similarly a string of lights along a windowsill can create a magical look that will have you counting down the days till the holiday season.

    Don’t forget the garden!
    It may not be the weather for garden parties and BBQ’s however you can still create a welcoming effect with outdoor & garden lighting that will ensure that it is ready for any bonfire parties or impromptu gatherings over a cup of hot chocolate. Lanterns are a fantastic choice and give a homely look to any garden, string lights also look fantastic strewn through trees or attached to fences.

    Experiment with different colours schemes and really give your home a transformation for the coming seasons. As the temperature drops and darkness falls, it is a great feeling knowing you are heading home to rooms that offer cosy, winter warmth.

  • Brand in the Spotlight: Dar Lighting

    Here at Castlegate Lights we are proud to offer a wide selection of some of the most innovative lighting brands out there, however when it comes to choosing the right match for your home, do you really know the origins of your lighting? As part of our new blog series we are going to uncover some of the most popular lighting brands, offering an insight into their ethos, company history and their signature style. First up is Dar Lighting, a popular choice for modern homes.

    Who are they?

    Dar are widely known as one of the leading suppliers of lighting products that span from traditional chandeliers to modern statement pieces for every room. The company’s in house design team ensure that each piece is inspired by global lighting trends in a ‘fashion forward industry’ making it a great choice for those looking for lighting that really catches the eye,

    Signature Style

    There is a varied range of products available in the Dar lighting range however some of the more striking pieces incorporate bold colours, sleek polished chrome and intricate designs. Here are a few of our top picks from the current range

    castlegate Lights

    Are you a fan of Dar Lighting? Let us know your favourite pieces via our Facebook or Twitter page.

  • Choosing the Right Bathroom Lighting

    Within the home, some rooms can often be neglected when it comes to fresh décor and the bathroom is definitely one of them. If your bathroom could do with some TLC, one of the easiest ways to transform the space is by changing the lighting. Many people get the lighting wrong in their bathroom and do not make the most of the natural light or the actual space available to them. We have put together some of our top tips to help you choose the right lighting scheme for your bathroom, if you have any tips why not share them with us on our Facebook page?

    1.It is important to figure out exactly what you want from your bathroom lighting concept. Are you looking for mood lighting? Which features are you looking to enhance? Depending on the amount of natural light and when you actually use the bathroom most these are important questions to consider.

    2.Mirrors are a great way to create the illusion of more space and with the right lighting you can create a flattering effect. These stunning wall lights from Astro Lighting are the perfect choice for those looking to create a glamorous effect.

    Astro Light

    3.It is important that you consider the suitability of lighting for you bathroom before you actually go out and buy your new fittings. Check the IP rating of the fitting that you choose and ensure that it is right for the placement; lights within a shower will need fittings with a higher IP than general ceiling lights.

    4.Think outside of the box to create unique lighting effects. Spotlights are a great choice for those looking to highlight certain features whilst a dramatic crystal ceiling light will instantly give you bathroom a luxury feel.

    Chandelier

    If you need any advice or help creating your perfect bathroom lighting concept make sure you pop into our showroom for ideas and inspiration!

  • Staying Outdoors This Summer

    The UK is currently enjoying a proper summer, with blue skies aplenty and hot sun rays beaming down, everybody is spending more time outdoors enjoying this luxury weather. Summer time isn’t the season you particularly associate with lighting due to the already bright nights, but it is the perfect time to make sure your garden is properly illuminated.

    With summer time in full swing the night time sky is often still light until 10pm, combined with the highest temperatures you have the perfect atmosphere for a garden party!

    Before a house party you would make sure that your home is tidy and looking its best, so the same applies to the garden during the summer. This beautiful sunshine should provide some much needed motivation to mow the lawn, clean down outdoor furniture and invest in some quality garden lighting so you are ready to display your back garden.

    When it comes to planting flowers and cleaning your patio stones we cannot help out, but when it comes to outdoor lights we have a wide variety to share with you. Here are our top 5 outdoors lights that would brighten up your garden:

    1. Elstead Lighting Globe Corrosion Proof Wall
    This is one of our most popular outdoor lights from Elstead, especially as it is so resistant against extreme weather conditions. It is able to survive during hot summer days as well as cold wintry evenings.

    Light 1

    2. Bell Lighting Outdoor Spot Recessed Colour Changing Lighting Set
    If you want something ultra modern and to be a feature of your outdoor space these colour changing lights will brighten up a patio area perfectly.

    Light 2

    3. Konstsmide Lyra Outdoor Wall Fitting
    If you prefer a more traditional style this wall light which comes in black or white would add a classic touch to your garden and a brilliant source of light.

    Light 3

    4. Searchlight White LED Slip Resistant Floor Light
    These unique LED floor lights look brilliant and brighten up the floor making a great walkway in the dark, they also have up to 40,000 hours life.

    Light 4

    5. Endon Lighting Stainless Steel LED Wall Bracket
    If you want a sleek and stylish looking garden these wall brackets with pretty LED and stainless steel design are sure to get noticed.

  • Designer Bathroom Lights

    Designer Bathroom Lights

    If you want to add life to your bathroom, all you need to do is select the right type of bathroom lights. Contemporary designer bathroom lighting is an excellent choice as it will not only illuminate your bathroom but enhance the aesthetic appeal.

    Regular lighting is practical and useful but designer bathroom lighting will give you more than just functionality. In today’s world bathrooms are made as aesthetically as the other rooms in the house. It is a place where you spend time everyday to freshen up. If your bathroom has many decorative items, then good lighting to highlight these accessories becomes an important aspect of interior designing.

    Before selecting any type of décor for your bathroom, you must keep in mind the following things –space, light and ventilation. There are a number of options available in the market for you to make sure you choose the most appropriate lighting to suit your own and individual style.

    To create an interesting mood you can go for LED as backspace. It has become very popular because of the modern appearance it gives. It is not very expensive and is highly advised by interior designers. Some of the other alternatives of designer bathroom lights are vertical lights, wall scones, glass shaded fixtures, and overhead lights. Vertical lights are generally fitted on either side of the mirror. Overhead lighting can be used if your bathroom does not facilitate the installation of side lighting. Wall sconces or vanity lights compliment the classic pedestals and also add to the aesthetics of your bathroom. A large variety of wall sconces is available in the market and they also come in various materials like wood, metal, brass, chrome and several other.

    When it comes to creating for a unique look for your bathroom using classy lighting, the sky is literally the limit. You can run a quick search on the net and also chat with designers who will suggest some unique ideas about how to design your bathroom. You can get a variety of bathroom lights on the net, most available to buy. They come in various designs, styles and prices. The price of the designer bathroom lighting also varies thus you should look for the one which actually suits your décor and the one which best compliments your style.

    So go ahead and search for a new set of designer bathroom lights that helps to create a unique look for your bathroom.