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Category: How to guides

How to clean lamp shades
Lamp shades are one of those household features that, if you don’t clean regularly, can start to build up a collection of unsightly dust and dirt. Keeping your shades spick and span will not only maintain a pristine appearance but will also prolong its life. Now is the perfect time to grab your dusting cloths and add your lamp shades to your spring cleaning list!

Different lamp shade materials and finishes require particular cleaning methods. So whether you have modern glass or vintage fabric shades in your home, follow our easy step-by-step guides below on how to clean lamp shades and freshen them up to enhance their illumination and ambience in every room.

Table of contents:
How to clean glass lamp shades

If you have glass lamp shades, the main aim is to remove dust and grime without leaving streaks or causing damage. Follow this easy-to-follow guide to cleaning your glass lampshades to leave them sparkling!

Materials you will need:
- Microfibre or soft, lint-free cloths
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- Glass cleaner or a mixture of vinegar and water
- bucket or basin
- Compressed air canister (optional for intricate designs)
- soft-bristled brush (optional)
Steps:
1. Turn off your lamp: Before you start, unplug your lamp and let the light bulb and shade cool before touching them.
2. Remove the shade: Carefully remove the glass shade from the base.
3. Remove dust: Use a microfibre or soft lint-free cloth to remove dust from the glass shade surface gently. Use a compressed air canister to remove dust and dirt from had-to-reach places on intricate designs.
4. Prepare cleaning solution: Fill a bucket or basin with warm soapy water. Alternatively, you can create a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar for a streak-free finish.
5. Wash your glass shade: Submerge the glass shade in soapy water and gently clean the surface with a soft cloth or sponge. For stubborn grease or grime, use a soft-bristled brush with gentle pressure.
6. Rise with clean water: When clean, rinse the glass shade thoroughly with clean, warm water to remove soap or vinegar residue.
7. Dry your glass shade: Use a dry microfibre or lint-free cloth to dry the shade carefully or allow it to air dry before reattaching it to your lamp.
8. Polishing: Once your glass shade is dry, you may see remaining water streaks or fingerprints. Gently wipe the shade with a glass cleaner or a water-vinegar mixture with a clean cloth. Buff with a dry microfibre cloth to achieve a sparkling streak-free finish.
Top tips for cleaning glass lamp shades
- Glass is delicate, so always take care when handling or removing it to avoid chips and breakage.
- Avoid harsh chemicals and stick to mild soaps or natural cleaners like vinegar.
How to clean fabric lamp shades

Now, fabric lamp shades are another kettle of fish. If not cleaned regularly, the fabric can become mouldy and discoloured. Follow our cleaning guide below to keep your fabric lamp shade pristine and elongate its life.

Materials you will need:
- Vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
- Lint roller
- Microfibre or soft, lint-free cloths
- Mild detergent
- warm water
- sponge or soft brush
- Bathtub or large sink
- Towels
Steps:

Regular maintenance

Regularly removing dust from your fabric lamp shade will prevent dust build-up and elongate its life.
1. Regularly dust with the vacuum or lint roller: Use your vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment to gently remove dust from the surface of yoru fabric lamp shade. Alternatively, you can use a lint roller to pick up dust, lint and pet hair if you need a more delicate approach.
Spot cleaning

You may have a situation where you need to spot-clean your fabric lamp; if so, follow the steps below.
1. Prepare solution: Mix a small amount of mild dish soap or detergent with warm water; ensure it’s not too soapy to avoid residue marks.
2. Test solution: Test the solution on an inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn’t cause discolouration or damage to the fabric.
3. Dabbing: Dip a sponge or soft cloth in the soapy water and wring it out so it is damp but not soaking. Gently dab the stain and avoid rubbing to prevent it from spreading.
4. Rinsing: Then, use a clean, damp cloth to blot the area to remove any soap residue. Repeat steps three and four until the stain is gone.
5. Drying: Allow the area to air dry completely. Do not use direct heat or place the shade in direct sunlight, as it can cause the colour to fade.
Deep cleaning

If your lamp shade has got into a particularly bad state, it might be best to do a deep clean. As we have previously mentioned, remove the shade from the lamp. It is important to stress this here as you will submerge the shade into water for this deep cleaning method. A gentle reminder to remove the shade from the lamp is important to ensure you don’t cause damage to the lamp or yourself.
1. Fill a bathtub or large sink with warm water and a small amount of mild detergent. Mix the water to create suds.
2. Submerge the lamp shade into soapy water and gently swish to allow the soap to soak into the fabric.
3. Use a soft brush to gently scrub the fabric, paying particular attention to any dirty areas, but avoid scrubbing hard.
4. Drain the soapy water and rinse the lamp shade with clean, warm water to remove all the soap.
5. Carefully shake off any excess water, place the shade on a towel, and gently blot to remove more water. Allow the shade to air dry completely by placing it on a towel or hanging it up to ensure it retains shape. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, as this can cause the fabric to fade.
How to clean vintage lamp shades

Vintage lamp shades can come in a variety of materials, but all require extra care to preserve their delicate form.

Top tips for cleaning vintage lamp shades
- Always assess the lamp shade’s condition before cleaning it. If it is in a fragile state or is valuable, consider consulting a professional conservator.
- Always handle the shade gently to avoid damage.
- We recommend spot-testing any cleaning method in an inconspicuous area before committing to cleaning the whole shade.
Vintage fabric lamp shades

For vintage fabric lamp shades, follow the steps above as you would with any fabric lamp shade while considering the fabric’s delicate nature. If you have a vintage silk lamp shade, use a soft brush or feather duster to remove dust rather than a vacuum. For spot cleaning, only use lukewarm water and mild soap and avoid submerging in water if possible.

Beaded and embellished lamp shades

Use a soft brush or compressed air canister to gently clean within intricate areas if your lamp shade has beads or embellishments. If you need to deep clean it, mix a small amount of mild detergent with water and use a cotton swab dipped in the solution to clean around the beads; avoid soaking the fabric.

How to clean white lamp shades

White lamp shades can cause more issues as dirt and grime show up more easily, so regular cleaning is even more important. By following these recommendations, maintain brightness and avoid discolouration on your pristine white lamp.

If you have a white fabric lamp shade, make sure to regularly vacuum it to prevent dust from settling and discolouring your lamp shade.

Whatever material your while lamp shade is, keep it away from direct sunlight because prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will cause it to turn yellow.

Always test any cleaning solutions on a small, inconspicuous area before cleaning the whole thing.

Follow the steps above for glass, silk and fabric shades to keep your white lamp shade bright and clean.

Lamp shades at Castlegate Lights

These easy steps will help you clean your lamp shade and prolong its life. Whatever material lamp shades you have, regular cleaning and maintenance should form part of your cleaning routine to keep your lamp shades in pristine condition for years to come.

For easy-to-clean shades, shop our lamp shade collection at Castlegate Light today and transform your home.

Why not wipe down your lamp base while your lamp shade is drying for a completely clean finish?

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May 28, 2024
How to clean pendant lights: A simple guide
Your pendant lights often get forgotten on spring cleaning lists! Out-of-eye-height dust and dirt can gather on your pendant light over time without you realising it, so be sure to schedule a regular deep clean to ensure your light works efficiently for as long as possible and doesn’t look unsightly when guests come over.

In this helpful step-by-step guide, we will outline how to clean pendant lights, offering tips and tricks to do the job efficiently and safely. We will also offer specific tips for different pendant light finishes, including ceramic and glass, to maintain the look of your pendant light and its illumination.

Table of contents:
How to clean pendant lights

Follow this step-by-step guide to reinvigorate your pendant light fixture to its original glory.

Materials you will need:
- Step ladder
- Microfibre cloths
- Soft lint-free cloths
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- Vinegar (optional)
- Spray bottle
- Compressed air canister (optional)
- Screwdriver (if needed for disassembly)
- Gloves (optional for delicate materials)
Steps:
1. Turn off the power: Ensure no power is getting to your pendant light by switching off its main power circuit breaker switch to prevent electrical accidents.
2. Stabilise the ladder: Place your ladder on a stable, even surface to prevent falls. If you’re worried, ask a friend to hold the ladder at the bottom to reassure you.
3. Remove dust: Use a microfibre cloth to gently wipe down the pendant light to remove loose dust and dirt. For intricate designs and hard-to-reach areas, use the compressed air canister.
4. Remove shades and bulbs: Remove the bulb and shade according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use your screwdriver to unscrew any fixed accessories and gently lift it off its mount. Ensure the bulb is cool before removing it.
5. Prepare the cleaning solution: Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water in a bowl.
6. Clean the pendant light: Wipe down the bulb and gently clean the fixture using a damp microfibre cloth and warm, soapy water to remove dirt or debris. Use the soft brush to clean hard-to-reach places. Avoid using too much water.
7. Clean the shade: Different light shades require varying cleaning methods, so for more specific instructions on how to clean different shade materials, read our guide, How to Clean Lampshades. (link when published)
8. Clean chains and cords: Use a damp cloth to clean the chains and cords. For very dirty chains, use a soft brush to scrub gently.
9. Dry: Remove excess water with a dry microfibre cloth.
10. Reattach shades and bulbs: Once dry, reassemble the pendant light.
11. Final polish: Use a soft cloth to give the entire pendant light a final polish to remove any fingerprints or smudges.
12. Restore power: Restore the power to the light by turning on the circuit breaker and testing the light switch to ensure everything works.
How to clean ceramic pendant lights

Ceramic pendant lights require careful handling to avoid damage when cleaning. Here are our top tips for cleaning ceramic pendant lights to add to the steps above.

Replace step 6 with the following:
- Dip a soft sponge or cloth into the soapy water solution, wring out any excess water and gently wipe down the ceramic parts. Avoid soaking the ceramic to prevent any water damage.
- You can use an equal-part measurement of vinegar and water for tougher stains. Dampen a cloth with this solution and gently scrub stains.
- Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away any soapy residue and dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth.
How to clean glass pendant lights

Dirt on glass pendant lights can show easily, so follow these steps to keep your glass pendant light looking clean and bright.

Follow the steps above, but when you reach step 6, you can use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water as an alternative to creating a streak-free finish. A vinegar and water solution also prevents hard water from leaving stains.

Alternatively, you can use your household cleaning products, such as a glass cleaner, to brighten your glass pendant light and eliminate streaks.

For dirty or greasy glass, let the glass sections soak in the warm, soapy solution for a few minutes, and the soap should break down the grease.

Rinse the glass thoroughly with clean water to remove soapy residue. Lastly, wipe the glass parts of your pendant light with a lint-free cloth to prevent water spots and streaks.

Pendant lights at Castlegate Lights

Following these steps, your pendant light will be clean and look as good as new. Clean your lights regularly to help extend the life of your fixtures and keep them shining brightly. Try not to allow dust and dirt to build up to help make deep cleaning easier and less frequent.

If you’re looking for easy-to-clean pendant lights, browse our vast selection at Castlegate Lights in various materials and finishes to suit your decor and cleaning preferences.

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May 28, 2024
How to clean wall lights
Don’t forget to give your wall lights a once-over when spring cleaning! Wall lights are notorious for gathering dust, grease, and dirt over time, so if you want your home spick and span, give your wall lights some TLC.

Cleaning your wall lights is all part of their general maintenance and you will find giving them a once over every now and again comes with benefits. Ensure they continue functioning efficiently, offer optimal light to the room and are kept in good condition with regular cleaning.

Whatever type of wall lights you have, from metal to glass, we will help guide you through the best way to clean them. From safety tips to specific cleaning instructions to maintain different finishes, learn how to clean your wall lights so they continue to brighten your home.

Table of contents:
How to clean wall lights

First, we will go through general cleaning tips and steps to clean most wall lights. Follow the steps below for clean, bright, and dust-free wall lights to illuminate your home beautifully.

Materials and cleaning products you will need:
- Soft microfibre cloths
- Mild detergent or dish soap
- Warm water
- A bucket or bowl
- A step ladder (if necessary)
- Soft-bristled brush or an old toothbrush
- Compressed air canister (if you have an intrinsically designed wall light)
- Gloves (for handling delicate light fittings)
- Screwdriver (if disassembly is required)
Steps:
1. Turn off your mains power: Before cleaning your wall lights, turn off your light at the switch and turn off the mains power supply to your lights at the circuit breaker to avoid any risk of electric shocks.
2. Remove bulb and shade: Carefully remove detachable parts such as bulbs, lampshades or covers. If the bulb is still hot, wait for the bulb to cool before handling it. Use a step ladder if they are hard to reach.
3. Dust fixtures: Put down that old-fashioned feather duster unless you want all the dust to fly everywhere around the room. Instead, use a soft microfibre cloth to dust the fixture gently and collect dust. If the design is intricate, use the soft brush of an old toothbrush to reach small crevices. Use your compressed air canister to expel dirt for delicate and detailed fixtures.
4. Prepare cleaning solution: Mix a few drops of mild detergent or dish soap with warm water in a bucket or bowl. Avoid using harsh chemicals as they can damage the wall light fixture finish.
5. Clean your light: Dampen the microfibre cloth with warm, soapy water and gently wipe down the light fixture. You may need to scrub lightly with the soft-bristled brush for stubborn spots of greasy residue.
6. Rinse and dry: Wipe the wall light clean with a soap-free damp cloth and remove soapy residue. Then, avoid leaving it to dry; instead, dry thoroughly with a dry microfibre cloth to prevent water spots.
7. Clean the bulbs: Wipe the bulbs with a dry, lint-free cloth to ensure they are dust and fingerprint-free.
8. Clean the shade: Wall lights have a variety of shades with different materials and finishes, so read our guide, How to Clean Lampshades (Link when uploaded), for more detailed information on cleaning specific lampshade materials.
9. Reassemble wall lights: Once everything is clean and dry, reassemble the light fixtures.
10. Turn on the power: Restore power to the lights and ensure everything is working properly and there aren’t any missed spots.
Top cleaning tips for wall lights
- Dust from time to time to prevent dust buildup and make deep cleaning easier.
- Always consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific cleaning instructions for delicate materials like crystal wall lights.
- Always prioritise safety by ensuring the power is off before starting, all fixture parts are completely dry before turning the power back on and avoiding using excessive water near electrical components.
How to clean metal wall lights

If you have metal wall lights, such as copper, brass, bronze, brushed steel or nickel, and they are starting to look lacklustre, you can give them a shine with the addition of metal polishing.

Follow the step above, but once your fixtures are dry after step 6, use a metal polish for the appropriate type of metal and apply according to the manufacturer’s instructions, usually with a soft cloth and buff to shine.

If you have metal wall lights, avoid ammonia, bleach and abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the metal finish.

How to clean glass wall lights

If you have glass wall lights, there are some additional cleaning options to consider.

In step 4, when preparing the cleaning solution, you may want to use a white vinegar-water solution in equal parts to give your glass additional shine.

During step 5, you can use a commercial glass cleaner to give your glass wall lights extra shine. Spray it onto a cloth rather than the glass to avoid over-spraying on other parts of the fixture.

After step 8, you also have the option to polish the glass with a dry microfibre cloth or a glass polishing cloth for a perfect finish.

Always handle glass parts with care to avoid breaking or chipping.

Wall lights at Castlegate Lights

By following these steps, you can ensure that your wall lights provide the optimal amount of light for each room and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, knowing your lights are dust and dirt-free!

Discover easy-to-clean wall lights in various materials and finishes at Castlegate Lights to suit your home’s interior design.

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May 28, 2024
How to make your bedroom a relaxing environment with lighting
When you come home after a long day, you should attempt to switch off by relaxing and unwinding to get a good night’s sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system will find it harder to fight infections, you may find it harder to function at work, and a lack of sleep can affect your mental health. One way you can help improve your sleep quality is by creating a relaxing environment in your bedroom: lighting can help you achieve this!

Creating a soothing environment in your bedroom will help you fall asleep more easily, help you get enough sleep, and refresh you for the next day.

Lighting plays a significant part in setting the mood in a room. It can help you unwind, relax, and create a soothing environment before you fall asleep. At Castlegate Lights, we can help you create a relaxing bedroom environment using lighting if you have trouble getting to sleep or switching off. In this guide, we offer tips on the ideal lighting brightness, colour, and fixtures to help curate the ultimate sleep space in your bedroom.

Table of contents:
Understanding lighting in setting the mood

It’s commonly known that lighting can significantly impact a room’s mood. Using brightness and colour temperature, you can alter the mood and ambience of a room. With the correct lighting, you can make a room feel light, airy, refreshing and invigorating, or you can use lighting to make a room feel cosy, inviting and warm.

The key is to know which lighting to put where to create the perfect lighting scheme for each room in your home.

When planning your bedroom lighting, it’s also important to know you may need different lighting moods depending on the time of day. In the morning, you may want bright, invigorating light that mimics natural daylight to help you wake up. Then, in the evening, you will need a more mellow brightness and softer colour temperatures to help let your body know it’s time for sleep to help keep a healthy circadian rhythm and sleep cycle.

Here, we will primarily focus on creating a relaxing environment in your bedroom for winding down in the evening using light.

Choose the right light fixtures.

First, decide which light fixtures will help you perfect your wind-down routine. Here are some of our top recommended types of lighting.

Overhead lights

Overhead lights usually don’t contribute to a cosy atmosphere in a bedroom because of the stark downwards light beam. To amend this, ensure the bulb has an encompassing shade to diminish the starkness of the naked bulb. Use soft fabric shades on a pendant light or glass opal shades to diffuse the light and create a relaxing atmosphere.

Dar Lighting Dar Evander Single Light Ceiling Pendant In Matt Black Finish With Ribbed Glass

Dar Lighting Dar Ronda Easy Fit 60cm Pendant Shade In Ecru Finish

Dar Lighting Dar Saturn Glass Ceiling Pendant Light In Polished Chrome Finish

Dar Lighting Dar Vignette 6 Arm Ceiling Pendant Light In Matt Black Finish with Opal Glass

Lucide Silas 24w Integrated 3-Step Dimmable LED Flush Ceiling Fitting in Matt Gold Finish

The Italian Collection Ovalino 8 Light Flush Ceiling Fitting In Chrome Finish With White Glass

Floor lamps

Floor lamps are a great alternative to overhead lights when you need ambient light to illuminate the whole room but don’t want stark light shining from above. The shade of the floor lamp will diffuse the light across the room but create a more mellow atmosphere.

BHS Lighting BHS Plume Single Light Tripod Floor Lamp In Brass Finish With White Feather Shade

BHS Lighting BHS Tristan Single Light Large Tripod Floor Lamp in Polished Brass Finish with White Shade

Dar Lighting Dar Spool Floor Lamp Base Only In Gloss Green Finish

Dar Lighting Dar Spool Floor Lamp Base Only In Gloss Red Finish

Bedside lamps

Bedside lamps are also a fantastic way to create a soothing bedroom atmosphere. Lampshades can mellow the bulb light and channel the light beams up and down, creating shadows across the room. The shaded light helps to let your body know it’s time for sleep.

Dar Lighting Dar Dolce Single Light Ceramic Table Lamp In White Finish With Shade

Dar Lighting Dar Francesca Single Light Table Lamp In Pink Finish With Opal Glass

Lucide Sueno Single Light Glass Table Lamp in Pink and Brass Finish

The Italian Collection Kali-2 Single Light Table Lamp In Beige Finish

String lights

Hanging warm white string lights around your bedroom can create a cosy atmosphere that will make you feel warm and sleepy, mimicking the twinkling stars in the night sky.

Edit Lighting Festive 9.95M Battery Operated Warm White LED Silver Micro Wire Fairy Lights with 200 Lights

Edit Lighting Festive 79.92M Warm White LED Multi-Function String Lights with 1000 Lights

Reading lights

If you like reading before bed, choose a concentrated light that will illuminate your page without illuminating the room, so you will eventually feel sleepy. We recommend specific reading lights for reading in bed. You can get clip-on reading lamps or wall lights with attached reading lamps.

Searchlight Lighting 4122WH Single Light White Clip On Desk Spot Light

The Italian Collection Dynamo LED Reading Light in Antique Brass Finish

The Italian Collection Holiday 2 Light Wall Fitting with Reading Light in a Matt White and Chrome Finish

How to create relaxing lighting for the bedroom

Although your bedroom is primarily for sleeping, you might also use it for other tasks, like working or gaming. Therefore, you might need a layered lighting scheme to help you wind down. A layered lighting scheme is a set of lights that creates different moods depending on what ambience you need.

You might have bright ceiling lights when you want to feel awake in the morning, but these don’t work when you’re trying to get to sleep. So, to create a relaxing lighting scheme, install multiple lights to alter the ambience or install dimmable lights or touch-operated lamps to get varied light levels, including soft ambient light when you want to relax and wind down.

Creating a bedtime ritual with lighting

If you’re struggling with sleep or feel awake when it’s time for bed, incorporating light into your sleep routine can help! Here’s how
1. Set achievable time goals for when you want to be in bed and asleep.
2. Put your phone away or on do not disturb mode one hour before your set bedtime. The blue light from your phone will prevent your brain from producing the sleep hormone melatonin and stop you from feeling sleepy.
3. At the same time, turn your bedroom lights to relaxation mode. Turn off any big bright lights and switch on your bedside lamps or reading lights.
4. If you’re not feeling sleepy, read a good book instead of scrolling on your phone, and you’ll be sure to fall asleep in no time.
5. Use a sleep tracker to monitor the time you fall asleep and track your sleep progress.
What colour light is most soothing for sleep?

You can also help create a relaxing environment in your bedroom with the correct bulb colour temperature. The Kelvin scale (K) measures light colour temperature and ranges from red to white to blue light.

If you’re wondering what colour light is soothing to create a cosy atmosphere in your room, use bulbs with a 2000-4000K rating for a warm white light effect. A warm white light range will allow the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, and make you feel sleepy, whereas 5000K upwards will have the opposite effect. Exposure to blue light or bright white artificial bulbs can prevent melatonin production and disrupt your sleep and natural circadian rhythm.

However, some deep blue coloured lights can also have the same sleepy effect, often used in baby nightlights. So long as they are dim and have a deep, dark blue, the light can create a soothing atmosphere in a bedroom, mimicking the deep blue sea or night sky.

With developments in LED lights, you can get bulbs that produce an extensive range of light colours. So, if you’re trying to soothe yourself before sleep, turn on your dim, warm light lights for the best light colour for sleep.

Practical tips for creating soothing bedroom lighting

Here are some of our top tips on how to create soothing bedroom lighting
- Place lights low down. Using nightlights plugged into outlets near the floor offers a mellowed ambience that isn’t bright or dazzling to help you feel sleepy.
- Use shades. Shading any naked bulbs will help defuse any stark light and help create a soothing atmosphere in your bedroom.
- Use warm white bulbs. An easy way to create a more soothing ambience in your bedroom before bed is to swap your bulbs for ones that emit a warm white light.
- Get the right lamp size. If you have a bedside lamp, the last thing you want is the light blinding you as you sit in bed. Ensure your bedside lamp sits on your nightstand at the right height and doesn’t shine into your eyes.
Soothing bedroom lighting at Castlegate Lights

We hope you now understand the importance of light when creating a relaxing and soothing environment in your bedroom. Whether you’re having trouble sleeping or want to illuminate your bedroom to create a calming atmosphere, lighting can help with the optimal shade, brightness and light colour temperature.

If you’re looking for relaxing light for your bedroom, browse our bedroom lighting collection for an extensive range of lights perfect for bedrooms. You can also replace your bulbs with warm white light bulbs from our bulb collection to transform your bedroom into a calming oasis without breaking the bank.

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April 2, 2024
How to choose the ideal bedside lamp
If you’re wondering how to choose the right lamp for your bedside table, we’re here to help! It can be overwhelming searching for the best bedside lamp for you with so many choices available.

In this guide, we go through crucial considerations you must make when attempting to find a lamp for your bedside table, including lumens, shade size, base height, style, light direction, material and switches. So, let’s dive right in and help you find the perfect light source for your bedside.

Table of contents
Iluzzia Gondia Single Light Table Lamp In Natural Rattan Finish

How many lumens for a bedside lamp

First, you need to think about your bulb type. When choosing a bulb for your bedside lamp, consider the brightness. For your bedside, you’ll want a soft, more ambient light rather than a harsh, bright light to help you wind down before sleep.

You can determine your bulb brightness by the number of lumens. Aim for a bedside lamp with 200 to 400 lumens to provide adequate illumination for reading or navigating the bedroom without being overly bright.

Why not browse our range of bulbs at Castlegate Lights to find the best light bulb for your bedside lamp? With so many shapes and colour temperatures to browse, you can create the perfect bedside lighting.

What size lamp shade for the bedside table

Then, you need to think about your shade size. When choosing a lamp shade for your bedside table lamp, it should complement the size and style of your bedside table. It will overpower the bedside table if it’s too wide, and you may even knock your head on it while getting in and out of bed.

As a rule of thumb, the bottom of the shade (or diameter) should be about two-thirds the height of the lamp base to stop it from looking bulky or overpowering. You also don’t want it to be too small compared to the base, as this will look uneven.

To get the perfect size, ensure your lamp shade slightly extends beyond the base width to provide a balanced illumination and aesthetic appeal.

The Italian Collection Mapa Single Light Small Table Lamp in White Finish

How tall should a bedside lamp be

The height of your bedside lamp should be proportional to the height of your bedside table, bed and surrounding furniture. A typical bedside lamp ranges between 16 to 24 inches (41-61cm).

Use this as a guide if you need clarification and want to avoid accidentally buying a massive or tiny lamp for your bedside table. If it’s too tall, the light might dazzle you as you switch it on. If it’s too short, it may not provide enough light for reading. The best height for a bedside lamp is at eye level to get enough light for reading in bed without getting dazzled by a bright wakeup.

When deciding the height of your bedside lamp, consider its function. For example, if you intend to use it primarily for reading, opt for a taller lamp that directs light downwards onto your reading material.

How to choose a bedside lamp

When choosing the perfect bedside lamp, there are multiple factors to consider.

Purpose

First, what will you use it for? Consider your needs and determine the primary purpose of your bedside lamp. Is it for reading, ambient light, accentuating decor or multiple uses? The purpose will determine the style of lamp you need.

Style

Then, think about style and aesthetics. Bedside table lamps aren’t just functional; they can also add design interest to your room. Choose a lamp that complements the style and decor of your bedroom. Options can include traditional, industrial, vintage and much more.

Dar Lighting Dar Louise Single Light Table Lamp Base Only In Caramel Finish

Edit Lighting Edit Shelley Single Light Table Lamp In Pink and Gold Finish

Elstead Lighting Elstead Quoizel Larissa 2 Light Table Lamp In Vintage Bronze Finish And Tiffany Glass Shade

Also, consider your colour scheme and textures. Lamps provide excellent decor accent pieces, adding a pop of colour or contrasting texture to a room.

Lighting direction

Decide where you want your light directed based on your style preferences and the purpose of your lamp. If you need to use your lamp for reading, select a lamp that directs light downwards. Select a lamp that directs light upwards if you want to use your lamp light to highlight the wall texture or an architectural feature. And, if you are looking for a lamp to provide general ambient light, choose one that does both.

Note that adjustable lamp heads offer versatility between all these factors.

Material and finish

Your choice and material finish depends on your bedroom decor, with some being more modern or traditional. Typical bedroom lamp finishes sometimes have chrome, wood, ceramic or glass finishes. But there are so many more to choose from besides these.

Dar Lighting Dar Oporto Single Light Table Lamp in Polished Chrome with a Cream Shade

Edit Lighting Edit Kidonge Single Light Desk Lamp in White Finish with Wood Detail

Dar Lighting Weylin Single Light Ceramic Table Lamp in Navy and White Finish Complete with Shade

Edit Lighting Edit Windsor Single Light Table Lamp In Gold Finish With Clear Glass

Switch type

You can also consider the type of switch you want to make your life easier. You can go for a traditional switch on the neck or a more modern switch on the cable. Choose whichever you’ll find more convenient if you’re trying to turn the lamp on in the dark.

You can also opt for touch-sensitive lamps for maximum convenience, some of which usually have three brightness settings, or choose a dimmable lamp to get full adjustable brightness.

The Italian Collection Mapa Single Light Medium Flush Wall Fitting in White Finish

Space constraints

If you have limited bedside table space, consider wall-mounted lamps or smaller designs that will be manageable for your surface area.

Budget

Determine your budget and explore your options. Remember that a high-quality bedside lamp can enhance the ambience of your bedroom and is worth investing in. But, if you have budget constraints, we have a range of bedside table lamps to suit every budget at Castlegate Lights.

Bedside lamps at Castlegate Lights

Now you know how to choose a lamp for your bedside, it’s time to explore your options. Why not browse our bedroom table lamps at Castlegate Lights to find the perfect bedside lamp for your bedroom?

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March 5, 2024
How to brighten a dark room with no natural light
Dark rooms with no widows can feel cold and unwelcoming. If you have a room with limited light or no natural light, it could affect your sleep pattern and mental health.

Humans need a regular cycle of daylight and night darkness to keep a steady circadian rhythm. It can also make achieving daily tasks like cooking, reading or washing more difficult if your body isn’t in tune with this rhythm.

Ideally, you want enough natural light in your bedroom when you need to wake up and in areas of your home where you conduct tasks, like the kitchen, bathroom and home office. However, if any of those rooms don’t have access to natural daylight, you need to recreate it to mimic the effects of daylight and reap the benefits.

Here, we’ll explain how to lighten a dark room with no natural light to help create a better living space.

Table of contents
Understanding natural light bulbs

First, you should understand the Kelvin scale if you’re trying to brighten a dark room.

What is the Kelvin scale?

The Kelvin number indicates the colour temperature a light bulb emits. All bulbs will sit on the Kelvin scale and emit LED light from cool to warm white light. You can see the warmth of light emitted on the graphic above for a clearer visual of the Kelvin scale.

LED bulbs emit different coloured light because different materials used in the bulbs produce different photons at varying wavelengths, which appear as colours on a scale.

Bulbs that produce a natural light will be in the middle of the kelvin scale, somewhere between 4000 and 6500k.

Remember that natural sunlight changes colour temperature depending on the time of day, latitude and season. So, mimicking natural light falls on a spectrum, but anything between this range will help artificially bring natural light into your windowless room.

How to choose the best natural light fitting

Choosing the best natural light fitting will depend on the room. If your bathroom or kitchen has no windows, you’ll want to select light fixtures closer to 6500K on the Kelvin scale. Natural daylight bulbs are the best option for cooking in the kitchen or doing your makeup in the bathroom.

Natural light will show colours how they are, which is perfect for completing tasks. Choose light fittings like spotlights and downlights for the kitchen and bathroom to bring the effects of natural light into your room.

Similarly, for a windowless home office or study, you may want a desk lamp to emit natural light to help you see your work, concentrate and feel awake.

However, if your dark room is a bedroom or living room, you may want to lean towards the warmer side of the natural light spectrum. Because you tend to use these rooms to wind down and relax, you don’t want to add daylight bulbs that mimic the colour temperature of broad daylight, and your brain won’t be able to de-stress at night. So, use artificial light that mimics a softer, warmer natural light like 4000K.

Lean towards living room and bedside natural light table lamps to brighten your bedroom and lounge. You can also use floor lamps to alter a room’s feel.

The best way to recreate daylight in your windowless room is to add different types of light that provide both stark daylight colours and warm sunrise and sunset colour temperatures to mimic the different times of the day and maintain a healthy circadian rhythm. For example, you may choose ceiling lights to provide natural daylight and a natural light lamp to mimic warmer natural light for the morning and evening.

How to brighten a dark room with no windows

Colour temperature is essential when choosing lights for a windowless room, but brightness is also crucial.

Traditionally, watts did indicate bulb brightness, but with the evolution of LED bulbs, lumens are a better indication of brightness.

You will want brighter bulbs in rooms where you perform tasks, like the kitchen and bathroom. But there is no need to install bright daylight bulbs in your living room and bedroom. Choose bulbs with a lower lumen count for these rooms.

You must also consider your room size to determine how many light sources and lumens you need to achieve tasks and multiply it by the room’s square footage and height. Whether you have natural light lamps or overhead lights, place them strategically to provide an even amount of light throughout the room.

Additional tips on how to brighten a dark room
- Besides the right lighting, there are other things you can do to brighten a dark room instead of natural light. For example, interior designers use mirrors and reflective surfaces in dark rooms to reflect light back into the room.
- You can also use light colours in your decor and light paint colours to make a windowless room seem brighter.
- Lastly, try to keep the room clear of clutter to help open the room up.
Natural light bulbs at Castlegate Lights

If you have a windowless room devoid of daylight, fear not! Now you know how to brighten a dark room with natural light bulbs. Always think about Kelvins to get the right colour temperature and lumens to get the ideal brightness depending on the room’s purpose and size.

Discover daylight and natural light bulbs at Castlegate Lights and transform your dull, windowless room into a haven.

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March 5, 2024
How To Utilise Walkover Lighting

This lighting lark is no walkover, unless of course, it is! The term might be new to you, but walkover lighting has really taken off in recent years, especially since our love affair with interior design began. If the term ‘walkover lighting’ is new to you, allow us to explain a little more.

The name ‘walkover lighting’ isn’t a clever marketing term, it’s simply means lighting that can be walked over. We did say it was simple!

Whether that means it’s been integrated into flooring or stairs or, if used externally, it’s been added to paths, driveways or decking. You wouldn’t think twice about recessing your spotlights into the ceiling, well it’s the same idea when it comes to walkover lighting in the floor.

Walkover lighting can be integrated fully by being recessed into the floor, or they can be slightly raised to offer multi-directional lighting to highlight paths, or purely as a decorative touch. They work equally well inside the home, as they do outside. By adding them into stairwells, they can offer a very modern touch to your home’s lighting scheme.

Walkover lighting offers something most other similar lighting schemes simply cannot, a way to light areas that would be otherwise impractical or impossible to do. Their small sizes and streamlined designs means they are brilliant for most homes, whatever their style.

With the summer fast approaching, our thoughts will soon start to turn to long hot summer days in the garden, BBQ aromas filling the air and lazy, sun-soaked weekends enjoy our gardens. Maybe you’re getting some decking installed, or already have it in place, then you can extend the usefulness of your outdoor spaces with some simple walkover lighting.

The long days are great, but sooner or later, the darkness is going to fall and that’s when you need some light to squeeze every minute out of whatever kind of summer we get. Don’t think that getting walkover lights installed is going to cost the earth or that you’re going to need to add expensive electrical cables to get the most from it. That’s not always the case.

We have an outdoor, LED walkover light from Konstsmide that is both battery and solar powered. They are easy to fit, inexpensive to buy, discreet and, most importantly, look incredible during the day and stunning at night.

Konstsmide also produce lighting that has light sensors, which will automatically come on at dusk and turn off again at dawn. This not only gives you some stunning lighting, but also help secure your property by providing illumination to even the darkest corners of your home and garden.

Of course, these so-called walkover lights aren’t limited to the floor. You can add them to vertical surfaces too. If you’re wanting a way to highlight your driveway posts, external path ways around your home or areas of your garden that need to draw the eye, then you can use the same principles with walkover lighting.

Walkover lighting allows you to play with lighting like never before. They are equal parts subtle and useful, stylish and understated. They offer some stunning designs at very reasonable prices. If you’ve got any areas you’d like to light up, then take a look at our range and we’d be more than happy to help you make the most of it.

August 29, 2017
How To Create a More Relaxing Home
A home should be somewhere that allows you to relax after a long hard day at work. But with families, children, pets and other distractions of life, sometimes that chill out time you wanted becomes a distant memory. Creating a serene environment for yourself isn’t always easy, but when you are designing your home you should focus on crafting a relaxing space that you and everyone in your family can use to escape the stresses of the outside world.

If you are thinking of re-decorating or updating your home décor, then why not follow our ideas on how to create a more relaxing home.

Colours – Subtle Yet Stylish

When choosing your paint remember to opt for subtle colours such as duck egg blue, pastel greens, lilacs and creams. If you are going for wallpaper, then try not to pick a busy pattern and choose something that doesn’t over power the room. Paler shades are said to affect your psychology and help you feel more calm and relaxed.

Furniture – Less Is More

Many people feel the need to fill their room with as much furniture as possible, but if you want to create a more relaxing space, less is more. Only add pieces that are essential such as seating and storage and leave the unnecessary products in the shop. This will allow you to have more unoccupied space within your rooms which will create a more serene living space.

Bring The Outside In

There’s nothing more relaxing than nature, so make sure you add a few plants to your home. Opt for all green plants with less vibrant colours such as Bamboo, Cacti and Ivy. Peace Lilies are also great house plants to place in a room to perfect a calming atmosphere.

Hide The Clutter

Clutter is something we all have to deal with and is unavoidable is most homes, especially if you have children or pets. Try and make sure you have plenty of storage solutions such as cupboards and boxes so you have somewhere to hide the mess.

Light Up

Adding some new lighting to your home will help to create a more relaxed feel. At Castlegate Lights you will find a great selection for you to choose from in a range of calming designs. Below are some of our favourite lighting styles which are ideal for those wanting a more relaxed home.
1. 1. Astro Lighting Tube 600 Shade In Oyster Fabric Finsh For Use With Pendant And Wall Fittings
  2. Oaks Lighting Soft Grey 8 Inch Hard Lined Pencil Pleat Shade
  3. Dar Lighting Osaka Easy Fit Ceiling Light Pendant in an Antique Chrome Finish
  4. Dar Lighting Fence Easy Fit Ceiling Light Shade with a Wood and Metal Frame
  5. Dar Lighting Bugle Ceiling Light Pendant Shade In Cream Finish
June 3, 2015