Blog

  • Hallway Lighting

    For all the different rooms we have in our homes, the hallway is often the most disregarded. We pass through it on our way in, on our way out and as we move around the house, usually without giving the room itself a second thought.

    Obviously, hallways come in different shapes and sizes and, for some people, they can prove to be difficult to light effectively. Choosing the right style, shade or illumination can make all the difference between a stark, cold hallway and a bright, welcoming space for your family and friends.

    Hallways generally are a fantastic room to showcase your lights. They often have a lack of natural light, and become filled with coats, shoes or a random collection of bags, which means finding the right light is key to creating the mood you want to portray (or maybe just to hide the pile of clothes that have accumulated).

    There are as many types of lights for your hallway as there are hallways themselves. Choosing the right one is key to complement the decor in the adjoining rooms. Obviously only you will know the type of hallway you have, but here are our suggestions for creating one you can be proud of.

    A ceiling light tends to be the best lighting overall in a hallway. Whether you want to go big and bold with a stunning and dramatic pendant or something more subtle, we’ve got something for you. Of course, you don’t want a pendant that hangs too low, so you could go for a flush-mounted ceiling fitting. The general rule of thumb is that a pendant light should be 8 feet above the floor, so check your hallway and, unless you have some particularly tall friends, it will look great.

    The range of styles and fittings you can choose from means that lighting from the top down will give you a beautiful lighting scheme when natural light is at a premium, but it’s not the only way to go.

    If you have a narrow hallway, you might want to consider wall lights, which can be used to provide general lighting, but also to highlight pictures, photos or mirrors that may be hanging on the walls. If your hallway is particularly thin, then you can use flush lights to avoid taking up space you might not have.

    Once you’ve got your lighting style chosen, then it’s time to think a little about the type of bulb you use. Halogen lights are very bright, which can compensate for the lack of natural light in hallways. The more traditional bulbs are incandescent lights, which are still popular, but are gradually getting replaced by more energy-efficient options. If you’re ready to go to LED, then they give an instant, direct form of light which is great when you’re just passing through.

    Just because the hallway isn’t a room you spend a lot of time in, doesn’t mean you can’t give it your all in terms of lighting. You can use mirrors to reflect light, install dimmers to reduce the intensity of light to suit whether it’s day or night, or just place table lamps on side tables to create new layers of illumination. Take a look at our range and we’re convinced you’ll find something that will look perfect in your own hallway.

  • Copper Lighting

    When we talk about copper lighting, we’re not talking about blue flashing sirens, we’re talking about some incredibly sleek, elegant and modern lighting designs. The rise in popularity in copper lighting echoes the current trend for traditional materials that are being reclaimed and restyled for use in our homes.

    Copper, like brass, is a very warm, reflective material. It gives a metal, which has previously been shunned from our homes, a new lease of life, not least in a range of lighting that suits every type of decor.

    Copper lighting looks great integrated with those favouring industrial design cues like exposed brickwork, rustic beams, wooden or stone floors. From minimal designs through to modern colour schemes like dark greys and reds, copper lighting will bring a warmth and style to your home like no other form of lighting does.

    It used to be that copper lighting was only seen in hip restaurants, hotels and bars, or in the kitchen with those quintessential copper pots and pans. Thankfully those days are over and we can now all enjoy the reflective glow that copper lighting gives us throughout the home.

    Here at Castlegate Lights we have fully embraced copper lighting. You can now enjoy it in a huge array of designs from wall lights, copper fittings, table lamps, floor lamps and even candlesticks. Each of them range from traditional designs right through to cutting edge lighting that would complement any hipster’s home.

    Copper, as a material, gives a warm inviting tone to your home. Other metals like chrome and steel can look a little cold, especially if your decor is more plain, but copper is the exact opposite. Copper can, for example, really stand out when used to accent a dark wall through wall lights or table lamps, which all help to soften the room without taking away the dramatic appearance.

    If you’re looking to give your room a modern makeover, copper is a great choice for your lighting needs. Because of its popularity, once you’ve found the copper lighting you want from our huge range, you will be able to continue the trend with complementing accessories like cushions, mirrors and vases which will tie everything together in a beautiful copper glow.

    Copper isn’t just aesthetically beautiful, it’s practical too. Because of its adaptable properties, copper lighting works even with the traditional ‘light shade’. More and more lighting, especially those made from copper, embrace its industrial roots. To demonstrate this, we have some stunning wall lights from David Hunt or pendants from Searchlight or Elstead that look simply amazing.

    If your style is less industrial and more traditional, then copper can work for you too. Our range of flush ceiling lights and table lamps from Endon mean that you can also enjoy the style and warmth copper gives you in a way that will enhance your home.

    Nowadays you can get your light fittings in almost every type of finish you can think. Copper might not have been top of your list, but when you look at the sheer range we have and the designs it’s now being used in, we think you’ll agree that no home should be without it.

  • Wall Lights

    Wall lights have had a bad rap in recent years. Most people will consider them to be the sole preserve of stately homes or the 1970s, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Being able to supplement your room (or even garden) lighting with some beautiful, strategically placed wall lights gives you so many more options in how you light your favourite spaces.

    Like many of the lights we stock, wall lights come in a multitude of styles, finishes and designs. There is so much more to wall lighting than you might think, so let’s take a look at how you can use them to great effect.

    Whether you’re redesigning your garden, or wanting to redecorate that one room in your home that needs another lick of paint, wall lights are the perfect way of creating a whole new look.  The trick to any successful redesign is picking the right wall light for you. You need one that, obviously, fits in with your own decor but one that gives off the most suitable amount of light.

    For friends, family and even strangers visiting your home, a wall light is probably the first thing they see. Most of us will have a light at our front door which, by its very nature, is a wall light.  If you’re wanting to redefine the first impression visitors have, then we would recommend a wall light that gives a strong image and can be a prominent feature that stands out, both during the day and at night. You don’t want to blind anyone with a bulb that’s so strong, but it should give a warm, welcoming glow. We stock many fantastic wall lights that come with a sensor that will illuminate when they sense a presence, giving you both piece of mind and a stunning lighting feature.

    It might not feel like it right now, but summer is right around the corner. If you’re wanting to utilise your outdoor spaces more in the coming months, then wall lights are a fantastic way of creating a relaxing, yet practical space in the garden.

    Being able to create the perfect environment comes down to lighting. Wall lights that can be useful, yet don’t draw the focus of attention onto themselves, will create some beautiful lighting schemes. There are some fantastic lanterns from Elstead and Dar that will look fabulous wherever you place them. If you’re looking to spotlight your decking, patio or pathway whilst creating very stylish lights, then you should take a look at our lights from Firstlight or Eglo for a very modern take on the quintessential wall light.

    In recent years, our willingness and ability to embrace lighting has meant that we’ve grown more knowledgeable and appreciative about how it can serve us and enhance our homes. Whether we’re lighting our rooms, our gardens or walkways, wall lights can come together to create some incredible effects.

    Spotlights especially are a fantastic way to highlight walkways, whether you want them to the focal point or blend into their surroundings, they can be both sensor or manually-controlled and can illuminate even the darkest of places giving you piece of mind where you need it most.

    Wall lights have come a long way in recent years. If they are something you’ve never considered before, then maybe it’s time to think again at the multitude of styles, functionality and designs on offer. They give your home a fresh outlook and some stunning options wherever you choose to put them. Check out the best we have to offer right here.

  • Searchlight Lighting

    Lighting has many uses. We can use it to illuminate the darkness, we can use it to create a sense of warmth on the coldest of days and we can use it for our own security and peace of mind. We’ve come a long way from Thomas Edison’s first lightbulb which debuted in 1879.

    When most people hear the term ‘searchlight’, they might immediately think of 20th Century Fox’s iconic logo, or the quintessential lighthouse beam. When we hear it, we think about incredibly well-made lights from one of the longest-established lighting firms in the UK.

    Searchlight grew from a small business founded in 1945 by Sir Sidney Hamburger, a great name if ever we’ve heard one! From humble beginnings, the company grew into one of the very best suppliers of decorative lighting across the world and we are delighted to be one of them.

    Some of the Searchlight products we stock are designed exactly how you would expect them to look. Others belie the image the name conveys. They cover lights made specifically for the ceiling, the wall, the table and the floor. They also have a fantastic range of outdoor lighting. Their designs cover both traditional and modern classics, right through to contemporary and some incredible innovative lighting designs that look amazing wherever you place them.

    If you’re looking for some very stylish outdoor lighting, then we have some fantastic styles that will make your outdoor spaces look and feel amazing as we head into summer. If you’re looking to highlight your decking, patio or pathway, then we have some very contemporary spotlights, fitted via a spike or stainless steel bracket. They both come with a single light LED and you can have them with either black finish or stainless steel.

    As we mentioned, and despite their name, Searchlight products aren’t just confined to your outdoor spaces. They do some beautifully elegant wall, table and ceiling lights that will suit any room in your home.

    If you prefer your lighting in a more traditional style, then we have some ageless table lamps with a wide range of wooden bases. They cover a multitude of colours, from grey to beige and from cream to washed wood, all with a twisted or spindle base. They would look fantastic on a coffee table, console table or sideboard and will give your room and beautiful warm feel.

    For those of you with more contemporary tastes, Searchlight more than have you covered. In particular, the Bellis Single Light Touch Table lamp in floral glass and polished chrome will be both a beautiful way to illuminate your room, but also a stunning piece of design and a real talking point with family and friends alike. Similarly, their round opal white glass shade looks stylishly simple, but is also classically modern in its design.

    Whatever style you choose to go for, our range of Searchlight products are sure to suit your style. From the very, very modern to the comfortably traditional, there will be something for you. If you’re already thinking about redecorating your home ready for the yearly spring clean, take a look at our range of Searchlight products on our website and be ready to shine a light on some amazing ways to illuminate any space you have.

  • Rustic Lighting

    Lighting, like fashion or food, comes in cyclical trends. The current ‘must have’ item one year. can easily be replaced the next. That’s not a bad thing. We all move with the ebb and flow of what we like and we decorate, and redecorate, our homes and ourselves to illustrate these changes over and over again.

    When it comes to interior design, terms like ‘shabby-chic’ and ‘rustic’ can mean different things to different people. Here at Castlegate Lights, rustic means a range of stylish, well-crafted and an incredibly popular range of lights that includes stunning wall lights, beautiful ceiling lights and inspiring floor lamps.

    Rustic, as a term, means something that is made in a plain and simple fashion. That’s not to say that rustic means it’s going to be bland or uninspiring, far from it. Rustic is a way of life that will bring a style to your home that is the exact opposite of boring.

    Our range of rustic lighting shows that ‘plain and simple’ doesn’t do justice to the term. The finishes that are used in our rustic lighting cover everything from bronze, hammered brass right through to black metal and even concrete. Any well-designed lighting scheme will reflect its style in the warmth of its illuminated glow. Rustic lighting is no different.

    Rustic lighting can really transcend history. If you’re one of those crazy modernists who like to display their reliance on this new-fangled electricity, then we can give you some beautifully well-made wall, ceiling or table lamps that look rustic, but also feel very modern. If you’re more of a traditionalist when it comes to your version of rustic, then we can help you too. Our range of Elstead lights look like you’re sticking with candlelight, but don’t worry, they really use three stunning onyx glass shades to resemble thick church candles. Either way, they look amazing.

    One of the great things about rustic lighting, is the differences in styles that embrace it. If you’re looking for wall lights, then you can choose from porthole lights, urban, almost ‘steampunk’ style lamps or even very urban cement effect lights from Mantra. This diversity also covers the floor lamps and ceiling lights we stock. Whatever finishes you prefer, styles you favour or budget you’re looking to spend, all can be harmoniously catered for with our rustic styles.

    If you’re feeling the rustic vibe, then you can go beyond lighting. We have a range of candle holders and mirrors that both complement the lights you’re using and helps to create a theme that is going to last longer than any fashion phase. You might think rustic only applies in old buildings in the country. We’re sure that, by looking at the fantastic range we have in stock, that this simply isn’t true.

    Rustic might mean ‘plain and simple’ in a dictionary definition, but it also means stylish and contemporary. Modern and elegant. To us, rustic means beautiful lighting at fantastic prices. Come and take a look at exactly what we mean.

  • Novelty / Children’s Lighting

    Christmas might have just left us so you could be forgiven for thinking that Santa brought the children enough to keep them busy long into the new year. We like to think we know our customers (and kids in general) well enough to realise it’s a never-ending treadmill of giving and receiving. For a company that sells incredible children and novelty lights like us, we couldn’t be happier.

    For the most part, lighting throughout the rest of the home serves a singular purpose. It helps us light the darkness for our security, but when it comes to kid’s bedrooms, it can be so much more than that.

    Children’s lighting can, of course, give them light in their rooms, but it also gives you the option to do so whilst having a real sense of fun with it. Our range of fun, novelty lighting will give you and the kids something very real to smile about.

    When it comes to the kid’s bedroom or playroom, don’t think you have to limit your options when it comes to illuminating their own spaces. The range of children’s lighting is just as varied and adaptable to decor as it is for lights in any other room in the house.

    If you’re looking to decorate the kid’s room, lighting can be used to create the perfect environment to make them feel safe, happy and relaxed. The variety of lighting open to any parent or guardian is astounding and, here at Castlegate Lights, we are proud to offer such a wide array of options.

    Fun lighting should be exactly that. Fun. We’ve got some ceiling lights that are the epitome of a fun time at night time, so much so they might never want to turn them off. Whether you’re looking to cater for a boy or girl (or both) then we have something for you. Our range of Eglo lighting gives you the choice between cars and flowers, both emanating from the centre light. If you’re wanting to go a little further, then they also do a fantastic 3-light fitting with each light in the shape of a colourful aeroplane, ready to take your child on a journey in their dreams.

    Taking that concept to the next level, Searchlight have some amazing pendants that are both fun and incredibly cool. Who says that lighting for kids shouldn’t have a sense of style! Whether you’re a fan of planes, F1 race cars or helicopters, their ceiling lights will look amazing in any room and we’re including the man-cave in that too!

    One of the reasons kid’s lighting is so popular is because most of them, especially the younger ones, like to seek assurances from having a night light in the room. If you’re needing some way to add low level lighting in your child’s bedroom then we have exactly what you’re looking for.

    These days, night lights can be plugged directly into, and also emit light from, the power socket itself. We even have some that work automatically with a dusk to dawn sensor so you never have to worry about switching them on or off. One less job for a busy parent.

    Children’s lighting, like children themselves, should never be patronised. The range of lighting for their rooms is as diverse as they are. Lighting can be fun and practical and we have everything you need to make give them a room they deserve, at a price you deserve.

  • WI-FI Lighting

    Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like tinsel, mince pies and more lighting wires than you can shake a festive stick at. Putting up your Christmas lights can mean untangling a sea of cables and, even once you’ve done that, finding a place to put the controller often means it gets lost and you’re stuck with the same lighting patterns day in, day out. Now we’re deep into the 21st century, that just seems so old-fashioned. What you need is Wi-Fi enabled lights!

    The internet has given us many modern benefits to help mankind, but sometimes even the smallest improvements make the biggest differences. Our range of Wi-Fi enabled lights are a gadget lovers dream.

    Providing you have an iOS or Android device and one ‘Master’ set, you can control up to 20 more sets of Wi-Fi enabled Christmas lights, giving your home a festive illumination with the click of a button.

    For all the technology that makes these lights possible, the overriding factor isn’t the technical wizardry within, it’s the fun that they bring on the outside. We’re all used to seeing Christmas ‘fairy’ lights with a range of differing lighting patterns or colours. Your choice is usually either whether you want coloured or white, static or chasing. They’re nice enough, but we can do better than that this Christmas.

    Once plugged in, Wi-Fi lights are controlled from the SMART Bright app that you can download for free for your smartphone.  Once connected to your phone or tablet, you’re given the choice of 2 timer functions so you can set the time of day that they turn on and off.

    You can set this to happen twice a day to work around your own schedule. Having two distinct settings means you can have one timescale that adapts whilst you’re at work during the week and another at weekends when your time at home works out differently. Now we’re in the depths of winter and the nights are closing in, this is both an incredibly useful feature in itself, but also a great security option.

    With your timings set, you can then decide how you want the lights to look. Rather than being limited to a set routine of flashes, you can control every aspect of the lights. You can choose whether to have them illuminate sequentially, steady-on, twinkle or a combination of all three. When you’ve chosen that, you can also adjust the brightness on a sliding scale to create exactly the mood you want to set. To add the finishing touches to your customisable lights, you have the ability to fine tune the speed at which the lights follow their set sequence. Simple as that.

    The only choice you have to make is whether to have 1000 warm white, bright white, blue or red / white LED lights adorning your Christmas tree this year. Whichever you choose, you’re going to make this Christmas, a beautiful Wi-Fi Christmas.

  • Konstsmide Lighting

    Lighting is an important aspect of Christmas that often gets overlooked. When we think ‘Christmas’, we might think about the presents, the dinner or the tree, but all of those things are enhanced by lighting. Whether it comes from naked light through candles or the electric variety we’ve come to rely on. Either way, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without something to light up the darkness. For us, only one name really comes to mind when we think about Christmas lighting, and that’s Konstsmide.

    Konstsmide’s range of traditional, modern and even novelty lighting brings together historical design, modern aesthetic and a sense of fun to deliver beautiful lights that would look right at home as part of anyone’s festivities.

    Konstsmide, as a company, started in 1942 in Gnosjö, Sweden. Bus driver Gunnar Johansson wanted to do something different in his life, and decided to make wrought iron flower stands and garden ornaments. As you do.

    This led him to start his own company in rented premises. By the 1950s they moved onto producing electric candlesticks and now do that across Europe. Their bold innovation coupled with classic Nordic design means that they’re still a thriving business, producing beautiful lights and we’re proud to be able to offer them to you.

    Konstsmide have come a long way since they first produced their range of electric candlesticks all those years ago. They still do them, and they still look amazing, but their range has grown so they are bound to have something for your home this Christmas.

    If you’re looking for string lights, they have some fantastic designs to suit every room. Whether you want to go for an animal motif, then you can choose from reindeers or polar bears. If you want something different, but equally as playful, then we have some incredible gingerbread men (and women) string lights.

    It’s not just inside your home that Konstsmide lights evoke a real sense of Christmas. We have a fabulous range of acrylic animals that would look fantastic in the garden or in the porch of your home. They will give your home a real sense of fun at Christmas and the kids will love them. Whether you want to go traditional with candles, be adventurous with a St. Bernard dog (brandy not included sadly) or even go a little alternative with a penguin, these acrylic figures will look spectacular through the Winter nights.

    Our favourite Nordic lighting company also have a range of welcome lights with some very strong Christmas themes. There are a wide range of scenes, all providing the quintessential Christmas card images of villages, forests or churches. They give a warmth to any home and evoke all your best memories of Yuletides that have gone before.

    Whichever Konstsmide lights you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll be buying lighting that gives you so much more than illumination. They are all well-made with a wide range and can suit your home whether your decor is modern or traditional.

    Whilst Santa may call Lapland his home, it’s not the only thing that Scandinavia can contribute to your Christmas this year.

  • Acrylic Christmas Lighting

    When we think about Christmas lights, we tend to think about candles or fairy lights on the tree. In recent years, even fibre-optic lights have begun to encroach on this traditional duo. Technology has given us many things and this includes lights. There are now so many different variations of the way lights are lit, but also in the materials we can use to make them. Acrylic has given us a range of lights that may never have been possible without it.

    Acrylic is a coverall term for products that are derived from acrylic acid or related compound. When it comes to lighting, it refers to a clear, glass-like plastic known as PMMA, or poly(methyl) methacrylate! It’s no wonder why most people call this ‘acrylic glass’!

    It works as a light because around 92% of visible light can pass through acrylic, and it also is less likely to break down when exposed to long-term sunlight or electrical light. Lighting designs have become incredibly sophisticated in recent years. This has been made possible thanks to acrylic, and the fact that it’s only around half as heavy as its glass counterpart.

    Manufacturers use acrylic, rather than glass, because of its many advantages. Acrylic is actually stronger than glass and therefore much safer, especially around the home. This is a clear benefit when dealing with lighting, but also because it’s a better insulator.

    They’re not just confined to novelty or Christmas lights, although they do look great, but acrylic is used as both a base material or as part of the shades. At the time of year though, let’s see what they can bring to your home this Christmas.

    One of the best manufacturers of acrylic lights, especially around Christmas time, is Konstsmide. We wrote a blog about them specifically right here, and their designs are the epitome of both acrylic lighting and Christmas combined, but they’re not the only one.

    Both Konstsmide and Premier Decorations both do a delightful range of acrylic lights, so there is bound to be one that will literally light up your Christmas holidays.

    Acrylic lights can be used both inside and outside the home. They come in a multitude of styles, all produced to the highest quality and can be powered by battery or via the mains. Whether you want to bring out the fun side of Christmas with some acrylic animal lights, you can use them in the windows or in the porch, but they also look fantastic in the garden to create your own alternative nativity scene.

    Inside the home, they really come into their own. If you want to go for a very contemporary look with a large LED snowflake, lighting the way into your home, or the more traditional festive ornaments like a gingerbread house or church that can adorn your home, our range of acrylic lights will give you exactly what you’re looking for.

    Let’s be honest, Christmas lights only add to the tangled mess of cables our homes have become. If you don’t need anymore plug extensions, then we’ve got a range of battery operated lanterns that will add a beautiful Christmas glow without the need for additional wires.

    The way we celebrate Christmas comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and our acrylic lights are no different. From the modern to the traditional, from the subtle to the playful, we have something for you. Check them out and have a wonderful well-lit Christmas!

  • Wazowsky Light Speaker

    Wazowsky lights aren’t named after the little green hero of Monsters Inc, but are just as much fun for children, teenagers or adults as our favourite wise-cracking cyclop!

    If you’re looking for a Christmas or birthday present that’s a little different but is sure to bring a smile to their faces, then the Mantra Wazowsky light speaker might just be exactly what you’re looking for.

    There is more to this particular light than meets the eye. The first thing you’ll notice is the distinctive design. Looking like a cross between a futuristic miner’s lamp and a high-end speaker. There’s a good reason why those two things spring to mind, and that’s because that’s exactly what it is. The Wazowsky Mantra is both a light AND an audio speaker, and it’s fully portable.

    We’re all used to taking our smartphones everywhere we go these days, carrying with us all our photos and our entire music collections. Whether you’re going to a party or just end up surrounded by friends for an impromptu celebration, the Wazowsky light gives you the party atmosphere you’ll need straight out of the box.

    It’s powerful enough to make its mark, but small enough to take anywhere. It measures just 27cm high, 29cm wide and 23cm deep. Even in this compact form, it is far from a shrinking violet, although that’s definitely one of the colours it can adapt to!

    Thanks to its handy remote control and Bluetooth connectivity, the light can be illuminated into a huge range of colours to suit every decor, style or mood. In addition, when music is playing, it also comes with a ‘beat sync’ mode that allows the light to flash in time with the music to create a fantastic atmosphere. If you’re wanting to get the party started, there’s no better place to start than here!

    Of course, when the party is in full swing, the music is key and the sound emitted from the speaker won’t be lost in the space. It has a 10-watt power output which gives crystal clear sound, so you can get your groove on! In addition, the speaker comes with its own internal battery, which gives between 6 and 9 hours of playback from a full 7-hour charge. That should be more than enough to get the party going long into the night. Don’t worry about additional wires getting caught, because there aren’t any.

    If that wasn’t enough, the speaker also comes with a IP44 rating which means it’s splash-proof so it can be used outside or by the pool (or the bar) without fear of water ingress or damage, but there’s more. The speaker also comes with a 2-year warranty, which means it gives you great sound, amazing colours and peace of mind to enjoy it over and over again.

    Whether you want it to be a great light, a fantastic speaker, or both, the Mantra Wazowsky fits the bill. The next time friends come calling and it develops into a party, break out the Wazowsky, turn it up, light it up and have a monster of a bash.