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Tag: bedroom lighting

How to style green lighting
Colour trends come and go, but with its association with nature, freshness, calmness, peace and harmony, you can’t go wrong with bringing green hues into your home.

With so many shades to choose from, you should be able to find a hue that matches your interior aesthetic; embrace shades like evergreen, sage, seafoam, green grass, forest green, kiwi, lime, spring green, celadon, jade, neon and more!

Whether you want to create a dramatic and moody study with rich emerald greens, a fresh and airy bedroom, or a living room with spring as your inspiration, we can help you find the lighting to match.

Learn where green lighting works best in the home, how to use green lighting to complement your interior and what colours go best with green lights in this guide.

Table of contents:
Green colour theory

As one of the earth’s most common colours, green has always been associated with new beginnings, the promise of spring, life and growth, vitality and the defeat of winter. But throughout the centuries, it has had other meanings and associations which may interest your interior design inclinations.

Ancient civilisations fostered green pigments by soaking copper in wine, calling it Verdigris. But green, associated with wealth and richness, originated in ancient China. Celadon is a specific green used in ancient chinese pottery and porcelain prised by the imperial court.

Green, of course, is also often associated with money. Rich emeralds and greens have been used in banks, studies and drawing rooms to exude power, wealth and masculinity.

A particular shade of green that also became popular was the famous Beryl green crockery set by Wood Ware during WWII. Moving away from the green loved by the aristocrats, the Beryl green crockery was simple, unfussy and affordable, subsequently used in tea rooms, cafes, country houses, village halls and on cricket grounds up and down the country, earning it a place in the coveted vintage crockery category, with its retro look.

But green has also been associated with calming qualities. It’s even had a calming room named after it. “Green rooms” allow actors to centre themselves before performing in the theatre and TV studios.

Here are a few ways to use green lighting to create some of these associations in your home.

Create a calming atmosphere

One of the main ways you might want to use green lighting in your interior design is to create a calming atmosphere. Whether you want to draw in its calming properties used in “Green Rooms” or draw on the peacefulness of a calming spring day, green lighting is a great way to construct these evocations.

Simply use soft and light green hues mimicking sage, grass and pastels.

Make a statement

Richer, bolder greens can also make a statement. Use evergreen or emerald green to convey a sense of mystery and sophistication.

Now, find out where green features best in the home.

Green in bedrooms

Many interior designers favour using the colour green in bedrooms for its serenity and calming nature. Maybe pair your green lighting with a soft green shade on the walls, soft furnishings, bedding or headboard. Add multiple green shades and neutrals to create a green scape interlaced with soft textures and floral patterns to add depth and layering.

Finish with a green lamp with a soft linen shade to complete your calm bedroom.

Green in bathrooms

There are two ways you can incorporate green lighting into your bathroom. Green is associated with cleanliness and calm, so it’s perfectly placed in bathrooms. Opt for light, earthy greens for the perfect spring-clean look.

Throughout history, green has also been the colour choice for luxurious bathrooms. The dark green paired with white marble evokes a sense of grandeur and wealth. Favoured during the Jazz Age and Art Deco era, green was paired with black and glass for a sumptuous aesthetic. Opt for a retro light fitting for a moody bathroom to recreate this look.

Green in studies

As mentioned earlier, dark greens can help create a sophisticated and refined aesthetic, perfect if you want to create a masculine feel in your study. Pair a green banker’s lamp with dark wood furniture to convey power and wealth.

Green lampshades

Swapping out an old lampshade for a green one is a great way to bring colour to your interior. From fabric to glass, there are 100s of styles, patterns, sizes and materials of green lampshades to get just the right green for your interior vision.

Green table lamps

Opt for a green ceramic-based table lamp for your interior design. A practical and stylish way to add classic-styled pottery to your home that also illuminates the room. Opt for a celadon green ceramic vase lamp. It will work in most settings and provide that timeless look steeped in history.

Alternatively, opt for a striking green sculpture lamp base. A green glass sculpture will catch and refract the light for a dreamy and eye-catching effect.

Green pendant lights

So many variations of green pendant lights can complement your home, add a pop of colour or help create a serene green atmosphere.

What colour goes with green?

Of course, green on its own can be a bit overpowering. Here are a few other colours you can pair with it throughout your interior design to complement green lighting.

White and grey

Pairing green with white will always create a fresh, clean, and crisp look. White provides a classic background for green to be the main focus. However, you can move away from this traditional combination and pair green with grey; it has the same effect but offers a sophisticated and modern touch.

Neutrals and natural browns

Because of its earthy connotations, green goes well with neutrals like taupes, beiges and browns. Add natural materials like linens, cotton, and wood to complement your green lighting.

Black

On the other end of the spectrum, pair rich and sultry greens with black for an elegant and dramatic feel.

Blue

The phrase “blue and green should never be seen” should be thrown out the window! Particularly, rich royal blues and turquoise create a refreshing combination. Alternatively, sky blue or navy provides a calming, harmonious aesthetic.

Pastels

Try pairing a sage green with your favourite pastel colours to evoke spring sensations. Pastel pink will provide a playful, fresh contrast. Lavender will deliver a subtle and elegant pairing, and yellow and green is a bright, cheerful and vibrant combination.

Coral and Peach

Why not pair your green lighting with a contrasting coral or peach colour to create a vibrant and warm feel?

Brass

Green also goes well with gold and brass metallic hues for a shimmering opulence.

Green lighting at Castlegate Lights

We hope you’ve taken some inspiration from this guide and a sense of zeal towards your green interior design mood board.

Whether you prefer the moody presence of Art Deco emerald or a wafty spring green pallet for your cottage-core interior design, our green lighting collection has something for every style.

Shop online now and transform your home at Castlegate Lights.

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August 2, 2024
How to style orange lighting
Orange is one of those colours that people either love or hate, which is understandable because it can easily go very wrong in interior design. But the truth is, orange is a fantastic colour to incorporate into your decorating and lighting; you just have to get the shade right.

Orange can help invigorate or energise a room with a zesty, citrus flavour. Or softer, more muted tones like pastel orange or earthy tones like terracotta can bring a warm, sunny, calming vibe.

If you’re considering incorporating orange lighting in yoru home, this guide is for you. Learn about orange colour theory, how to use orange lighting in your interior, what rooms they work best in, what colours pair well with it and the best orange lighting options for your home.

Table of contents:
Orange colour theory

Orange can be a bold option, which can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be.

Historically, orange was associated with richness, warmth and opulence in ancient cultures and the Renaissance painting era. The early 20th century/ Art Deco era also favoured orange for its boldness, confidence, vibrancy, and youthfulness that rebelled against the past and looked to the future.

You can also see these associations in retro 70s culture mixed with paisley prints and flower power patterns.

Today, orange creates a sense of warmth and brightness as feature walls or accent pieces are set against neutral tones for balance or contrasted against bold complementary colours for a contemporary, eclectic feel.

Here’s how to use orange lighting in your home.

Make a statement

Orange is bright, bold, and a great way to make a loud design statment. Choose a bold orange pendant light for a stunning statement piece in the centre of your ceiling. The zesty colour will draw the eye and get your guests talking.

Add a pop of colour

If you don’t like the idea of an orange lighting piece taking over a room, a small orange lamp is a great way to incorporate the invigorating colour to subtly add a pop of colour to your home.

Soft and subtle

Orange can also be soft and subtle. Take a burnt orange or a terracotta shade to bring warm Mediterranean tones to your home. Very pale pastel orange on a table lamp base can also have a soft and subtle feel, bringing a sense of calm to your interior.

But where should you put your orange lighting? Read on to discover the best room for orange lights.

Orange lighting in bedrooms

A bedroom is a great place to add these calming orange tones to your home. The warm hues will create the perfect warming sanctuary that embodies a relaxing sunset. The warmer side of the light spectrum will also positively impact your sleep cycle as the warm tones will help you drift off to sleep. Don’t forget to pair your orange light with a warm-white or amber light bulb to enhance the warm tones of the orange light, perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere before bed.

Orange lighting in living rooms

Inject an element of your personality by adding orange lighting into your living room. The warm, fun colour is perfect, especially if you want to brighten up a north-facing living room or live in a dull, wet climate.

Orange lighting in kitchens and dining rooms

Kitchens are also fantastic places to incorporate orange. The zesty citrus tones of orange lighting are meant to look good enough to eat and bring a refreshing atmosphere to your kitchen.

Here are some of the best lighting options in orange to inspire your interior design.

Orange table lamps

Big, bold table lamps with big ball ceramic bases offer a real presence in your home. Whether acting as a pop of colour in your living room or brightening the end of a console table, they are worth placing centre stage. Experiment with modern and retro shapes to suit your preferred style, drawing on those groovy 70s vibes or futuristic sculptures. Orange table lamps are ideal as statement pieces against a neutral background or complementing a vibrant colour scheme.

Orange pendant and ceiling lights

The orange pendants or ceiling lights can make a bold statement in any room, especially when mixed with interesting textures and materials to add interest. These 3 light cluster ceiling pendant lights with orange, green and beige glass shades offer an earthy, bohemian, very on-trend look.

Orange lampshades

Any lamp with an orange lampshade will create a warming hue. You can choose from luxurious silk to brassy velour or saffron-esque cotton in many styles, materials and finishes. Why go plain when you can choose a lampshade with orange patterns that stands as a work of art?

What colour goes with orange?

You can’t just have orange, orange, orange! If you’re redecorating and want to incorporate orange lighting, here is a list of the best colours that go with orange for a comprehensive interior design. Or, if you already have a certain interior colour scheme, find out if orange will work in your existing interior.

Neutrals

As orange can be a strong colour, complement it with neutral tones. Greys, taupes, whites and beiges will balance out the bold orange colour and create a sense of harmony. The combination will create a modern, classic interior design.

Bold and deep blues and greens

Alternatively, if you love bold colours and the eclectic maximalist interior look, pair your orange lights with opposite colours on the colour wheel, like navy blues and emerald greens. These will create a contrast and really make the orange pop. Play around with texture, pattern and fabrics for more eccentric interior design ideas.

Paired with lighter shades like sage or turquoise will transport you to fresh, sunny climes.

Black, brown and red

We’ve talked a lot about summer capri sun vibes and warm summer sunsets in the Mediterranean, but what about our autumn girlies? Orange, of course is one of the main colours of Halloween after all. Pair your orange lights with black for an even bolder, striking contrast and moody aesthetic. Dark earthy browns and reds will also create a cosy autumnal vibe in your home. Take a look at this adorable mushroom-shaped orange light, perfect for Halloween.

Gold metallics

When paired with gold metals, orange lights can create a more industrial feel. Or a sense of that historical opulence from ancient times.

Yellow

Pairing orange lighting with yellow or similar shades on the colour wheel will create a warm, cheerful, sunny feel. Alternatively, mustards and dirty oranges will give you more of an autumnal vibe.

Pink

Often thought of as a clashing colour with orange, pink will provide a fun, playful and youthful tone when paired with orange. Perfect for a child’s bedroom.

Orange lights at Castlegate Lights

We hope you feel confident incorporating the very underrated colour orange into your lighting scheme. Whether you want to inject energy and zest into your home or create warm, sunny vibes, orange is more versatile than you think.

Get more interior design inspiration from our orange lighting collection at Castlegate Lights.

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- Halloween lighting
August 2, 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.

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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
Fall in love with your bedroom thanks to these 9 romantic lighting tips
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you might want to modify your bedroom lighting to create the ultimate romantic ambience. But where to start? At Castlegate Lights, we have you covered!

Follow our 9 top tips to create the perfect romantic bedroom lighting this Valentine’s Day and fall in love with mood lighting.

Table of contents
1. Creating an ambience with romantic lights

Lighting can have a powerful effect on the mood of a room. For example, lighting can make a room feel cosy, productive, open, airy and more. But, for Valentine’s Day, you’ll want to use lights that create a cosy, romantic or sensual atmosphere.

You will need low-level ambient and accent lights to create a romantic atmosphere. Ambient light typically fills the room with general lighting, but you don’t want the light to be too harsh! To achieve this, assemble low-level lights with light shades or warm-coloured light bulbs.

You might also layer your lighting scheme by adding accent lights. Use accent lights or lamps to frame the bed in light. Layered lighting is crucial when planning a lighting scheme for a well-balanced and customisable romantic setting.

2. Use romantic lighting fixtures

Here are our top lighting fixtures to consider buying when planning a romantic ambience in your bedroom.

Chandeliers

The Italian Collection Justine 6 Light Chandelier in a White Finish

There’s nothing more romantic than an elegant chandelier above your bed. Straight out of a fairy tale romance novel, the classic designs evoke romantic and whimsical feelings. A chandelier can offer ambient light, but hanging it above your bed can highlight the room’s main furniture piece.

Pendant lights

Dar Lighting Dar Alvaro 6 Light Ceiling Pendant Light In Brushed Brass with Blue Shade

If you prefer pendant lights in your bedroom, it is possible to have one and still keep the atmosphere cosy. Ensure that your pendant light is properly shaded or diffused to stop the light from being too harsh and creating unwanted shadows.

Flush ceiling lights

The Italian Collection Nodino 9 Light Semi-Flush Ceiling Fitting in White Finish

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

You might consider choosing a flush ceiling light that distributes the light evenly throughout the room if you think pendant lights are too concentrated.

Wall lights

Iluzzia Moonlight Hanging Single Light Wall Fitting In Gold Finish With Opal Glass

The Italian Collection Chalet Twin Light Wall Fitting in Beige Finish

You can also use wall lights in your bedroom to create a romantic ambient light. As they’re not in the centre of the room, they draw less attention and distribute the light more softly, like wall sconces.

You can use wall lights to produce general ambient romantic light or accent lighting to frame your bed. Why not opt for glass orb wall lights that diffuse the light to create a soft, romantic glow?

Bedside table and floor lamps

Iluzzia Gondia Single Light Table Lamp In Natural Rattan Finish

Iluzzia Kithnos Single Light Floor Lamp Black Finish With White Rattan Shade

Romantic bedroom lamps are fantastic for creating mood lighting in a bedroom because of their shades. The shaded light diffuses and softens the light to create a romantic and cosy atmosphere. Whether you use a floor lamp to produce a low-level ambient light in the room or bedside lamps to accent your bed, lamps are essential for romantic bedroom lighting.

3. Use romantic bulb types and colours

Consider bulb types and colours when planning a cosy, romantic bedroom setting. Changing the bulbs is an easy way to update your lighting scheme for Valentine’s Day without changing your light fittings.

Swap your bulbs for warm white LED bulbs or bulbs with amber glass to create a warm, cosy atmosphere.

You could also choose a candle bulb to mimic the effect of candlelight to help enhance the romantic setting.

4. Consider dimmers

If you want to create a more flexible lighting scheme that can create a romantic atmosphere one moment and practical lighting the next, we recommend installing dimmable lights. Instantly transform your bedroom into a romantic haven by lowering the light intensity with the dimmer switch.

5. Think about placement and arrangement

Placement is king when creating a romantic lighting scheme. First, create a balanced light distribution using ambient lights to avoid harsh shadows. However, you can also use accent lights to create focal points. For example, use lamps to highlight the bed.

6. Use candlelight and decorative lighting

You can also incorporate decorative lighting like LED candles and fairy lights to enhance the romantic ambience. Make sure you choose fairy lights with warm white bulbs, or your bedroom will look too cold.

7. Don’t forget personalisation and style

Your personal choice will also help you choose the perfect romantic bedroom lighting. Consider what you think is cosy and romantic and tie it in with the rest of your bedroom’s style.

Your romantic bedroom lighting will depend on your bedroom style. For example, the lights should reflect the style if you have a classic, elegant, modern or cosy room.

8. Utilise romantic colour and texture

Colour and texture can play a significant part in enhancing the romantic atmosphere of your room. You can choose lights and bulb colours that reflect the season, for example, deep reds, purples, pinks, ambers and black lights.

One way to create a cosy, romantic atmosphere without a dimmer switch is to soften the light intensity. You can do this using textures, for example, mottled or smoked glass shades or cosy fabric shades in dark, sensual colours like red, black, purple and amber.

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

You might also consider luxurious fabrics like silk shades or fluffy feather textures to add to the romantic atmosphere.

9. Add temporary additions for special occasions

As Valentine’s only happens once a year, you might only want to create a temporary solution for your mood lighting in your bedroom. Adding string light, LED candles, or different lamp shades are easy, temporary ways to create the perfect romantic bedroom lighting for special occasions.

Romantic bedroom lighting at Castlegate Lights

We hope we’ve helped inspire you to experiment with mood lighting for your bedroom this Valentine’s Day. Whether you want to enhance the romantic ambience in your bedroom or keep the love strong all year round, discover our selection of romantic bedroom lighting at Castlegate Lights today.

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The best lights for your little ones: A guide to children’s bedroom lighting by age
If you’re decorating your child’s bedroom, lighting is an essential part of the decor. Whether it’s making sure they have enough light to illuminate their room, task light to do their homework or fun lights to make their bedroom cosy, we have everything you need to know when lighting your child’s bedroom, including lighting recommendations and top tips.

Children of different ages require different lighting types and have different style tastes, so here is our guide to children’s bedroom lighting by age.

Table of contents
Understanding the Basics

Ambient, accent and task lighting

When planning lighting for a kid’s bedroom, you must begin with the practical and essential lights, for example, the big room lights for ambient lighting so they can see adequately. These would be fixtures like ceiling lights or wall lights.

Lighting also helps your child with their sleep cycle. Always include accent lighting like lamps and night lights to help your child’s body relax before bed. Ensuring they get the right kind of sleep while they’re young improves their overall development.

Your child will also spend much time in their room doing other activities while not sleeping. For example, they may read, do arts and crafts, or later, do their homework and study. Therefore, they need adequate task lighting to complete these activities with sufficient light to achieve the tasks.

Style

It’s crucial for a child’s development and mental health to feel like their space is their own. Listen to them if they want a particular lighting fixture. Many children’s lights have novelty features like bright colours and caricatures, making their room feel comfortable and welcoming. Ensure the lights are age-appropriate so your child feels comfortable in their room.

Safety

Always consider safety before you purchase a kid’s bedroom light. Ensure there are no sharp edges and that they aren’t made of material that could break and cause injury, like glass.

Also, avoid lights with inadequate safety features that might get too hot to touch. Choosing lights with LED bulbs will help keep your children safe from burns, as LED bulbs aren’t hot to touch.

Newborns to infants (0-2 years)

When preparing for a newborn and planning the lighting for the nursery, you want to choose soft ambient lighting that will create a calming and gentle atmosphere.

For example, you may choose a shaded ceiling light with no exposed light bulb or soft lamps with warm colour temperature bulbs. Alternatively, you could select lights with dimmable switches to achieve varying light levels. However, it’s essential to balance enough light for caregiving tasks and maintaining a sleep-friendly environment for the baby.

Opt for this soft, calming ambient light to promote relaxation for yourself and your baby, especially during nighttime activities. Dimly lit and warm colour temperatures will also preserve the sleep environment, minimise disruption to the baby’s sleep and support circadian rhythms.

Harsh, bright light can be jarring and make it more difficult for the baby to go back to sleep after feeding times. Keeping the room dark or dimly lit will help them associate darkness with sleep time. Furthermore, exposure to blue or bright light can suppress the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. So gentle lighting can minimise this effect and allow the baby’s body to continue to produce melatonin.

Soft lighting also reduces stress for the baby and caregiver and facilitates bonding by providing an intimate setting for nurturing. For practicality, soft lighting can also allow you to navigate the room without disturbing the baby and avoiding accidents during the night.

Toddlers to preschoolers (2-5 years)

When your children get to preschool age, you may want to add an element of interactive lighting to stimulate their minds and provide enjoyment in their bedrooms, as well as practical and restful lighting.

Maintain a warm colour temperature lighting to create a calming environment before bed. Achieve this with warm LED bulbs and shaded lights and lamps. Warm colour temperatures will signal to your child’s body that it’s time for sleep so they can drift off to sleep more easily.

You also might consider purchasing lights with dimmer switches to control the light intensity and create the ambience your children require for sleeping and waking up.

As your child grows, you may want to update their lighting to something more age-appropriate. For example, lighting they can engage with. Fun characters and novelty lighting will delight your child and make them feel safe and comforted in their room.

Many children at this age may develop a fear of the dark. Therefore, a night light for kids is the perfect way to comfort them at night, reduce their fear of the dark and allow them to fall asleep peacefully.

School-age children (6-12 years)

When your children reach school age, they may want more say in decorating their own room. Allowing them to choose their light fittings and lamps fosters a sense of ownership and personal style. They may want to choose coloured lighting, put up a string of fairy lights or have a novelty kid’s bedside lamp.

They might also enjoy doing arts and crafts at their bedroom desk or get to the stage of doing light homework. Therefore, they will need adequate task lighting like desk lamps. If they are interested in reading books, add a spotlight or reading lamp beside their bed for nighttime reading.

Teenagers (13+ years)

In their teenage years, you may want to consider versatile and adjustable lighting to cater to your teenager’s needs and as their style evolves.

They will still require ceiling or wall lights for ambient lighting and task lights to complete their studies. But their other accent lighting should be unique to their style.

General tips for all ages
1. Top Tip 1: As well as artificial lighting, you must consider letting enough natural light into your children’s bedrooms. Natural light in the morning will allow your child to develop a healthy circadian rhythm.
2. Top Tip 2: Ensure your child’s bedroom light switches are easily accessible for children of all ages. If your child is young and developing their motor skills, allowing them to turn lights on and off is a fantastic way for them to interact with their environment in safely.
3. Top Tip 3: We always recommend installing lights with LED bulbs. Not only are they more energy efficient, but they’re safer for children as they do not get hot.
Children’s Lighting at Castlegate Lights

Age is one of the most crucial facts to consider when choosing lights for your children’s bedrooms. Every age is different and requires lights for different needs, from comforting lighting to help them fall asleep to creating a sense of ownership.

Find the perfect lighting for your child’s bedroom, whatever their age, at Castelgate Lights in our children’s lighting collection.

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