Lighting Glossary

A Guide To Symbols

A Guide To Frequently Used Lighting Terms

Acrylic

Sometimes referred to as resin or plastic. Acrylic is a type polymer, (a plastic) which can be used in many ways. In the lighting it is mainly used in it’s clear hard form to imitate glass or crystal. Advances in acrylic technology mean that acrylic can be a cost effective alternative to real crystal lighting.

Ballast

A type of Control Gear.

Used to modulate electrical current to the required parameters of the lamp. Different lamps require specialized ballasts designed to maintain the specific voltage and current levels needed for varying fluorescent tube designs.

Bar Pendant

A Bar or Linear or Horizontal pendant is a pendant arranged in a straight line. This format has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. It works great over an open plan breakfast bar or island or over a long dining table. See our range of bar pendants here.

Bathroom Lighting

The status of bathrooms has changed over time and it is no longer a small white space designed for a quick wash. We are all spending more time in the bathroom and correspondingly more money on achieving a quality finish. So why scrimp on the lighting? Most bathrooms are built to last ten to twenty years, so it’s well-worth investing the same degree of planning and quality in the lighting particularly as it is by far the most emotionally influential element. Never underestimate how depressing a poor lighting scheme can be. Conversely, get it right and you bring the room to life and make it an enriching, positive space.

Download a hand Bathroom Lighting Guide

Bayonet Cap (BC Or B22)

This is a more traditional British bayonet fitting for lighting, due to trade between Europe (who only use Edison Screw type lamps), these are becoming less common. They can come with and without a push bar switch. We estimate that the majority of houses still have Bayonet (BC or B22) lighting battens installed. With this in mind most lighting suppliers normally provide an adapter to enable shades or easy fit lighting glass to fit both Bayonet and Edison Screw lighting battens. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Batten (Lighting Batten, Suspension)

A lighting batten or suspension is the most basic type of ceiling light fitting and consists of a ceiling plate, cable (flex) and lamp holder which can be E27 (ES), E14 (SES) and B22 (BC) although a BC batten or suspension is traditionally more common in UK lighting as new homes are being constructed E27 (ES) is gaining popularity as this is standard across Europe.

Bluetooth

This is a short-range wireless technology. 

Any of our products indicated as having Bluetooth capability are fitted with a Bluetooth speaker. Any smart device with Bluetooth capability can then connect to the speaker and play music through it. There is a Bluetooth guide provided that covers most problems that can occur when connecting.

Brass (Solid Brass)

Brass is an alloy and although expensive it can be worked to create a fine finish. It can be polished or aged and also takes electro plating much better than steel. Most of the high end and expensive lighting is made from solid brass. 

Candle Light Bulb (Lamp)

A candle light bulb is as the name suggests in the shape of a candle flame, it can also have a twisted top known as ‘coupe de vent’, translated as gale. This Light bulb (Lamp) shape is generally found on E14 (SES) light bulb shapes. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

CCT Correlated Colour Temperature

Lamp colour temperature is measured in Kelvins shown as K and dictates how ‘warm’ (red) or ‘cool’ (blue) a lamp appears to the human eye. The ‘warmer’ the lamp the more red is present whilst the ‘cooler’ the lamp the more blue is present. The cooler a lamp is the higher the kelvin (temperature) whilst the warmer the lamp is the lower the kelvin (temperature). 

Old incandescent lamps were typically around 2700K which is warm, while LED and CFL lamps come in a variety of temperatures that range from warm (2500K) to daylight (6500K).

Ceiling Plate Or Ceiling Cup

This is a metal canopy which houses the electrical connections and hides the ceiling fixings on ceiling lights. There are a variety of ways of attaching the ceiling plates. Traditionally houses had a plaster ceiling rose which embellished the ceiling around the ceiling cup.

Ceramic

Ceramics cover a wide range of materials. But in lighting generally we refer to earthenware or porcelain as ceramic. Normally we use ceramics as table lamp bases with many different types of glazes requiring specialised firing techniques. Most continents have ancient traditions of ceramic making and we  work with some very fine ceramics companies in Europe and the Far East who have passed down and improved methods over 1000s of years. 

Chandelier

Chandeliers are pendant lights with multiple arms and sometimes tiers of arms, often draped in luxurious crystal. The most famous shape and style of a chandelier is the 'Marie Therese' and is the shape most people think of when they picture a chandelier. There are also more modern types of chandelier. If you want to create a sense of luxury a chandelier is the way to go. See our luxurious Chandeliers here.

Class Or Classification

This denotes the electrical safety type of the luminaire and means the following:

Class 1 (also known as earthed) – the device has an earth wire that is connected to the household earth. Any unsafe electrical situation arising to the metal casing of the luminaire will then flow to the earth and cause the household consumer unit to trip out protecting the user from an electric shock.

Class 2 (also known as double insulated) – the device has all current carrying parts separated from the user by two layers of insulation at all times. 

Class 3 (also known as SELV – safety extra low voltage) – the device operates on a voltage less than 50V A.C or 120V ripple free D.C, and the control gear (transformer/driver) can be separated from the device.

Cluster Pendant

Cluster pendants are a lighting type where multiple lamps are hung from cables often covered with glass, crystal or metal decoration. They make a great impact as staircase lighting or can be hung over a grand dining table to great effect. 

 

Colour Temperature

The colour temperature stated in Kelvins (K) defines what shade of white a lamp is. This varies from 'very warm white' to 'cool white'. In general warm white lamps are used in living areas to create a cosy feel whereas cool white lamps are used where tasks and visibility are more essential such as offices, kitchens and bathrooms. The below chart helps explain the different colour temperatures.

Colour Temperature Chart

Colour Rendering Index (CRI)

This is a measure of the ability of a light source to reveal the colours of various objects faithfully in comparison with an ideal or natural light source. The higher the CRI the more faithfully it reveals the colour. High CRI lamps are used in environments where true colour representation is critical. Most LED has a CRI of 80 but where true colour representation is critical the lamps would need to have a CRI of 90.

Control Gear

A device that is fitted to the luminaire in order to control the power to a light source. These can be Transformers, Drivers, Remote Receivers, and Ballasts.

Crystal

Sometimes known as crystal glass. Traditionally crystal was made by adding lead and other additives when making glass. The traditional lead crystal is still the most desirable with the percentage of lead determining the amount of refractivity (when light bends through a material) which creates the sparkle and shine which is necessary to create a statement chandelier.


K9 Crystal is a more modern formula to make a very similar effect using 15% less lead and is made from Optical Borosilicate Crystal. It was original developed for scientific and practical applications such as lenses for telescopes and optical equipment but the same clarity and high refractive index make it a flawless alternative to the traditional lead crystal. Both K9 and Lead Crystal can be cut polished or faceted like jewels to create any number of different effect playing with the refractivity to give a sparkle where needed.
See our spectacular range of Crystal Lighting here.

Dimmers

There are different types of dimmers available and depending on the luminaire you are using it for depends on the type of dimmer that is required for proper function.

Dimmable LED Luminaires And LED Lamps

We advise using the Varilight V-Pro dimmer to control most dimmable LED luminaires and LED lamps. This dimmer is intelligent (can detect the type of control gear and make adjustments to compensate) and can be programmed in different modes to adjust to most types of control gear.
Note 1.
If a dimmer is used to control an LED lamp or luminaire that is not suitable for dimming then damage can occur to the dimmer, the lamp/luminaire or both.
Note 2.
If a dimmer is being used to control a number of LED lamps, this needs to be checked with the dimmer manufacturer’s guidelines. Although the maximum loading may be within the specified limits, the dimmer may have a minimum and or maximum limit of how many LED lamps it is able to operate to function correctly.  See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Low Voltage Luminaires incorporating a transformer (G4, GY6.35 and MR16)

All of our low voltage luminaires that incorporate control gear are designed to function with trailing edge (sometimes referred to as phase lagging or reverse-phase control) dimmers.
Note 1.
If leading edge (sometimes referred to as phase leading or forward-phase control) dimmers are used, this will cause audible buzzing from the dimmer and or the control gear incorporated into the luminaire.
Note 2.
If the luminaire has 10 x 20w G4 lamps fitted, this equals 200W of power being consumed. The dimmer therefore needs to be rated to handle the 200W of load, we would always advise over specifying the dimmer load to handle 20% more than what it is loaded to.

 

Dual-Mount

Dual Mount lighting fittings come with a fully adjustable chain or adjustable rod. But this can be removed and attached directly to the ceiling much like a semi-flush light fitting. This helps ensure that the light fitting can fit in homes with small or low ceilings.

Dimmable Traditional (Incandescent) Lighting

Standard E27, E14, B22, G9, GU10 and R7S luminaires
The light fitting itself is compatible with any type of dimmer, as there is no control gear that dictates the dimming requirement.
Note.
The selection of lamp type, LED, CFL or incandescent will have an effect on the type of dimmer required; the lamp type being used by the consumer must be suitable for dimming.

Double Insulated (Class 2)

This is another term for class 2 lighting where each connection and cable is covered by at least 2 layers of insulation to avoid any short circuits. This is useful in older properties where no earth cable maybe available in the house.

Driver (LED Driver)

Sometimes refered to as a transformer. Used to control LED luminaires, the driver converts 240v AC (Alternating) into a DC (Direct) current, which is required to power LEDs. (Most LEDs cannot be powered directly by the mains voltage power supply without this driver). All our light fittings incorporating LEDs include all the necessary drivers and require no additional purchases expect where the description states that an led driver is required. The LED and what the LED requires to be ‘driven’ at determines the voltage and current output for the driver. Sometimes the driver is built into the LED module and conversion is done on board, in this case, there is not a separate driver.

E27, E14

Light bulb (lamp) cap types common throughout the UK and Europe. E27 (ES) has a 27mm screw cap and E14 SES has a smaller 14mm screw cap. We sell a full range of both E27 and E14 lamps. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Earth And Earthed Fittings

Also known as class 1. Used in the context of lighting and mains electrical systems; earthing is used to protect you from an electric shock. It does this by providing a path (a protective conductor) for a fault current to flow to earth. It also causes the protective device (either a circuit-breaker or fuse) to switch off the electric current to the circuit that has the fault. All fittings with a class I symbol are wired for earthed applications where each metal part is connected to the earth terminal. Another way to make a safe electrical product is by double insulating making it class II.

Easy-Fit Pendants (Non-Electrical Pendant)

An easy-fit pendant attaches to a pre-existing lighting batten or suspension to create a more substantial light fitting. Easy Fit pendants can be fitted in minutes and require no re-wiring or electrician. They can be anything from a soft lamp shade to a small crystal type ‘chandelier’. Due to their easy of fitness they are a cost effective solution and are very popular with people in rented accommodation or in hotels where they can be changed easily and quickly. 

Edison (Thomas)

The traditional incandescent lamp can be attributed to Thomas Alva Edison. His design patented in 1879 really stood the test of time, remaining unchanged for many years. The lighting fitment Edison Screw is also named after his invention and is still used to this day.

Efficacy Or Efficiency

Efficacy is used in lighting to state how efficient a light source is at converting power to usable light, the higher the efficacy the more efficient the light source is at converting the power to light. This is why LED are so good as they convert a low power to a high lumen output.

Since 1998 there has been European guidance on the energy efficiency of lighting, initially through EU Commission Directive 98/11/EC. This established an energy efficiency rating scale for lamps (originally A to G) similar to that already introduced for electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. Initially, the term ‘energy efficient’ was applied to lamps which used less power (for a given light output) than the standard tungsten incandescent light bulb available at the time. Initially, products with only a marginal improvement over standard lamps (such as halogen incandescent lamps) were accepted as part of the product mix available for energy efficient lighting.

Subsequent European legislation which came into effect from 2009 has served to refine what is meant by energy efficient lighting, with tungsten incandescent lamps and most halogen lamps (all those with energy rating E and some in rating D) being excluded.

In April 2015 the European Commission announced plans to increase these minimum efficiency requirements and current proposals are for a phase out of the majority of D rated halogen lamps from September 2018. With the least efficient lighting now being phased out, new ratings (A+ and A++) were introduced at the top of the efficiency scale to recognise the high-end innovation in lamp technology.

Below illustrates some of these changes and shows the range of performance for the main types of domestic lamps. It is now a legal requirement to display the rating scale on packaging for domestic lighting. Proposals to re-base the rating scale to establish new A to G ratings are currently being consulted on by the EU Commission.

Electro Plating

Electro plating is used to cover a metal with another metal. This is desirable to alter the appearance of the metal, often plating it with a higher value material. It is also useful to stop corrosion. Once plated the resulting surface can be polished, brushed or oxidised to make any number of effects. To make high quality yet good value lighting a lot of our lighting products are electro plated steel In a variety of finishes: Polished Chrome, Antique Brass, Satin Nickel.

ES SES (Edison Screw, Small Edison Screw)

ES and SES are light bulb (lamp) cap types common throughout the UK and Europe. ES (E27) has a 27mm screw cap and SES (E14) has a smaller E14 screw cap. We sell a full range of both ES and SES lamps. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Flex

This is the technical term for electrical cable and can be in a variety of finishes and materials such as clear PVC or fabric coated and even braided fabric for a traditional look. 

Fluorescent Lamps

These are very efficient light sources too and are second only to LED. Fluorescent lamps come in all shapes and sizes, as with LED, some are dedicated and some are retrofit.

A dedicated fluorescent lamp is a luminaire that incorporates a replaceable fluorescent lamp that requires a separate ballast to function. The lamp type dictates the ballast that is required and then these items are incorporated into a luminaire. A fluorescent luminaire can generate a high lumen output for a low overall power consumption but the efficacy is not as good as most LED luminaires.

A retrofit fluorescent lamp (CFL Compact Fluorescent Lamp) is a fluorescent lamp that can be installed as a direct replacement of an incandescent lamp thereby reducing energy consumption. The retrofit lamp is self-ballasted (requires no separate control gear) so can be fitted as a direct replacement to the old lamp. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Flush Ceiling Lights

Flush lights are as the name suggest go flush with the ceiling sometimes called bulkhead lights. They work great in rooms with lower ceilings, if you live in a newer house in the UK this will most likely apply to you. See our great range of Flush Ceiling Lights here.

Glass

Glass manufacture uses different mixes for different levels of refraction and clarity. For cut glass decorations, you want the glass to sparkle, so other additives are used in the mix to make it optically clear and give it a higher refractive index (such as lead in lead crystal glasses). Other types of glass will just be a standard mix ensuring a clear colourless cover for the lamp. Glass can be cut, etched, frosted, coloured etc. whilst remaining translucent (allowing light to pass through). A combination of these methods can also be used to give a more appealing, decorative look.

 

Art Glass
The most expensive type of glass often mouth blown using a variety of ancient techniques many developed in Murano, Italy. Different colours of glass are combined at very high temperatures, an artist then works the glass whilst still hot applying different moulds or chemicals or even how they spin glass effects the patterning on them. Although very beautiful the results are unique and never the same. For this reason with art glass you should expect some differences in each glass such as different shades of colour or varying patterns and small bubbles are the norm and sometimes intentional for this type of hand made glass.

Coloured Glass

Coloured glass can be made in two ways. Additives can be added to the mix to create a coloured glass, or clear glass can be taken and a paint applied to the glass.

 

Mirror Effect Glass
Mirror glass is made either by applying a coating to the glass using chemicals, a film or by electroplating the glass to give a reflective coloured metal finish.

Tempered Glass
Tempered glass (sometimes referred to as toughened glass) is a type of safety glass that when broken fractures into many hundreds of tiny fragments that are less likely to cause serious injury. Only flat glass sheets can be tempered due to the process for tempering glass. The glass sheet is heated to near melting point and then cooled quickly. If curved glass were heated to this level, it would slump and lose its shape.

GLS Light Bulb (Lamp)

This is a light bulb shape you will be most familiar with and stands for General Lighting Service. It is mainly found in ES (E27) and BC light bulb caps. Available in opal and clear glass capsules. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Golf Ball Light Bulb (Lamp)

This is a light bulb shape as the name suggests resembling a golf ball in size and shape. It is mainly found in SES (E14) or BC light bulb caps but can be found in ES (E27). See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Halogen

Halogen is used to describe a group of lamp caps (GU10, G9 G4) which traditionally had a tungsten filament lamp encased in a glass envelope containing halogen gas. These could burn brighter and longer than the traditional by using an effect called the halogen cycle. Although these are marginally more efficient than original filament lamp new LED technology means that most of these lamps can be replaced by LEDs providing a more efficient and longer lasting light source. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Incandescent Lamps (Filament Light Bulbs)

These lamps use a filament. The filament heats up as it conducts electricity and this heat causes the filament to glow generating light. Due to the heat generated by the filament resistor, a lot of the power consumed is wasted because you are using power to generate heat rather than the power consumed being used efficiently to generate light. These are now being replaced by much more efficient LED lamps. These normally have the traditional lamp caps of E14 (SES), E27 (ES), B22 (BC) See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

 

IP Ratings (Ingress Protection) IP44, IP65

IP stands for Ingress protection and is used to inform the customer on suitability for areas where there is the possibility that water may come into contact with the fitting (bathrooms and outdoor).

An IP rating is stated as a two digit number, the first digit dictates how protected the fitting is against solid objects whilst the second digit dictates how protected the fitting is against liquids.

Most outdoor lighting and bathroom lighting are IP43 or greater for example IP44, IP65.


See all our IP rated Outdoor Lighting here. 

See all our IP rated Bathroom Lighting here.

 

When thinking about lighting for your bathroom it is important to think about the below Bathroom Zones, to ensure the lighting you want can be installed in your desired location.

Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower itself. Any fitting used in this zone must be low voltage, (max 12v) and be rated at least IP67 which is total immersion proof.

Zone 1 is the area above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In this zone a minimum rating of IP45 is required but it is generally accepted that IP65 is to be used. It's also worth noting that most shower lights are rated at IP65 in any case.

Zone 2 is an area stretching 0.6m outside the perimeter of the bath and to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In this zone an IP rating of at least IP44 is required. In addition it is good practice to consider the area around a wash basin, within a 60cm radius of any tap to be considered as zone 2.

Outside Zones are anywhere outside zones 0,1 and 2 (subject to specific limits) and where no water jet is likely to be used. There are no special IP requirements in this zone, however we suggest that you consider a light with an IP rating of at least IP20+.

In addition to the above, if there is a likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purpose then a fitting rated with a minimum of IP65 must be used. Full details can be found in the latest copy of the IEE wiring regulations.

Standard electrical wall fittings (such as wall sockets, flexible cord outlets and fused switches etc) are not IP rated so cannot be installed within zones 0, 1 or 2.

  

 

 

IP Ratings Explained

 

IP 1 Protection against Contact IP 2 Waterproofing
0 No Protection 0 No Protection
1

Protection from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter

1 Protection from dripping water
2

Protection from object no greater than 12mm in diameter

2 Protection from vertically dripping water (tilted up to 15°)
3 Protection from objects no greater than 2.5mm in diameter 3 Protection from sprayed water (tilted up to 60°)
4 Protection from objects no greater than 1mm in diameter 4 Protection from splashed water
5 Complete protection against contact, protection against dust deposit 5 Protected from water projected from a nozzle
6 Complete protection against contact, protection from infiltration of dust 6 Protected against heavy seas, or powerful jets of water
7   7 Protected against immersion
8   8 Protected against complete, continuous submersion in water
9   9 Protection against the ingress of water even under high pressure.

 

As well as IP numbers, items may be classed as PELV or SELV.

  • Separated Extra-Low Voltage (SELV)
  • Protective Extra-Low Voltage (PELV) 

(Please not this information is not an installation guide. Reference should be made to the latest IEE Wiring Regulations Edition and you should always seek advice from a qualified electrician before you install lighting within your bathroom). 

Lamp Shade (Light Shade)

Lamp shades are used to deflect the glare of the light bulb. Lamp shades are often made of fabric such as silk, cotton or a poly cotton mix. They are used often used on table lamps but are also found on pendants and wall lights as small Candle shades’ A lot of our table lamps come with carefully selected shades but we also sell individually lamp shades to suit most lights. 

Lantern

This is a pendant type light fitting which is generally a small armed fitting in a glass or metal frame. They are traditionally hung in hallways or large porches especially in the Georgian and Victorian period. They also look great in a country kitchen. See our full range of Lanterns here.

Low Voltage Lighting

Low voltage lighting is any lighting which is driven with a DC voltage much less than mains voltage. Typically these run at 6v, 12v or 24v. This type of lighting has control gear inside to convert the mains voltage to this lower voltage. Traditionally these would have included G4 and MR16 halogen lighting. But now most low voltage lighting is very efficient LED lighting. 


Light Bulbs (Lamps)

In the lighting industry light bulbs are traditionally called lamps, they are available in a variety of different technologies, LED Lamps, Incandescent Lamps, CFL Lamps. See our full range of light bulbs (lamps) here.

Lighting Control Systems

There are different systems available for automated control of lighting. The systems can control moods, schemes and levels of lighting for different times of the day and different days of the week. As with dimmers compatibility is an issue as they will only operate with certain types of control gear and lamps. For more information on compatibility the customer should be referred to the Lighting control system manufacturer or the installer of their system.

Lumens (Lm)

The amount of visible light a lamp or luminaire emits. For decades, lamps have been selected by wattage (which is actually a measurement of power) however as more energy efficient, low-watt lamps like CFLs and LEDs have become readily available, watts have become an unreliable metric for selecting lamps. Manufacturers are now indicating the brightness of their energy efficient bulbs according to lumens, as this is a true measure of light output.

Because lumens measure brightness and watts measure energy output, there is no simple method for converting watts to lumens. However we generally know how many lumens an incandescent lamp emits we can put a comparison together. Below is a table demonstrating the lumen output of the old incandescent wattages through to the newer more energy efficient lamp technologies. As you can see the power consumption significantly decreases to get the same amount of light output.

Lumen efficiency table

Outdoor Lighting (Garden Lighting)

As you may expect outdoor lighting is lighting which is fitted on the outside of the building or in your garden. Outdoor lighting should be rated to at least IP43 but we recommend IP44 and IP65 where possible. Some of our outdoor lighting is also salt spray tested which is a test to ensure the finish can withstand the elements of the outdoor world. See the full range of Outdoor Lighting here.

Pendant Lighting

Pendant lighting hangs from the ceiling normally from a chain or in some cases directly from the cable. They are often height adjustable. Pendant lighting can have arms (a multi-armed fitting) or simply be a metal or fabric shade or sphere. See our popular Pendant Lights here.

We also have Horizontal Pendant lights and Long Drop Pendant Lighting available.

Picture Lights

As the name suggests these are used to light pictures, generally mounted on the wall above the picture. They are like a linear spot light. Picture lights remain very popular. See our range of pictures lights here.

Plaster & Ceramic

A new concept in recent years is to use plaster, usually gypsum, to mould and make mainly wall lights. They have grown in popularity in recent years and can now be painted to match the decor of the space. See our handy plaster and ceramic paintable guide here. 

Portable Lamps

A technical term for table and floor lamps. This term is used in the lighting industry to describe lamps (luminaires) which can be unplugged and moved from one room to another. See our range of lighting Table and Floor Lamps here.

Semi Flush Lighting

This is a lighting group suitable for low ceilings but more decorative than a flush light. In general they are below 38cm in height and so fit the most common ceiling height in the UK. Semi flush lighting is one of our most popular lighting categories. 

Smart Lighting

This any lighting with extra features but in general it refers to wi-fi enabled lighting which can be connected to your wider Smart Home system such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa to name just a few. Requiring a wi-fi network, once set up they can be controlled by multiple devices such as a smart speaker or a mobile phone from around the world. Most smart light allows dimming and some allow colour changing. By combining smart lighting around the house you can create lighting scenes for different events or times of day, for example when watching a movie you can automatically switch off the main light and switch on a dim side light just using your voice. We’ve seen smart lighting used to great effect for example lighting parts of the home for security reasons or turning the lights off once children are sleeping. 

Spot Lights

Spot lights are any direction and partially focused light. This includes:

- Single spot lights: Consisting of one adjustable head.
- Bar spot lights: Consisting of 3 or more individual spot light heads on a linear bar format) and

-Plate spot lights: Where 3 or more spot lights are on a square or round plate

Spot lights are great to give good working light for example in a kitchen or to highlight certain details or pictures. We’ve also seen spotlights working well in cottages to create interesting lighting effects on beams.
See our entire spotlight range.

Task Light

Task lighting is focused and adjustable lighting which is often used on a desk or when ready or doing any craft work. Industrial ‘anglepoise’ style lamps are popular in this category as well as modern LED tasks light. See our full range of Task Lights.

Touch Lamps

Touch lamps as you’d expect operate when you touch them. A lot of people like this functionality, it is fun but also very practical, you don’t have to reach for the switch and is easy to use for people with reduced motor functions. Great for the elderly or first thing in the morning when fumbling for the light switch. See our full range of touch lamps

There are two types of touch lamps that we supply.
Touch On/Off – this is a luminaire that turns on or off when touched
Touch 1 = On
Touch 2 = Off

3 Stage Touch – this is a lamp that changes light output as it is touched (effectively a touch sensitive dimmer). It has 3 stages of illumination:
Touch 1 = On at 33% intensity
Touch 2 = 66% intensity
Touch 3 = 100% intensity
Touch 4 = Off
See our full range of Touch Lamps here

Wall Light

As the name suggests a wall light is any lamp which is mounted on the wall. In rooms with very low ceilings, sometimes they are the only option. We have also seen wall lights used in homes for the elderly as the light bulbs can be reached easily to change without having to use a step ladder. View our extensive wall light range.

Wall Washer

A type of wall light which specifically directs the light back onto the wall, creating a soft inviting light. They can be used on smooth walls or on a rough stone wall to accentuate the texture.