Switched On - A Blog from First Choice Lighting

The kitchen is arguably the heart of most homes. It’s where you gather and chat, sharing food and making memories. But for that to happen, your kitchen has to be somewhere you want to be. And your choice of lighting can play a big part in that, which is something that Altos Lighting knows all about. Whether you want to brighten your breakfast bar or upgrade the underside of your cabinets, Altos kitchen lighting can bring warmth, elegance, and functionality into your home.

Touches of nature can bring a lot to a home. The colours, textures, and organic forms can offer a sense of calm, grace, and beauty. But while you’re reaching for your floral wallpaper and naturally toned throws, don’t forget the potential of floral lighting. Whether sculptural leaf-inspired chandeliers or flower print shades, floral lights can bring warm, inviting ambiance to any interior.

If you’re looking for a new table lamp the aesthetic matters. Whether you’re redecorating a room or replacing an old favourite, lamps do so much more than provide functional lighting. They're versatile design pieces that can directly influence the look and feel of any space. That’s one of the reasons why we’re such fans of glass table lamps. Bringing elegance, lightness, and character to your space, glass table lamps make a timeless home décor choice.

The lighting you use in your home can change the way the whole space looks and feels. That’s why, if you’re seeking a quick and easy makeover, your lights should always be one of your first considerations. And if you know where to shop, you can make a big impact on a small budget. That’s where our Clearance section comes in!

If you want to enhance the lighting in your home, the perception is that you’ll need to call in an electrician. But with technology evolving and batteries improving, there are now other options available. Rechargeable lighting is simple, effective, and incredibly versatile. And if you make the right choices, can genuinely enhance your décor.

Everything seems to be ‘smart’ these days, and it can sometimes feel a little unnecessary. So, if you don’t already have smart lighting, you’re possibly in the camp of ‘why?’. Why is smart lighting required?

For many people, the idea of choosing battery powered lighting for their home is far from appealing. There’s the perceived hassle of constantly charging or searching for new batteries. And the belief that battery operated lights produce dimmer illumination. And previously, both of those issues were true. But technology has moved on. And battery powered lights can bring a range of advantages. So, while you might not want to rely on battery powered lights alone, you may want to consider adding them to the variety of lights you use in your home.

Dining rooms are frequently overlooked and neglected. They’re designed for a specific purpose – eating – but if you don’t make them into a comfortable and attractive environment, they’re likely to go unused. And one of the easiest ways to change the atmosphere of your dining room is to use the right lighting.

It’s easy to think of table lamps as purely decorative. But if you choose your table lamps well, they can be both pretty and practical, providing useful light in dull corners, or lighting to work or read by. And whichever option you need, Nordlux has you covered.

The beautiful thing about handcrafting is that you always get something a little bit unique. Even on pieces that have been made from a template, when the painting has been finished by hand, or the glass individually leaded or blown, you know that no one else can possibly have exactly the same items as you. And that’s why we’re so fond of our hand crafted lighting collection.

Feiss are one of the world’s top interior lighting designers. Known for their quality, style, and workmanship, the brand has been bringing beauty and innovation to people’s homes since 1955. But if you want lighting that really stands out from the crowd, it has to be Feiss Limited Editions every time.

Choosing the lighting for your home isn’t always easy. Aside from anything else, you have an enormous amount of choice. And while that is, theoretically, a good thing, increasing the likelihood that you’ll actually find what you have in mind, it can make decision-making harder. Choosing matching lighting sets is one of the easier options. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind when doing so.

Filament bulbs are everywhere just now. They came into fashion about 10 years ago, but back then, they were monstrously expensive. You could spend £40, £50, or even £60 on a single bulb, and they weren’t very energy efficient. But now, the technology has evolved. Filament light bulbs are available in a whole range of styles for a whole range of fittings, making them far more accessible. But are they just another lighting trend? Or should you consider using them in your home?

Launched in 1999, the PANTONE Colour of the Year is one of the greatest marketing ploys ever, cementing PANTONE as the industry authority on colour matching. But it’s also an event that designers from every sector look forward to. Setting the tone for the next year’s trends, PANTONE are colouration legends. And in December 2023, they named the shade that would dominate 2024: move over Vivid Magenta – everything is looking peachy!

Lighting plays an important role not only in how your home looks and feels, but how you use it. Your lights not only have to be functional, but they have to be comfortable. They have to provide the right illumination to suit your needs. And they need to work with the wider aesthetic of your home. So, while recently the focus has increasingly been on lighting as a statement and lighting as art, is there still room for subtlety? And could recessed ceiling lights be the best lighting solution for your home?