Switched On - A Blog from First Choice Lighting

Outdoor lighting has never been more popular. But finding just the thing to meet your needs can be quite tricky. Do you need solar-powered lights, or do you have an easily accessible source of electricity? Do you have somewhere the lights can sit, or do you need a free-standing unit? And how do you ...

Breakfast bars and kitchen islands have become hugely popular in recent years. Making functional spaces into welcoming home features. But it’s not always easy to achieve the aesthetic you’re looking for. And what many people don’t realise is that lighting holds enormous potential to bring ...

Not so very long ago you’d have been tried for witchcraft if you’d have been seen to ignite a lantern with the touch of your hand. Today, touch lamps are all over the place. From posh hotels to your auntie's guest bedroom. In fact, they’ve become so ubiquitous that we almost take them for ...

The bathroom. It’s one of the most essential rooms in the home. But it’s also one of the most overlooked. The whole family use it multiple times a day, crashing in and out, towels and water everywhere. But there are no rules to say that your bathroom can’t also be a sanctuary. Completely ...

The spring weather may be characteristically ‘playful’, but there is no denying that the worst of winter is behind us. And it won’t be long until we all start to think about spending a little more time outdoors. But with work and family consuming our time, it’s often the evenings when we ...

We’ve all heard the saying that you get what you pay for. And when it comes to home interiors, most of us believe that if we want big results, we’ll have to spend big money. But sometimes, all it takes is a bit of shopping around to find incredible products that are also incredible bargains. ...

There are few lighting styles more iconic than Tiffany. With their gorgeously patterned stained glass shades and ornate stands, they have been wowing the world since the 1890s. And if you’ve got the cash to splash, an original can set you back thousands of pounds. In fact, in 1997, Christie’s ...

Family run since 1967, Elstead Lighting is a British company that has become synonymous with quality. Creating lighting solutions for the whole home, the brand, led by Managing Director Jonathan Lucas, offers an extensive portfolio of classic and contemporary styles. Providing bright ideas for ...

At First Choice Lighting, we work hard to bring the best quality and latest lighting designs to our customers. But, of course, we couldn’t do that without the support of our incredible suppliers. So, today we thought we’d celebrate one of our most popular lighting brands, and let you know a ...

The terms and language within the lighting industry, used by both manufacturers and retailers can be confusing. The list here attempts to clarify just a few of those terms to help you choose the perfect lights for your home. Accent LightingUsed to emphasise a particular object or area.Ambient ...

WHAT IS A DOWNLIGHT?Downlights are one of the most practical, attractive and discreet ways to light your home, whether it is in the kitchen, hallway, living room or bedroom. In fact there are downlighters available for any room you choose.Downlights, also referred to as recessed luminaires, are ...

Chandeliers were first adopted as a practical way to light a space, and consisted of a simple wooden cross supporting a candle. Mainly used in grand, stately homes, the first chandeliers served a functional purpose and it wasn’t until much later on that they became the opulent pieces we would ...

With the new year now well underway, many of us are turning our attention to updating our homes before springtime arrives and draws us back outdoors. After deciding on a new colour palette, soft furnishings and decorative accessories, don’t forget to consider upgrading your ceiling light to ...

Wall Lights are a great addition to your home and are perfect for a softer layered lighting feel. Often an overlooked room when considering extra lighting, but no less important to the feel of your home, is the bathroom.Wall lights in bathrooms can offer extra task lighting for beauty regimes or ...

Step into the 21st Century and update your home with a contemporary wall light. Often thought of as old fashioned, modern wall lights are having something of a renaissance in recent years. We are now firmly in the land of bright modern metallics, clear cut lines, angular shades and ultra stylish ...