Whatever your style and taste, there will be a lamppost out there that fits.  You like old colonial?  There are lampposts in that style.  You favour Victoriana?  No problem.  You like up to the minute minimalism?  Well, you’re catered for too.  As for construction materials: bronze, copper, iron or aluminium lampposts are all easily available on the market.

If the main reason for installing a garden lamppost is safety or security, then the best places to site it would be at the beginning of a driveway or the end of a walkway – anywhere that increases visibility for people using your garden.  Not only will you prevent trips and slips but you will deter loiterers too.  For highlighting garden or architectural features, you’ll find that the wide light-arc given by a lamppost can create some stunning lighting effects.

If you’re definitely a non-electrician, choosing a solar powered lamppost will absolve you from the installation of any electrical cables.  Current solar powered lamps are far brighter than their earlier counterparts too, so don’t be put off.

When it comes to installing your new lamp, you need to prepare yourself for some manual work; in order to ensure that your lamp is secure and  below the frost line as recommended, you need to dig down to between two and three feet.  You have been warned!

Only once you have dug deep enough can you consider laying the armoured cables.  We won’t pull our punches here – we strongly recommend that you employ a fully experienced and qualified electrician.  If you do intend to lay the wires yourself it is vital you consult the local building regulations, which will be very specific about exactly how deep the cables should be laid.  And whether you or your electrician is doing the installation, don’t forget to buy enough cable.  We recommend that you allow additional length to allow for stripping back at both ends to permit the relevant connections to be made.

Next you need to decide what type of bulb to use in your lamppost. We have to confess that our bias here is towards the GLS style of low-energy lamp, which are rather more aesthetically pleasing than the spiral or stick type varieties.  The manufacturers have tried to mimic the style of traditional light bulbs and the result is rather pleasing.

Last but not least, why not add a sensor to your lamppost?  Whether a PIR (movement detector) or a daylight sensor, you will be increasing the security profile of your home.  When you forget to switch the lamppost on (and you will) the sensor will ensure that your security is as tight as ever.

The first thing we must do is clear up a common misunderstanding – just as with traditional light bulbs, halogen bulbs are incandescent bulbs. With the growing tendency to call to traditional light bulbs ‘incandescent bulbs’, this simple fact is in danger of being lost. In very simple terms, both types of lamp work on the principle of running an electric current through a thin filament until it glows. In traditional bulbs, combustion is prevented because the glass of the bulb keeps oxygen away from the glowing filament.

Clips Black Desk Lamp £45.89 +vat

In halogen lamps, the filament is housed within a glass envelope and surrounded by a mixture of inert gas and halogen. The result is that the filament burns brighter, hotter and for longer. The downside of this is an increased running temperature, which means that halogen lamps should no longer be the first choice for inset ceiling and wall lights. This is because they back into a small enclosed space, which makes them a potential fire hazard.

Another characteristic that some people see as a disadvantage is the lack of the rosy glow that comes from traditional light bulbs. When it comes to task lighting, however, a rosy glow is far less essential than clear illumination.

And this, of course, is the crux of the matter – the characteristics of light produced by halogen lamps are very different from the light we have grown used to. It is not cosy, it is not soft focus, it is not good general illumination; it is clean, it is white, it is directable – it is ideal task lighting.

Not only is this light brighter and whiter, it is also much closer to the daylight spectrum, therefore rendering colours more accurately and minimizing the risk of eye strain.

Because of the brightness, halogen lamps must be shaded. The Benefit of a shaded halogen lamp is that you can use the shade to direct the light where you need it. In the case of a halogen desk lamp, the illumination falls onto your paperwork and is not dissipated around the rest of the room.

The most regularly cited advantage of halogen lights is their long life. The fact is, if you turned on your halogen desk lamp today and left it on, day and night, it would run considerably longer than a standard light bulb before failing. And amazingly, it would do all of that on just 20% of the energy used by a standard bulb.

Halogen desk lamps, it would seem, are the ideal way to appreciate the advantages of this modern light source, without experiencing any of the disadvantages.

View our full desk lamp range

For the daily task of showering, you need task lighting – that is you want clear, direct light that allows you to see exactly what you’re doing.  Both halogen and LED provide excellent task lighting.

5583 Brembo Round Shower Light £24.95 +vat

Of course, shower lighting also has to contend with the lethal mixture of water and electricity and for this reason it is essential that you choose lighting especially designed for the shower area.  If you are in any doubt whatsoever we would always recommend that you consult a qualified electrician.

Even with the safety considerations, however, there is no reason why you can’t come to a stylish solution.   Traditional shower lights are small and round and can be used anywhere within the shower area, which means you have carte blanche with placement.  You could, perhaps, place them in some sort of geometric design, such as a grid, a circle, or a sunburst shape.  Add a dimmer switch, and you have mood lighting too!  Don’t forget, though, that dimmer switches must be positioned outside of the bathroom itself.

And, if you really want to create a splash, consider placing the lights in the wall and the floor of the shower stall.

Despite what you may have been led to believe, recessed lighting isn’t the only option for shedding light in the shower – pendant lights, including globes, are available.  What must be considered is the IP rating of any fitting you are considering.  If the light is to be placed within the shower cubicle itself, you are looking for something that is suitable for complete immersion, which means a rating of at least IP67.  Voltage wise, the maximum allowable is 12.

You might be surprised to learn that you can get designs that place the light within the showerhead itself.  These special showerheads are quite readily available and they are designed to be used with all standard showers.  The effect is a beam of light that follows the jets of the shower, you can even have colours!  If you long to see your skin highlighted in purple, red or green this is the solution for you!

When all is said and done, you don’t want to be slipping on the soap and, whether traditional or purple, a shower light will make sure that you don’t.

View our full range of shower lights

It’s said that an English man’s garden is his own private ‘nation,’ and the fact is  you’ve probably spent oodles of time, wads of cash and barrow loads of effort in creating your tiny monarchy.  Why then wouldn’t you want to shed a little light on it? It’s just good sense, isn’t it?

Soprano 0675 black garden wall light £36.62 +vat

Whether you have a country estate or live on an estate, to be successful your outdoor lighting must be planned properly.  That doesn’t mean you need to get in professional designers, just that you must think ahead and decide exactly what function you want your lights to have. There is, of course, one function that all outdoor lighting must fulfil, and that is security.

It is quite possible for decorative lighting to double as security lighting – all that we ask of our security lighting is that it throws light into dark corners and makes a would-be intruder pass on to the house next door.  So, whatever style of light you choose, as long as you position it correctly it can act as both security and decoration.

Perhaps the best place to start with your combined outdoor/security lighting project is with a simple porch or wall light.  You can buy them with a PIR sensor – basically a movement detector – or you can add a sensor to an existing light.  Every time somebody or something comes within the range of the sensor the light will switch on – which makes this time of light wonderful for those who come home from work after dark.

Or what about a lamppost?  Okay, not everybody has the space or even the desire for one but, it has to be said that, as far as security lighting goes, garden lampposts are difficult to beat.  The height of the lamp means that the light falls on a wide area and the very presence of an illuminated lamppost will deter all but the most determined intruders.

And thinking about the huge range of available lamppost styles takes us neatly to the other, more exciting, aspect of planning your outdoor lighting – the looks that can be achieved.  From subtle sophistication to footballers’ wife flash, you can create your own oasis from the world outside your front door.

Who cares if it rains, what does it matter when the evenings draw in – with outdoor lighting you can enjoy your garden all day long, all year round and whatever the weather.

View our full outdoor lighting range

With modern homes getting smaller, many bathrooms now get little natural light; in fact, some bathrooms don’t get any daylight at all.  Something that is especially true of en suite bathrooms, which have become a bit of a must-have. And even in a room that does benefit from lots of daylight, what happens after dark?  Centrally placed ceiling lights just don’t cut it because the light hits the mirror at the wrong angle, causing shadows on your face that, at their best can make you look wan and, at their very worst, make you feel like you should take to your sick bed.

All that functionality aside, illuminated mirrors also provide very relaxing light levels that are ideal for a long relaxing soak in the bath.  Like candle light but without the flames.

Karpathos Illuminated Bathroom Mirror £173.50 +vat

Returning to the facts, by choosing a mirror that incorporates halogen lamps you will also eliminate that persistent problem of fogging.  It’s all down to basic physics: steam hits the cold glass and turns back to water, i.e. condensation.  Because halogen lights emit heat, the mirror is warmed and the condensation doesn’t happen.  Add to this the fact that halogen light is very flattering to skin tones and it would seem to be the only sensible choice for bathroom lighting.  You should be aware though that there is a downside.  Relative to other light sources, halogen is expensive to run and, also relative to the other types of light, these bulbs have a short life-span: up to 2,000 hours.

If keeping energy costs down is more important to you than rendering good skin tones, then consider a mirror that uses fluorescent lighting – and forget the old flickering and slow start of fluorescent lamps of old, which has been eradicated by modern lighting technologists.  You’ll get a good 10,000 hours useable life out of a modern fluorescent lamp, after which time the light quality will fade and they will need to be replaced.

Because of the way they are made – the lights are placed behind a sheet of mirrored glass that has had some of the silvering removed by sandblasting – illuminated mirrors are easy to clean too. The front of the mirror remains smooth and there are no tiny inaccessible gaps where dust and soap scum can build up.

If you need a magnifying mirror to ensure that your makeup is where it should be or that you haven’t missed a bit when shaving, then you can now get illuminated shaving mirrors.  Because to produce a magnified reflection glass must be concave, large illuminated magnifying mirrors aren’t practical to produce.

All illuminated mirrors tend to be good-looking, but some are far more than that.  Designers have used LED lamps to create some stunning effects, from infinite pinpricks of light to Hollywood glamour.

Illuminated bathroom mirrors – how many more benefits do you need?

View our full range of illuminated mirrors

Then, of course, there’s the indisputable fact that good garden lighting will encourage you to make more and better use of your garden., turning it into that often quoted but less often realised ‘extra room.’ And with the advent of outdoor heaters, you can eat al fresco at any time of the year.

Of course, it’s not all about looking good; garden lighting bestows practical benefits too – not least of which is improved security. The average intruder will choose an unlit or poorly illuminated home to plunder, so it makes sense to ensure that it’s not yours.

And, as ever, we can’t avoid the dreaded health and safety! Wall lights situated close to garden steps, slippery paving and other hazards will stop granny from slipping over, and might save you having to pay out damages too!

The truly brilliant thing about garden lighting – of any persuasion – is that the size of your outside space is immaterial. From tiny patio to rolling grounds, all will be improved by the shedding of some light. When it comes to wall lights in particular, well, where there’s a house there are walls!

Scorpius Black Outdoor Light £33.00 +vat

Not only will well-chosen lights brighten up that dreary brick wall, they will also transform the area close to the house into a pleasant outside eating area – and you won’t fall down the step when carrying piles of plates. Choose your outdoor lights well and you’ll be getting practicality and style in one package.

Despite what the home and garden magazines would have you believe, outdoor lighting isn’t just for stylish, well-heeled folk living in Home Counties country homes, it’s for everybody who has an outside space to call their own. And, particularly if you’re on a restricted budget, a simple wall light or two is a very good place to start.

Defy the night, the winter (and the rain if you have some sort of awning) with the simple installation of some outdoor wall lights. And, one little advertised fact is that, on a long winter’s night when you’re snug as a bug, a quick glimpse of your illuminated ‘estate’ through the windows will make it all worthwhile.

View our full outdoor wall light  range

Your bathroom is the place where you put on your public face and prepare to launch yourself onto the world.  For women this generally means, at the very least, a hint of mascara and a smear of lipstick.  Try applying that in a poorly lit room and you’ll realize how important effective lighting truly is.

Tallin 900 Mirror Light £159.83 +vat

Unless we’re being wined and dined, mostly we’re viewed under natural daylight, which logically means this is the best type of light under which to assess your look at the start of the day.  The fact is, however, that natural daylight is not always in good supply in the average bathroom, which means we have to approximate it as closely as possible.  Both halogen lights and LED lamps are reasonably close in temperature and tone to natural light and are preferable to old-style fluorescent lamps, which cast a ghoulish green glow on the skin.

When it comes to the position of mirror lights, you should aim to have them as close to the mirror as possible.  The ideal placement is about 30″ apart, but that’s not always possible to achieve.

Remember, your aim is to eliminate shadows; lights either side of the mirror, with one above it if possible, will achieve this.  Think in terms of theatrical dressing room mirrors and surrounding your face with light and you won’t go far wrong.  Rows of bare bulbs or wall sconces, both will do just fine, it’s all a matter of taste.

If you are to face the day with poise and self-assurance, you want to see yourself looking good – and that won’t be the case if you look at your early-morning face under harsh, unshaded light.  Your skin will always look better under warm, diffuse light, so choose mirror lights that have tinted or diffuse lenses.  As a basic rule of thumb, the clearer the glass on the light, the worse you will look!

Last, but not least, we come to the overall look of the room, which can be enhanced tremendously by clever lighting.  Because of the aforementioned functionality, the best bathroom lighting tends to be layered, so you’ll have the mirror lights plus general lighting and natural light from the windows.

A combination of recessed ceiling lights and mirror lights looks good but, if you are battling with limited space or limited budget, you can achieve a well-designed look just with wall sconces either side of the mirror plus a dimmer switch (which will need to be located outside the room).

There’s an old saying that you can never have too much light in a bathroom; we think that’s not strictly true.  Instead, we would say, you can never have too much of the right type of light in your bathroom.

View our full range of mirror lights

As with all bathroom light fittings, shaver lights are assigned an IP rating.  Electrical regulations divide the bathroom into a series of zones and these zones correlate to the IP ratings.  It is vital, therefore, that before you go to purchase your shaver light, you know exactly where you are going to fit it.  In reality, of course, the likelihood is that it will go above the mirror over the sink.

0275 Shaver Light £65.58 +vat

IP, which stands for Ingress Protection, tells you how much moisture protection an implement has; the higher the IP number the greater the moisture protection. In general terms you are looking for IP44 and above.  Do not buy any bathroom electrical equipment that isn’t IP rated.

Shaver lights are generally made from glass and/or plastic and, for safety reasons, are operated by a pull cord.  You will find both single and dual voltage models but the truth is that, for home use in the UK, single voltage is all you need.  Unless, of course, you entertain continental guests on a frequent basis!  If you do purchase a dual voltage version, you switch from one voltage to another by means of a simple rocker switch.

Where you may find yourself struggling is in the style stakes – after all there is only so much input a designer can have into what, at the end of the day, is simply a strip light with a two pin socket!  Nevertheless, shaver lights are so compact and low-profile that, whatever style your dcor, you’ll find that the majority of models look fine.  For sheer practicality and lack of morning shocks, choose a model that features frosted glass.  Unshaded glass or light through a clear shade is just too much for early morning eyes.

Let’s not forget either, that even though this type of light is designated a ’shaver light’ they can be used equally as well for applying makeup – and also for recharging your toothbrush.

If you have nothing more than a ceiling light in your bathroom, you’re missing a trick.  Illumination cast by central pendants or globes not only creates shadows but, by the time it reaches your reflected image it’s also lost most of its strength.  This means you are likely to go out into the world with patchy makeup or an uneven shave.  There is a better way.

Vanity lighting is what it’s all about and the truth is vanity lighting is all you need in your bathroom. All that mood lighting is all very well but what you really want is light that not only makes you look good but helps you to look even better.  The accepted key to good mirror lighting is one light above the mirror and one light on either side.  A shaver light can be the first part of that lighting trio.

Now, if you make the light above the mirror a shaver light – you’ve got somewhere to plug in the razor for free!

View our full range of bathroom shaver lights

1303-5CH Chrome Bathroom Ceiling Light

The thing to remember about bathroom dcor is that functionality is key, and it’s your choice of lighting that will dictate the practicality of your bathroom -or otherwise.  The good thing is that the current crop of lighting designers seems to have cottoned on to this and have managed to combine supreme functionality with stunning good looks.

One way to combine functionality with good looks is by choosing a fitting that is adjustable, both in terms of light levels and light direction.  You could, of course, also achieve the same result by a clever combination of ceiling lights and wall lights.

Light levels are easily managed by the use of dimmer switches.  Bear in mind though that all switching will need to be outside of the bathroom in order to conform to European Bathroom Lighting Regulations.  Whilst putting in that dimmer switch, it also makes sense to switch your bathroom lighting separately, which will give you greater flexibility in terms of mood setting – something that is now viewed as essential when it comes to illuminating the smallest room.

For functionality and task lighting, it helps if you can point the light exactly where it’s needed; something that is easy to do with most modern flush and semi-flush ceiling fittings.  LED lighting is renowned for its beam precision and an LED light fitted in the ceiling above the bathroom mirror is particularly useful for morning tasks.  For good shadow-free lighting, however, you will need to add a wall light either side of the mirror.  Halogen ceiling lights are a good alternative.

Cheadle Bathroom Ceiling Light

When it comes to making a style statement, there are enough bathroom lights on the market for you to make whatever statement you want.  Neat and sleek recessed lighting or opulent, flamboyant pendant lighting – it’s up to you.  You could always aim for somewhere between the two extremes if you want to play safe.

Ceiling lights might seem a bit pass, what with the advent of newer forms of lighting and light fittings but don’t be fooled – they can provide excellent general light levels in every room of your house and by combining them wisely with other types of light fitting you can combine supreme functionality with outstanding good looks.

Don’t forget that good quality lighting, the very best you can afford, can add thousands to your property’s value.  So, lay back in your bath, admire the refracted light from your crystal chandelier, and contemplate return on investment.

View our range of bathroom ceiling lights

0275 Shaver Light

A lot of modern houses have just a single central light in the bathroom that was installed by the builders to keep costs to a minimium but with a little though and effort you can create a stunning bathroom lighting scheme. Available on the market now are downlights, mirror lights, LED lights all designed specifically for use in bathroom lighting schemes.

The bathroom ceiling light which features in the majority of bathrooms doesn’t have to be a standard boring light there is now a huge selection available with some ultra modern styles along with some traditional designs that even include impressive chandeliers. The central ceiling light should be considered to be the main task light of the bathroom giving good all round illumination.

So what else can you do? Well let’s look now at some other options and how they will integrate into your bathroom lighting scheme.

Downlights in the bathroom offer a different dimension on a bathroom lighting scheme, these lights look great giving your bathroom lighting a real contemporary warm feel. Bathroom downlights do have certain disadvantages in that they will require a fair amount of work cutting holes in the ceiling and getting the wiring to each individual light but believe me the end result is well worth the effort.

Anton 0507 Bathroom Wall Light

Bathroom lights that are not often considered and really have only become popular recently are the bathroom wall light, these lights offer great general lighting in the bathroom but can also be toned down to provide a soft mood lighting using a dimmer switch outside of the bathroom as with the bathroom downlights. You will need to be careful when choosing bathroom wall lights as they must comply with the current bathroom lighting regulations with regards to safety, NEVER use wall lights meant for use in other areas of the home as these will pose a serious safety risk.

A bathroom mirror features in all bathrooms and this is an area that is often neglected in a bathroom lighting scheme. A number of options are available for illuminating the bathroom mirror that include mirror lights, shaver lights and illuminated bathroom mirrors. These various options will depend on a few things like your budget the current electrical wiring situation and how it fits with your current bathroom lighting scheme. Lighting in and around the bathroom mirror is worth serious consideration as these lights will but the light just where you need it and it avoids any shadowing from other lights in the bathroom.

When buying bathroom lighting it is important to adhere to the current legal regulations. All lighting in the bathroom must comply and be suitable for use in zones 1,2 & 3 of the bathroom. This law has been brought in to protect the consumer from potential serious injury so please make sure that the lights you buy comply.

View our full bathroom lighting range