I saw the light

The title for this post comes from the Todd Rundgren song of the same name. (Check it out - it's a great song).

Anyway, in a break from this blog's traditional subject matter, I want to talk to you to today about lighting. Most of us just make do with a couple of wall lights or maybe (at a push) an overhead light in our living space, powered by a standard 40- or 60-watt bayonet cap bulb, throwing an unflattering light over everything including ourselves.

Not being a fan of harsh light, I some time ago began to seek more ambient lighting options. bright light has its place, of course (the noon sky on a clear day, Boots The Chemists, the dentist's table) but for a relaxing evening at home, nothing beats soft light from the right sources. By 'the right sources' I mean whatever suits in situ - you can have a lot of fun trying out various options, most of them not too expensive. Wall lights, uplighters, standard lamps, even candles can be placed strategically in order to get the feel of light you want. (Be mega careful with candles though for obvious reasons of fire safety!).

My preferred volume of light is low, with directional lights for reading. You can even get standalone uplighters with a built-in directional light - both types of light in one unit. And with the advent of good quality low energy and long life bulbs, the days of low energy meaning watery light source are now thankfully over.

One new type of light that has begun to appear lately is the multicoloured LED lighting strip. As integral lighting goes, it's very slightly offbeat, and definitely worth investigation. Still a bit on the pricey side, but worth it for the effect you get.

Here's a video of some home LED lights in use: