How to choose the best lighting for your home
What are the different types of lighting?
1. Floor lamps
Tall and versatile, floor lamps are often designed as statement pieces and can be a good option over ceiling lights. Standing tall, floor lamps make a good alternative to pendant lighting that needs to be wired in and can be easily moved around if you’re having a seasonal switch-up. Use to illuminate darker corners of a room or place beside a cosy armchair or sofa to add a more directional ambient light.
Best for: Brightening dark corners, adding height and creating a reading nook.
3. Lamp shades
Lamp shades are an easy way to update your lighting without rewiring anything. Ours are designed for use on table, ceiling and floor lamps, and they all come with conversion rings to fit B22 and E27 bulbs. If you’re living in a rented home and can’t make any permanent electrical changes, a fun, colourful lamp shade is a great way to inject personality into a room. Read our guide on how to choose the best lamp shades for any room for handy tips and tricks.
Best for: Adding colour and texture to table, floor or ceiling lights.
5. String lights and garlands
Soft and atmospheric, string lights add a warm, subtle glow without the need for sockets. Their portable, battery-powered design makes them easy to hang or drape – whether it be a festive decoration, outdoor lighting or brightening a dark corner.
Perfect for: Bedrooms, festive decoration, or relaxed evenings.
2. Table and desk lamps
Ideal for side tables, desks, and bedsides, table lamps bring focused light and a decorative accent. You can choose from a range of sizes – from small to statement – depending on how much light you need to add. They’re portable, so if you’re renting, moving house or your home décor changes, you can easily switch out the lamp base, lampshade or lightbulb. Get creative with mix-and-match designs to switch up your interior with the season or choose an exposed bulb lamp with a fun filament design.
Best for: Task lighting, mood lighting and compact spaces.
4. Neon signs
Fun, bold, and full of personality, neon signs are great if you want to style your space with something more impactful. Choose from LED neon signs in rainbow, heart, or fun slogans to make any room pop. Create a cosy glow with neon signs for the bedroom, or set the mood in your home bar with a glowing neon bar sign or fun cocktail-themed design. Our designs are backed with a mirror to help reflect more light.
Styling tips: Place on a mantlepiece, shelf, or table and reflect light with mirrored backing.
What switches do our lamps have?
Our lamps are designed with two types of switches. Table lamps and neon lights are mostly fitted with inline switches, which are placed high along the lamp’s power cord, usually near the lamp base for easy access. Our floor lamps are mostly fitted with inline foot press switches, which sit on the floor where they can be turned on and off with your feet.
What are the different types of light bulbs?
What does LED stand for, and how long do LED lights last?
Light-Emitting Diodes, or LED light bulbs, are more cost-effective than regular halogen bulbs. Powered by electricity, they produce less heat and last a lot longer.
Tala LED light bulbs have a lifespan of up to 30,000 hours. Based on average daily use, this equates to 3.5 years if the bulb is lit for 24 hours per day and seven years at 12 hours per day.
If you're after a colourful design or playful filament, all Oliver Bonas light bulbs have a 15,000 hour lifespan. Based on average daily use, this equates to 1.75 years if the bulb is lit for 24 hours per day and seven years at 12 hours per day.
Which light bulb should I choose?
1. Check the cap fitting
There are two types of light bulb: Edison screw (E) and bayonet (B). All of our light bulbs have an E27 or E14 screw fitting. All our floor, table and wall lights require Edison screw light bulbs, which are not included with the lamp. Check your old light bulb to see which one you need, or check which light fixtures your table lamp is compatible with.
2. Choose your brightness
Lumens measures the bulbs light output. The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb will be. Think about where your light is going when choosing the number of lumens - a table lamp typically needs between 180 - 470 lumens, whereas a hanging pendant light needs 470 - 1500 lumens. Lumens works the same as watts, which is used to measure brightness in halogen bulbs.
3. Choose your colour
Kelvin measures how cool or warm the bulb is. Low kelvins create a warmer, cosier light, whereas a higher kelvin generates a crisp, white light.
4. Pick your design
If you want a simple LED bulb that's going inside a floor or table lamp, a Tala branded bulb is your best bet. After a light bulb that's a little different? Choose from OB decorative filament bulbs with fun heart shapes and slogan text to pair with your lamp base. Our decorative light bulbs come in clear, coloured, or translucent glass, as well as innovative finishes designed in our creative studios.
How LED bulbs compare to their traditional equivalents
Wattage (energy being used)
Lumens (brightness of the light)
