A bulb is not just a bulb. There are so many different types of bulbs, all suited to different purposes. At Nordlux, we always strive to develop and produce high quality bulbs. We are including more and more bulbs in our range, so you can always find a bulb that fits your needs.

Here, we guide you through the most important things that you should look for and take into account when you buy bulbs, giving you the best possible lighting at home.

Brightness – watts or lumens?

The switch from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs has changed the way we measure bulb brightness. Previously, we picked our bulbs based on watts, but as watts are an indication of the bulb’s energy consumption and not the amount of light it emits, we now think of lumens rather than watts. 800 lumens correspond to 60W, which is good for above the kitchen table, while 470 lumens, corresponding to 40W, is preferable by the sofa in the living room.

If you want to know how many watts your LED bulb has, you should be aware that the watts declaration of LED bulbs is different than that of traditional incandescent bulbs. Our rule of thumb is that you should multiply the LED watts declaration by 10, i.e. a 4W LED bulb corresponds to a traditional 40W incandescent bulb. It is important that you do not buy a bulb with a higher watts rating than the lamp is intended for, as this may damage the lamp. However, you can use a bulb with fewer watts than indicated on the lamp.

Colour rendering – RA

When you buy a bulb, you should look at the ‘RA’ designation which indicates how well a bulb reproduces colour. By buying a bulb with a high RA value, you make sure that your food, clothes and furniture do not change colour in the light. Therefore, choose a bulb with an RA value of between 80 and 100 to ensure a natural light in your home

Colour temperature – Kelvin

The colour temperature of the bulb is indicated in Kelvins, K, and represents how warm or cold the light from the bulb is. At Nordlux, we offer bulbs with different Kelvin ratings that suit all needs. 2700 K is often referred to as the standard and provides a natural white light. Bulbs below 2700 K emit a warm and cosy light, while bulbs with a higher Kelvin rating provide a cool light. Therefore, we recommend selecting a bulb with 3000 to 4000 K for practical purposes, whereas 2700 K or less would be preferable for a bedside lamp or the floor lamp by the sofa. The bulb’s Kelvin rating is always indicated on our packaging.

Beam angle

When selecting bulbs, it is important that you decide whether you need directional or non-directional light. For example, normal bulb-shaped bulbs distribute light throughout the room, whereas spots only distribute light in a particular direction. Therefore, you need to check the bulb’s beam angle, which is measured in degrees and refers to how large an area is illuminated. The beam angle can range from 36° degrees for spots to 360° for a standard light bulb or a decorative bulb.

Types of sockets and size of the bulb

Before you buy a bulb, you must check which socket type the respective lamp has, so you get a bulb that fits. At Nordlux, we have bulbs for several different socket types, including E14, E27, GU10, G9 and G4. Besides choosing the right socket, it is also important to check the size of the lampshade as you need to choose a bulb that fits to ensure that the bulb does not protrude from the lampshade.

Bulb lifespan

One of the major advantages of the LED bulb is its longevity. An incandescent bulb typically has a lifespan of 1-2 years, whereas an LED bulb lasts up to 15,000 hours. If you choose LED, you also get an energy-saving bulb. Please dispose of LED bulbs at the recycling centre, as approx. 85% of the bulb materials are recyclable. The LED bulb’s lifespan is always indicated on the bulb’s packaging.

Dimming

Today, a lot of people want to be able to adapt the light to different situations, as this increases comfort and flexibility in our daily lives. At Nordlux, we have a wide range of dimmable bulbs allowing you to adjust the light from practical lighting for food preparation to a cosy light during dinner. Our packaging always states whether the bulb is dimmable.

If you have an older dimmer swimust be aware that not all LED bulbs are compatible with it, as the two technologies are not the same. Therefore, buying a dimmer switch for LED is a good idea, as it has been adapted for LED bulbs.

Read more about dimming for LED bulbs here

Decorative bulbs

Bulbs do not always have to be hidden away under a lampshade. Our Avra series consists of beautiful, decorative light bulbs that can be used advantageously in lamps where the bulb is part of the lamp's design. For example, hang different decorative bulbs in a cluster or use them with our Siv or Hollywood – it makes the lamps even more beautiful and adds a personal touch.

Integrated light bulbs

More and more of our lamps are now made with integrated LED bulbs. This means that you cannot change the bulb in the lamp, so it is important to choose the right lamp for your purpose from the start. As with our bulbs, lumens, Kelvins, RA and lifespan are always indicated on the packaging of lamps with integrated LED. Examples of these lamps are Artist and Space B. At Nordlux, we provide a 5-year warranty on the LED bulbs in lamps with integrated LED.

Navigating all the types and properties of bulbs can be difficult. But the main thing is to make sure you choose a bulb that gives you a pleasant light. Therefore, it is a good idea to see the light bulb switched on before you buy it.

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