A well-lit interior usually embraces a blend of ambient, task, and accent lighting, each of which serves a different purpose. The lighting you chose will help set the tone of a room, whether that means bright overheads in the kitchen or charming Edison lightbulbs in cozier areas. If you’re attracted to the vintage beauty of Edison bulbs, here are a few key considerations to explore when incorporating them into your home decor.

A Guide to Edison Bulbs

What Are They?

Edison lightbulbs—also known as LED filament bulbs—have traditional glass globes like incandescent bulbs, but their filaments are visible because the glass is clear. They have a vintage look inspired by the lightbulbs invented by Thomas Edison, whose patented 1879 design for an electric light heated a wire filament inside a pear-shaped glass bulb until it glowed.

What Are Their Advantages?

Today’s Edison bulbs can be traditional incandescents, but many are available as LEDs, which are more energy-efficient and last longer. Because LED filaments can be twisted and looped into a variety of designs, these lightbulbs add visual interest to any room.

Edison bulbs come in an assortment of sizes and shapes. In addition to round- and pear-shaped bulbs, some lighting suppliers also carry tubular, candelabra, and radio-style bulbs, all of which fit into a variety of fixture types, including pendants, floor lamps, and chandeliers.

How to Use Them in Interiors

Think of ambient light as general-purpose lighting. It often functions as a replacement for natural light. Task lighting, on the other hand, serves a particular purpose. Task lights are often targeted at countertops because they aid working, reading, and cooking. Accent lights enhance interiors by putting a spotlight on a piece of art, a bookshelf, a treasured collectible, or an architectural detail. Understanding how light functions in a room will help you choose the right fixtures and bulbs for your spaces.

Because they have a vintage quality, Edison bulbs fitted into hand-made chandeliers, decorative floor lamps, or cage pendants work well in rustic-style kitchens. They also complement the retro ambiance of mid-century modern dens or living rooms. Use them in sconces to line a long second-floor hallway to create a soft glow as you head off to sleep. Let your tastes and design objectives guide your decor choices. When in doubt, visit a lighting retailer for advice about how to light your home.

When selecting bulbs for your home, trust the lighting design experts at Lamp Arts, Inc. in Atlanta, GA. They’ll help you find the perfect bulbs, fixtures, lamps, or sconces for your space, or they can custom-make a light to your specifications. They’ll also repair or restore your antique lamps and chandeliers. Visit them online to view a gallery of their unique inventory, or call (404) 352-5211 to discuss your ideas with a knowledgeable member of their staff.