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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Decorate Your Home » Upgrade Your Light Fixtures with One Simple Change

Upgrade Your Light Fixtures with One Simple Change

by Lindsay Ballard on January 25, 2012 11 Comments

As with fashion, I am always hesitant to spend a lot of time and/or money investing in design trends (chevron walls aside).  The new, big thing goes away as quickly as it came into style, and you are left holding a bag of a bunch of acid washed jeans that need to be taken to Goodwill.

I’ve been concerned that my budding obsession with Edison-style filament light bulbs would wind up in that Goodwill bag.  Then, I started seeing more and more of them being used in fixtures that show bare bulbs, and I realized that it would be an easy update.  Both Lowe’s and Home Depot sell the bulbs now (there are actually two sizes at HD) and they are $6-$8 a pop.  There are many more styles and bases available from various online retailers as well.

Restoration Hardware’s Edison bulb collection

Of course, this style of bulb looks great in industrial style fixtures, such as these found at Forma Living.

But what about a more traditional lighting fixture?  Could it be enlivened with a filament-style blub?  If the fixture has a bare bulb, then I think the answer is yes.  Imagine this fixture from Ballard Designs with an Edison bulb.

Or how about this wall sconce from allen + roth at Lowe’s?  Wouldn’t it be more interesting if vintage-style bulbs were in this vintage-style fixture?

I think upgrading a fixture or two to an Edison-style filament bulb is a great way to add a little trend to your home.

What’s your take on the Edison bulb?  Love it or leave it?

A word of caution on these type of bulbs, though.  Although the wattage will be the same as a traditional bulb, the lumens (or light output) will be much lower.  I recommend them being used as accent lighting.  Don’t expect that one 60-watt Edison bulb is going to produce the same amount of light as a traditional 60-watt bulb – it simply won’t.  That being said, the Edison bulbs are supposed to last longer than a traditional bulb.

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

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Comments

  1. Jen @ a place 2 call home says

    January 25, 2012 at 7:21 am

    I actually just saw these the other day at home depot, and started to think about where I could use them. I love vintage and the bulbs provide a little bit of an edge that I love too. So I say yes. And the bulbs are low energy so they last for a really long time, I was worried about such an expensive bulb needing to be replaced often. I’m planning on using them for an upcoming project, I’ll be sure to send you the link when I’m done : )

    Reply
  2. lissa - wander says

    January 25, 2012 at 8:05 am

    no kidding, i was just looking at the lights from restoration hardware yesterday. i love!

    Reply
  3. Laura@Ms Smartie Pants says

    January 25, 2012 at 9:46 am

    I love them! I got a cute new fixture for my kitchen at Christmas and a lovely new light bulb to go with it, can’t wait to see it hanging!

    Reply
  4. Kayla says

    January 25, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    I love them too! I’ve always thought light fixtures needed clear bulbs, but I love the lookk of edison bulbs (where the bulb is exposed, of course) even more. I have plans to “update” a 70’s light in our foyer with a clear globe and edison bulb here soon.

    Reply
  5. jeni westhoff says

    January 25, 2012 at 2:25 pm

    I recently bought a rectangular clear glass /oil rubbed bronze light fixture for over my dining room table. I got it from Ballard Designs and they had the Edison bulbs in the catalog photo. The stores around me JUST started selling the bulbs and I bought three for it. I love the look, but they definitely are not as bright as a regular bulb. That being said, they are perfect in the dining room where you don’t want it too bright.

    Reply
  6. Julie says

    January 25, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    I got myself one of the Allen + roth pendants for my kitchen area and I love it. You can see it on display here: http://www.thehyperhouse.com/2012/01/kitchen-tour/ It helped take my more modern kitchen back in time a touch so it fit with the rest of the house. I really love the warm light it casts too, it looks so nice compared to the harsh white so many lights have these days.

    Reply
  7. Lyndsey says

    January 26, 2012 at 12:47 am

    I love those light bulbs. They would look really cute in a vintage bathroom.

    Reply
  8. Maria says

    January 27, 2012 at 12:45 am

    Love these! Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Bene says

    April 24, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Hi – how I love these bulbs! Please tell me you know where to find them in Europe, and more specifically in France where I live? This would be so great.
    Congratulations on your blog, I will have to come back, as I’m sure I can learn from your knowledge around lighting DIY! Indeed I have saved 3 vintage lights from the small town house we are currently renovating (www.eugeniestreet.wordpress.com, if you click on the “vintage” tag, the first picture is one of these lights), and well I would like to clean them and build a fixture with the 3. My challenge: I have no knowlegde whatsoever of electricity DIY…

    Reply
  10. Nicole says

    June 16, 2012 at 8:41 am

    I would love them more if they were called Tesla bulbs! He invented them, after all.

    Reply
  11. Troffers says

    December 13, 2012 at 5:21 am

    These days, there are so many kinds of kitchen lighting fixtures that you can also choose. To be able to choose the best kitchen lighting fixtures, you have to refer to the condition of your kitchen.

    Reply

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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