Buying Guides
Buying the best lights
What is the best lighting for my home?
Brighten up your desk with a table lamp or LED light, give living rooms a warm glow with floor lamps or place a security light outside: lighting your home is often as much about creating a mood as it is about functionality. Choose your lighting based on room or by the three main types of lighting; general lighting, task lighting and mood lighting. Our helpful lighting buying guide features lots of practical lighting ideas to ensure your home is well lit and inviting.
Lighting ideas by room
Kitchen
- Kitchen island lighting for cooking tasks like chopping
- Pendant lights look great in multiples above a kitchen island and help to define space and create focus above a breakfast bar
- Spotlights are great for providing brightness for food prep
- Under-cabinet lighting is useful for illuminating worktops
- Shop Kitchen lighting
Dining
- Pendants work well to create a centrepiece within a room; if ceiling heights permit, this is a great space to display an eye-catching chandelier
- Semi-flush lights work well as an alternative for low ceilings
- Wall lights help divide up the room and illuminate works of art
Lounge
- Floor lights and table lights can be used to layer light as a softer more ambient option when spotlights not required
- Slim sofa style side floor lamps are great for compact spaces whereas larger arc styles create drama and can be used as an alternative to a ceiling pendant
- Table lamps can help make a statement whereas smaller bulb holders work well mixed with decorative accessories on a shelf for the ultimate 'shelfie'
Bedroom
- On the ceiling, pendant light works well to create a focal point over the bed. Choosing a fabric shade with a diffuser will make for a softer aesthetic whilst more bold crystal or metal designs make a statement
- Adding a dimmer switch means you can tailor the light level as required, from bright light to a softer mood lighting for the evening
- Bedsides task lamps, clip lights or task headed wall lights create focused light for reading and working
- Touch lamps are the perfect solution for convenience; we also sell duo packs of lamps (including touch) for either side of the bed. Or as a more contemporary alternative bulb holders work well.
- Illuminated mirrors are the perfect addition to your dressing table to provide bright light for makeup and hairstyling
Bathroom
- All of our bathroom lighting is IP protected which ensures it is protected from water and moisture
- Spotlights and over mirror lights are great for highlighting a certain area and great for tasks such as applying makeup, hairstyling or shaving
- Flush lights are great for dispersing even light across the room, they also work well to create a softer ambience for more relaxing bath times
- Shop Bathroom lighting
Hallway
- General lighting is important in landings and hallways to help brighten the space
- Lighting in the landing can be a great way to make a statement in your home; our chandeliers are perfect for stairwells
- Wall lights or table lights are a great way of layering light and creating a softer ambience in selected spaces
John Lewis Home Insurance
Flex our Bronze, Silver and Gold Buildings and Contents Cover and adapt our optional add-ons to suit you
JOHN LEWIS HOME INSURANCE
Flex our Bronze, Silver and Gold Buildings and Contents Cover and adapt our optional add-ons to suit you
Garden & Outdoor
- All outdoor lights are IP protected which ensures it is protected from water and moisture
- Our outdoor lighting range offers both general lighting, such as security lights and wall lights to illuminate space and decorative lighting to create ambience in the garden whilst relaxing or socialising
- Security and motion sensors are great for front porches
- Solar stakes or path lights are great for illuminating a pathway
- Uplighters are great for highlighting selected parts within the garden for mood and ambience
- Line lights are great for decorative lighting within the garden or patio space
- Shop Garden and Outdoor Lighting
For outdoor or bathroom lighting check the IP (Ingress Protection) rating.
The higher the rating, the more protected the lighting is. You need a minimum IP44 rating. The first digit refers to the degree you’re protected from any contact with moving parts, and the degree the light is protected from anything getting inside. This ranges from ‘0’ (no special protection) to ‘6’ (dust-tight). The second digit indicates how much moisture (drips, spray or jets) the light can withstand. This ranges from ‘0’ (no special protection) to ‘8’ (protection from complete, continuous submersion in water). For example, an IP44 rating means nothing bigger than 1mm can get in, and it’s safe from splashing water.
Lighting by type
General Lighting
A centrepiece of light which illuminates the room, for example; pendant lights and chandeliers. This is often in the centre of the room or over a dining table. Ideal for socialising.
Task Lighting
Directional lighting which supports functional tasks often with an adjustable head, for example; task desk lamps, task floor lamps and spotlights. Ideal for reading.
Mood Lighting
A light source offering warmth and ambience for the room, for example; table lamps, floor lamps, wall washers and up lighters. Ideal for relaxing.
Ceiling lights
Pendant Lights
- Create a focus in your room - over a kitchen island or breakfast bar
- Perfect as a feature in stairwells
- Hang between landings or suspend from high ceilings
- Often surrounded by a light shade
- Smaller pendant lights look great in multiples in arrangements tailored to fit a space
Flush Ceiling Lights
- Perfect for lower ceilings
- Lie flat against the ceiling to save space
- Allow for a design statement in smaller rooms and on lower ceilings
- Shop Flush Ceiling Lights
Chandelier multi-arm lights
- Use a chandelier to create a statement or focal point for the room
- Often timeless in design incorporating crystal and metalwork
- The crystal facets create beautiful light effects across the ceiling
- Shop Chandeliers
Spotlight or Downlights
- Small, bright lights that sit fairly recessed to the ceiling
- Sometimes made up of several adjustable lights along a metal bar
- Enhance visibility where you need it, ideal for tasks such as sewing
- Shop Spotlights
Wall lights
Wall lights
- Wall lights can be decorative or functional
- Decorative wall lights will create a beautiful light effect
- Functional wall lights may include wall spotlights or picture lights
- Shop Wall Lights
Lamps
Desk lamps
- Styles range from task lighting to decorative desk lamps such as lava lamps
- Task lamps available in fixed and adjustable styles
- Produce directional light to assist you as you work, read or apply makeup
- Help to focus attention and reduce eye strain
- Some styles are equipped with Qi charging and USB ports
- We offer branded and in-house designsTable lamps with a traditional lampshade offer a softer light
- Available in a variety of shapes
- Larger lamps create a design statement
- Smaller scales great for bedsides in pairs
- Duo packs available offering great value for money
- 3-stage touch dimmers and touch control lights are available. We recommend using a dimmable bulb for any 3 stage touch control lamp.
- Shop Desk Lamps
- Styles range from task lighting to decorative desk lamps such as lava lamps
- Task lamps available in fixed and adjustable styles
- Produce directional light to assist you as you work, read or apply makeup
- Help to focus attention and reduce eye strain
- Some styles are equipped with Qi charging and USB ports
- We offer branded and in-house designs
- Table lamps with a traditional lampshade offer a softer light
- Available in a variety of shapes
- Larger lamps create a design statement
- Smaller scales great for bedsides in pairs
- Duo packs available offering great value for money
- 3-stage touch dimmers and touch control lights are available. We recommend using a dimmable bulb for any 3 stage touch control lamp.
- Shop Desk Lamps
Floor Lamps
- Offer freestanding light around rooms
- We stock matching or coordinating table and floor lamps
- Arc floor lamps make a statement
- Range of shapes available - go for slimmer profiles for smaller spaces or tripod floor lamps for larger rooms
- LED strip light styles are a contemporary choice
- Shop Floor Lamps
SAD & Wake Up Lamps
- Begin each day on a positive note with the help of a SAD light. A seasonal affective disorder lamp is a therapeutic solution to ensuring you get a boost of serotonin when you need it most.
- The functionality of a SAD light will help fend of the winter blues in order to keep you functioning at your best.
- Couple your SAD light with a wake up light to establish a more upbeat disposition.
- A wake up light aims to deliver the same impact from a natural sunrise by gradually increasing the brightness in healthy doses. This will therefore gently nudge your body awake in a much more pleasant way.
- Shop SAD & Wake Up Lighting
Best lamp Shades and Lamp Bases
- The height of your base should be roughly equal to the width of your shade
- Classic bases work well paired with tapered shades
- Modern bases work well with straight-sided drum shades
- Oval and rectangular shades are great for space-saving
- Taller profile light shades give a more contemporary look
- We give a recommended light bulb type for all our shades, for both look and safety
- For floor lamps, the height of the base divided by four gives an approximate height for your shade - you may need to go down a width size if space is restricted
- Shop Lamp Shades
- The height of your base should be roughly equal to the width of your shade
- Classic bases work well paired with tapered shades
- Modern bases work well with straight-sided drum shades
- Oval and rectangular shades are great for space-saving
- Taller profile light shades give a more contemporary look
- We give a recommended light bulb type for all our shades, for both look and safety
- For floor lamps, the height of the base divided by four gives an approximate height for your shade - you may need to go down a width size if space is restricted
- Shop Lamp Shades
Services we offer
Delivery
All our lighting is available for free standard delivery on UK orders over £50 or £3.50 on orders under £50. Some lights are also available for Click & Collect which is free on orders over £30 or £2 on orders under £30.
Guarantee
We offer a 5-year guarantee on John Lewis & Partners brand lighting, including LED lighting as well as a Two-Year Guarantee on selected Lighting brands.
We offer a 5-year guarantee on John Lewis & Partners brand lighting, including LED lighting as well as a Two-Year Guarantee on selected Lighting brands.
Installation
From hanging a chandelier to installing flush lights, when you buy lighting in our shops, you can also take advantage of our installation service.
From hanging a chandelier to installing flush lights, when you buy lighting in our shops, you can also take advantage of our installation service.
Jargon busters
What is a Kelvin?
- A measurement of the light bulb’s colour temperature
- A low kelvin value produces a warm yellow light, while a higher value produces a cool blue light
- Less than 3000k produces warm light (2700-3000k is the standard range for indoor lighting), 3000-4500k a neutral white light good for work and offices, and more than 4500k produces a cool white light or daylight effect, good for reading
What is an LED?
- Stands for light-emitting diode
- Extra-bright (lumens depending, see point below), energy-efficient and long-lasting
- Uses up to 90% less energy than the traditional source
- LED bulbs last longer, lessening the need to frequently change light bulbs. This significantly reduces waste and saves money in the long term. For example, the lifetime of an LED light source is eight times longer than that of traditional halogen light sources. A halogen (or ‘halo’) light bulb has a lifetime of about 2,000 hours whereas LED bulbs can last up to 15,000 hours.
What is a Lumen?
- Refers to the brightness of the light bulb
- Watts no longer correlate with the brightness (see Wattage, below). As a rough guide:
1600 Lumens=100 W
1100 Lumens=75W
800 Lumens=60W
450 Lumens=40W
- The higher the lumens, the brighter the light bulb
- Lighting a room will take roughly 800 Lumens. A lower number will create a soft, ambient atmosphere
What is a Watt?
- How much energy a light bulb uses (the higher the wattage, the more energy it needs)
- No longer the measurement for brightness (see Lumens, above)
- Lighting products are still tested to an original incandescent or tungsten wattage which is why many products still have a ‘Max Tested Wattage’ label
What is a halogen bulb?
- Known for its quality of light and lasting life compared to incandescent or tungsten light bulbs
- Halogen is being phased out in most light bulb types (excluding specialist bulbs), due to being energy inefficient
Light bulb advice
We offer incandescent and halogen bulbs as well as environmentally friendly LED light bulbs and integrated LED lighting as a more sustainable alternative. We advise keeping bulb surfaces dust free with a dry cloth to help increase bulb outputs. Discover all you need to know about the types of bulbs we offer, plus which switches and dimmers are available in our collection.