Lighting DIY with Philips Deco LED

This post is in collaboration with Philips LED.

One of the most effective ways to transform a room is with light. The lighting in a space can have a transformative effect, not only on the aesthetics of your surroundings, but also your own mental wellbeing. Good lighting can help to elevate a house, to a home.

Over the last few years, there has been a big drive towards saving energy in the home. This is most evident in the lighting market. With Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) at the forefront, LED bulbs (this stands for Light Emitting Diode, in case you didn’t know) have replaced the traditional incandescent variety and come with a ton of benefits: they are more energy efficient, ecologically sound, have almost no UV emissions and last far longer than the
traditional light bulb. Amazing!

However, in a time where exposed bulb light fittings are increasingly popular, it seems that the available options of attractive light bulb are limited. LED bulbs aren’t exactly designed to be seen and the more decorative Edison bulb is just that: purely decorative. These emit a weak flickering light from a glowing filament that is easily broken. Attractive, but unreliable (in my opinion).

If you are going to go exposed, you want to make a statement…

Hello Philips Deco LED Collection.

No bulb makes a design statement quite like the new Philips Deco LED Giant collection. Available in two ranges: Vintage and Modern, these decorative giant Deco LED bulbs fit into any interior style to create a distinctive focal point. The ‘Vintage’ range features amber coloured glass with an elegant swirling filament to create a warm white glow, whilst the sleek ‘Modern’ range features smoky mirrored glass, with a simple vertical filament, perfect for an industrial modern feel.

The white light emitted creates a crisp, clean ambiance: not to be mistaken for the cold blue light we would normally associate with LED. It really is a refreshing white glow.

The three shapes available are ‘teardrop’, ‘tubular’ and ‘globe’, each one creating a unique style. Don’t ask my favourite, it changes by the minute.

How to Use Giant Deco LED Light Bulbs

The great thing about the new Philips Deco LED Collection is the versatility that each product offers. Although ideal as decorative overhead lighting, the gentle white glow of Philips LEDs are perfect for desk working too: there is much less strobe and flicker, making them perfect for task lighting.

I always have a lamp on when blogging in the evening and have found that the clean white glow from the modern range has made a massive difference to my eye comfort. Philips Deco LED bulbs don’t have the annoying glare that usually comes with a normal bulb, meaning I can work for longer without any discomfort. I did not expect this- YAY!

There are lots of fun ways that these beautiful bulbs can be displayed in the home. I say ‘displayed’ because they really are a stunning feature in themselves. Mounted alone or hung in groups for visual impact the decorative qualities of the Deco LED collection are testament to good design, whatever your style.

A simple wall lamp can be made from a piece of wood and some dowel. Spray paint the same colour as your bulb holder for a cohesive look. Simple but hugely effective.

Don’t worry about replacing these beauties either… each bulb has a 13 year life span. Consider the cost of replacing regular light bulbs over that period and you will realise how cost effective these are. And so pretty!

Lighting DIY with Philips Deco LED Collection

If you follow the blog, you probably know that I am a massive fan of floor lamps and table lamps in my own home. By building lighting up in layers, the ambiance of each room can be customised from a variety of light sources: we have 7 lamps in the living room alone…

So, when Philips LED got in touch to try out the Deco LED collection, I took this as an opportunity to add some more. What better way to do it than through a DIY. This is a project that I have wanted to ‘DIY’ for ages but couldn’t as I could never find the right bulbs. THANK YOU PHILIPS LED!

 To Make The Tall Lamp You Will Need:

Components

Philips Deco LED bulb in either ‘Modern’ or ‘Vintage’ style

Wood: 4 lengths 25mm wide x 600mm long

2 lengths measuring 70mm x 240mm long

A bulb holder with 10mm thread

10mm Brass wood nipple

4 metres of decorative silk electrical cable (bought online)

Plastic pipe connector

Plug

Tools and Materials

Tape Measure, Pencil, Saw, chisel, hammer, 1” panel pins, wood glue, drill, 10 mm drill bit, clamps.

Step 1- Measure your bulb to get the width (globe bulb measures 200mm) and mark your wooden cross battens wider. I cut these at 240mm. Decide what height you want to make your frame. This one stands at 600mm. Cut 4 legs at the required length. Keep some of the sawdust for later in the project.

Step 2- Mark the centre point of the cross battens on both sides and centrally mark the width of each batten. Do this halfway down the side, as illustrated in the image below. Mark across the top to join both sides.

Step 3- Clamp the batten to a stable surface and saw just inside each line down to the halfway mark. Ensure that you have reached the halfway mark on both sides. Re-attach the batten fully onto the surface before using a chisel to remove the remaining block. Use the chisel to scrape out any excess then clean up edges using sandpaper.

Step 4- Apply wood glue to the notches you have removed on both battens. Use a hammer and a scrap of wood (to avoid marking your frame) and carefully knock your cross battens together. This should be a tight, neat fit.

Step 5- Mark the position of your cross battens onto the legs. Ensure that they’re at the same height on each leg. Using your smallest drill bit, make two pilot holes on each leg.

Step 6- Mark the centre point of your cross battens and drill through fully, using the 10mm drill bit. This is where your cable will feed through.

Step 7- Apply glue to one cut end of your cross batten. Line up the leg into position and nail into place. Repeat for all 4 legs. You can hide the nail heads by recessing them with a countersink tool and filling with a mix of glue and sawdust (this is why you kept it!). Clean off any excess.

Allow to dry before sanding thoroughly.

Step 8- Screw in the brass nipple, then screw on the base of the lamp holder. Thread through your cable before wiring your lamp holder and plug. All electrical wiring should be safety checked by a professional.

I used a plastic pipe connector, spray painted, to cover the bulb holder. It is the perfect fit.

Step 9- Insert your gorgeous Philips Deco LED bulb and enjoy.

I am thrilled with the end result. The simplicity of the design allows the bulb to take centre stage, framing it perfectly. Although clean and modern in aesthetic, this style of lamp would sit well in any interior, echoing the versatility of the Philips Deco LED bulb itself.

I love how each bulb has its own unique style, which is echoed through the varied shapes and proportions of the stands. The cool contemporary aesthetic of the Modern range keeps the lamp sleek and simple, whilst the traditional warm glow of the Vintage style bulb gives an industrial quality to the lamp.

Whilst each lamp stands stylishly on its own, they also look great arranged in a group: with a mix and match of bulb shapes.

The Philips Deco LED bulb has really filled a gap in the market for energy saving lighting that is not only cost effective, energy saving and ecologically sound… but is also downright gorgeous too.

Find out more about the Philips Deco LED range here and purchase from Amazon here