When it’s time to switch up the interior decor, most people usually think of changing the style with new furniture pieces or choosing sets of artworks and pottery to add some fresh breeze. And yet, as overlooked as lighting may be, it’s often the very element that can have the most impact without it being a significant expense.
When carefully considering its design, functionality, cost and energy efficiency, lighting can truly transform your abode and enhance its comfort besides making it shine quite literally. One of the more recent inventions that certainly achieves all this is the touch-sensitive lamp.
How Do Touch On Touch Off Lamps Work?
Think of the convenient touch lamps as a combination of lights and switches that instead of being based on mechanical buttons function by human touch. The way these works is by the lamp’s body capacitance being altered by the contact. The circuit in the lamp (wired to its body) detects the change in signal and then triggers the light either to turn on or off. In simple terms, upon contact, the lamp’s internal switch gets activated.
Are Touch Lamps Any Good?
Yes, they’re everything you could wish for in indoor lighting: versatile, convenient, and attractive. You can find them in a range of styles, from sleek and modern, to ornate and traditional, so no matter what your home’s décor may be, there’s the right lamp. They are available in stylish finishes and a variety of materials from metals to wood bases perfect for some warm aesthetic.
The fact they’re easy to use, with a single touch, makes them practical so much so that even pets can learn how to operate them. This is especially useful at night when you can’t look for switches which is why they’re fit for use on bedside tables, and if you think about it they’re great for preventing night falls too or making daily living easier for people with disabilities.
The lack of external switches is also great from the cleaning perspective. Not having to deal with cleaning nasty switches with all kinds of germs, dust, and skin oils means one less chore. In some cases, greasy switches can stop functioning properly too, making the lamp basically unusable or in need of serious repair. And, let’s face it, it might be cheaper to just buy a new one instead of going through the trouble to clean it.
With the practical touch lamps, you have none of these issues, and moreover, they can make any light bulb, even a 60-watt one into a multi-use bulb. Some lights, such as those equipped with mechanical switches, offer you the chance to choose from different light settings, from the low glow (e.g. at 20 watts), and the mid-glow (e.g. 40 watts), to the high glow range (e.g. full 60 watts), so you get to set your own illuminating level needed for a range of tasks.
This very property makes them usable in more rooms other than the bedroom where you require adequate lighting to do some cooking, reading, or writing, helping you avoid any eye strain. Those lightswith electronic switches are suitable for use with LEDs that are known to be dimmable, and the same goes for CFLs, so keep this in mind next time you’re searching for a new bulb.
Where Can You Use Touch Lamps?
Almost anywhere in your home where you need additional lighting. Thanks to the design, they’re fit for use on shelving, side tables, bedside tables, consoles, as well as vanities, desks and countertops, but remember you’re going to need a socket nearby to plug them in.
In the bedroom, as mentioned, they’re perfectly used right beside the bed. For a harmonious outcome, and more functionality on both sides of the bed, it’s advisable to get two matching touch table lamps that would add as much illumination as a balance to the aesthetic.
If you feel like letting your personality come to play, you could be daring and choose to mix two different designs, styles, finishes, or colours. In terms of design, it’s best for this room if you picked out a dimmable lamp so you could switch to warmer light levels to create a warm atmosphere that doesn’t create direct glare in your eyes.
In the living room, you don’t necessarily have to use a dimmable light unless you want to create a romantic mood when you’re having a film night with your significant other. These lights are ideal for use in this room too because they can add much-needed interest and provide a boost of additional light beside the main chandelier or pendant, for example. In rooms like the kitchen and the office, you need a brighter setting to do all the tasks and make the areas more productive.
Other areas where you can use the advantage of this kind of lighting are the nursery/kids’ room and the hallway. Not having a convenient light during those night feedings can complicate your life more than it already may be, so why not add this change? The hallway could also do with more light especially if it’s not getting enough natural illumination to make it more inviting and warmer.