Low-cost ideas to transform your lighting

Whether you are concerned about the environment and favour the 3Rs (reduce, re-use and recycle) or simply want a new look, there is a lot you can do to transform your existing lighting using LEDs. 

If you’ve moved house and inherited light fittings which are not to your taste, you don’t have to suffer them or stretch your budget by replacing them.  When it comes to transforming lighting, a little imagination goes a long way!

Take a look at your light bulbs. Reducing your spend on electricity is always a good idea and LEDs will help you make substantial savings on power. Different coloured LED bulbs will change the atmosphere of your room in an instant.

Are your existing light fittings in the right place? If your renovations include electrical upgrades, consider asking your electrician about moving ceiling lights and sconces to a different position. If this stretches your budget too far, it’s time to get creative.

Check out your local charity shops for scarves and fabric to recover or drape over existing lampshades. Glue beads and sequins to fabric and add fringing to give ethnic appeal. Be sure to use LED bulbs with dressed lampshades though.  Incandescent bulbs produce a lot of heat and could create a fire hazard. LEDs are cool and perfectly safe to use with sheer fabrics and other trimmings.

 Have you joined your local Freecycle or Freegle group – you’ll be amazed at the treasures people give away – completely free!  You can post wanted adverts too.  Try advertising for old glass lampshades, invest in some glass paint and sticky lead strips and create your own stained glass Tiffany lighting.  If you’re investing in new LED bulbs, try offering your existing (working) CFLs on your Freecycle group.  Lots of good causes and people on low incomes depend on these sort of donations to save them money.

Children’s rooms? No problem! Paper ball lampshades cost next to nothing, and can quickly and easily be transformed into fun ‘hot air balloons’ with a small basket, some cord and a tiny teddy! Consider investing in a dimmer switch and dimmable LEDs too. They are a really practical addition to a child’s room, especially for little ones who like the security of a nightlight at bedtime.

So if your lighting isn’t to your taste, don’t despair. Remember the principle of the 3Rs and get creative. If you have any great ideas for transforming your lighting with LEDs, we’d love to hear about them!