Lightbulbs & Fairy Lights

Lightbulbs and Fairy Lights: Illuminating Your Home Inside and Out

There's nothing like the twinkle of fairy lights to get us excited here at Rockett St George (and it doesn't even need to be Christmas!)

There's something utterly magical about them, wouldn't you agree? Especially as they have the power to take a room from functional to fabulous in literally the time it takes to put them up. Whether you choose classic bright or warm white, or go full-on multi-coloured maximalist, fairy lights create a warm, welcoming ambiance, instantly. You might be decorating your home for a party, for Christmas or just because you fancy it - whatever the reason, lighting (and, by extension, lightbulbs) play a crucial role in shaping the look, feel, and function of your home. The right lighting design can dramatically transform your space, so whether you’re aiming to highlight architectural features, create a cosy corner or spruce up your garden, fairy lights, LED lightbulbs and string lights are an essential part of your armoury.

This guide explores how to effectively use fairy lights and lightbulbs across different areas of your home, and shares creative lighting tips for both indoors and out.

 From lighting ideas for the living room to how to create a warm atmosphere with garden lighting, we have you covered! 

The Appeal Of Fairy Lights And String Lights

We've firmly established that fairy lights and string lights are no longer limited to holiday decor. They’ve become year-round staples for stylish, cosy illumination, and are perfect for adding charm and warmth to any environment. Thanks to energy-efficient LEDs and flexible designs, you can drape them over headboards, wind them around shelves, or hang them along patios.

Use them as:

• Ambient mood lighting for the living room.

• Festive outdoor Christmas lights.

• Accent lighting for gardens or balconies.

• Unique alternatives to bedside or landing lights.

They're also perfect for layering with other sources of light. Layered lighting is the key to creating a warm, welcoming home, but if you're not familiar with this term, or how to do it, don't worry. We'll explain everything you need to know below!

How To Layer Lighting

The key to layering light lies in combining different types of lighting - ambient, task, and accent. This method adds depth and 'texture' to any room.

Here's how to do it:

Ambient: Start with your main source of light, such as the ceiling light.

Task: Add direct lighting solutions, such as spotlights, desk lamps or wall sconces to cosy corners, desks or beside your bed. These not only focus light on the task at hand (ie. reading) but also create pools of light that are beautifully atmospheric.

Accent: These are the lighting equivalent of the icing on the cake! Use fairy lights or string lights to highlight features and add decorative flair.

Begin With Warm Lighting

When selecting lightbulbs for effective layered lighting, warm lightbulbs are your go-to. Warm light typically falls between 2700K and 3000K on the Kelvin scale (a scale that measures the colour temperature of light) and produces a soft, golden glow, which is ideal for relaxing spaces like bedrooms and living rooms. This tone complements fairy lights, which often emit a similarly inviting warmth.

Warm lighting is best used when your goal is comfort and intimacy. Whether you’re installing hallway lights, styling table lamps in your lounge, or stringing fairy lights around a reading nook, choosing the right bulb colour temperature makes a big difference.

Lighting Ideas For The Living Room

The living room is the heart of most homes, and it deserves thoughtful lighting. Effective lighting for this part of the home involves a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Fairy lights and string lights can be used here to soften overhead glare or bring subtle sparkle to darker corners.

Try these ideas:

• Drape string lights along curtain rods or behind sheer fabric for an ethereal glow.

• Place fairy lights in glass jars for quirky, glowing table décor.

• Use Edison-style lightbulbs to inject personality and vintage charm.

Don't forget you can use smart bulbs with an adjustable colour temperature to switch up the mood for different occasions.

A Guide To Statement Lighting

Statement lighting is all about impact. It’s bold, eye-catching, and often the centrepiece of a room.

In our guide to statement lighting, we recommend:

• Oversized pendant lights over dining tables (Edison lightbulbs really come into their own here, when used with smoked glass orbs, for example).

• Statement lamps on side tables or sideboards.

• Sculptural lighting options in hallways or hanging from the landing.

For a softer take on statement design, use fairy lights in unexpected places - wrapped around a tall indoor plant, suspended from the ceiling in a canopy, or cascading down a wall behind a bed. These can create stunning visual effects without overwhelming the space.

A good trick for the living room is to combine a dimmable central light (or 'the big light' - yes, they're still a thing!) with fairy lights on a mantlepiece and a bright lamp next to a reading chair for optimal comfort and flexibility. If you're unsure where to style fairy place fairy lights (or you're struggling for space), use this rule of thumb: string them where shadows fall, such as under shelves or in corners. Adding string lights outdoors or around window frames brings ALL the cosiness and charm. You're all set!

The Great Outdoors 

Your outside space deserves just as much TLC as the inside of your home. String lights and garden lights not only infuse your garden, patio or terrace with an ambient warmth, they make the space safer (by illuminating steps, for example) and extend the time you can be outside long after the sun goes down.

The tips here will help turn your garden into a showstopper:

• Hang outdoor string lights across pergolas, fences, or between trees to create a magical evening ambiance.

• Position lights along paths or flower beds for subtle illumination.

• Use solar-powered festoon lights or lanterns to add an extra pop of personality (without increasing your electricity bill).

• Fill glass jars or vases with fairy lights for versatile, portable party décor. Simple but so effective!

Let's Talk Christmas

Outdoor Christmas lights do more than just signal the beginning of the festive season - they create warmth, nostalgia, and joy. Fairy lights can be wrapped around banisters, railings, or tree trunks for a classic look. For bolder displays, use cascading icicle string lights along the roofline or coloured options to highlight shrubs and hedges.

Pairing these results in a subtle but enchanting lighting scheme that you'll love so much you'll want to leave them up all year round!

Hallway Lights: Often Overlooked, Always Important

Hallway and landing lights are frequently forgotten because they're in the transitional spaces in our homes, rather than the rooms in which we spend rest and relax. However, they play an essential role in home lighting. They light the way between rooms and contribute to your home’s overall ambiance. You likely have ceiling or wall lights in your hallway, but that's not to say you can't add a little lighting magic to the mix!

Here's how:

• Use subtle fairy lights along the skirting board or coving / ceiling line.

• Install LED or Edison-style lightbulbs in pendant fixtures for a contemporary look (more on lightbulbs below).

• Style unusual or quirky lamps on console or hallway tables for an extra decorative accent.

Lightbulbs And Quirky Lighting

Lighting doesn't have to be serious. Unusual and quirky lighting or lamps bring a playful, artistic element to your home - think colourful bases, unusual shapes (we do love a bird-shaped lamp here at RSG), or natural materials like glass, wood, or ceramic. These lamps are perfect for adding flair and personality to your space, whether your interior design style is maximalist mash-up or a minimalist's dream. Style your lamp in a corner or reading nook and arrange fairy or string lights around it to elevate both mood and aesthetic.

When it comes to lightbulbs, LED lightbulbs are a smart and stylish lighting choice, combining energy efficiency with eye-catching design. One of the most popular options is the clear LED lightbulb, which allows the internal structure of the bulb (the 'filament') to shine through. These are ideal for decorative fittings where the bulb is part of the visual appeal, whether you're going for bright white or a softer, more ambient glow.

No detail is too small when it comes to lighting, which means nothing is overlooked - not even the inner workings of a lightbulb! The squirrel cage filament design is a huge favourite of ours - it's a vintage-inspired look that brings character and a touch of nostalgia to your home, particularly when used in exposed-bulb fixtures or statement lighting pieces.

Shape also matters when it comes to style and function. A more compact golf ball-shaped lightbulb is ideal for smaller lamps, while a globe-shaped lightbulb offers a bold, modern aesthetic for ceiling pendants and oversized fittings. For a more elegant or traditional touch, a candle-shaped lightbulb adds charm to chandeliers and wall sconces. With so many designs and tones to choose from, LED lightbulbs offer endless possibilities for personalising and enhancing your lighting.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right lightbulbs, fairy lights, and string lights can dramatically enhance the look and feel of your home, creating a warm, welcoming space. Layered and warm lighting all play important roles, too. The wonderful thing about lighting is that it can be changed to suit the occasion or mood - go bold for a big party or soft and romantic for more intimate gatherings. We can pretty much guarantee there will be fairy lights and lightbulbs that do the job!