Selecting the Right Bulb

Here are some notes on what to consider when choosing a bulb, and which bulbs are compatible with specific Long Made Co designs. 

Make sure to keep your bulb selection to LED only and 15 watt max. All of our designs include a sticker with this requirement.

Questions? Email james@longmadeco.com or text / call 713-305-7881.

 

Bulb Shapes Compatible with Long Made Co Designs

Brass Cylinder Series

  • Only available with a GU10 base, which takes MR16 shaped bulbs.

Highland and Cove Series

  • Come standard with an E26 base, accepting either PAR20 or Type A bulbs.

  • Can also be made with a GU10 base for a MR16 bulb, if preferred. This is available as a configuration option on many listings or you can reach out to us and we’ll create the order for you.

Beau Laiton Series

  • Monopoints - Only available with a GU10 base, which takes MR16 shaped bulbs.
  • Trimmless Downlight - Come standard with an E26 base, accepting either PAR20 or Type A bulbs. Can also be made with a GU10 base for a MR16 bulb, if preferred.

Miro 2 Series

  • Use an E26 base and look best with Type G 16.5 and G25 bulbs.

 

Considerations when choosing a bulb:

Bulb Shape 

MR16 Spot – compatible with our GU10 socket base

  • Bulb base has two prongs that connect to the socket; Various beam angles available

PAR20 Spot – compatible with our E26 socket base

  • Bulb base screws into the socket and bulb lens is flat; Various beam angles available

Type A and Type G – compatible with E26 sockets: Type A bulbs have the traditional light bulb shape, while Type G are a globe shape. 

  • Bulb base screws into the socket. These bulbs come in different sizes (A15, A19, A21…; G16.5, G25, …). These are considered omnidirectional bulbs, where the light shoots out in all directions.

Left to Right: MR16 (Soraa), PAR20 (Soraa), Type A, Type G

Temperature - Measured in Kelvins

  • We recommend 2700 Kelvin(K) for most spaces to get a nice warm glow. Less than 2700K can sometimes look too yellow or orange, while 3000K and above can look too blue and cold 

Lumens and Wattage - Measure of light output and electricity used

  • The Watts measure the amount of electricity the bulb pulls, which powers the amount of Lumens. Higher wattage can lead to higher Lumens, though some brands are more efficient than others and it is not a direct correlation. You might find a 5 Watt that has higher Lumens than a 7 Watt. 

  • MR16 bulbs are slightly smaller than PAR20s, and Lumens typically range from 400 (5 Watts) to 700 (9 Watt). 

  • PAR20 bulbs are larger and usually pull more wattage, generally enabling higher Lumens. Lumens typically range from 500 (7 Watts) to 1000 (11 Watts).

 

Beam Angle or Bulb Angle Spread

This one is important when selecting an MR16 or PAR20 bulb. This is a measure of how wide or narrow the light is cast out of the light. We recommend getting a few bulbs with different spreads to try out in the space. Keep in mind, the further the light is from the item or surface you're wanting to light up the more distance it has to fan out.

  • For general room lighting in most spaces, we recommend anywhere between 30° - 60°; treat it like a recessed light.

  • If you’re using a spotlight to illuminate a piece of art, then you’ll want something around 10°- 40° depending on the size and distance the light is set from the art.

  • For surface lighting (think kitchen island, bar top, counters or dining tables) we recommend anywhere between 10° to 40° to keep the light only on the surface you're wanting to illuminate. Consider the height of the ceiling and how far away the spot is from its source, then imagine the light casting out in various angles to pick the correct type.


Bulb Brands We Like

  • Soraa
  • Emery Allen
  • Tala
  • Phillips
  • Green Creative


Dimming and How to Avoid Flickering

Standard Guidance for all Lighting

  • Many bulbs are dimmable by default but be sure to verify that when selecting a bulb. Some cheaper brands may say they are dimmable but don’t always dim well. We recommend a good quality bulb from a reputable company that thoroughly test their products.

  • If multiple lights are connected to the same wall switch (daisy chained), it’s recommended to use the same bulb and brand in each fixture to ensure they’re pulling the same amount of electricity and dim evenly. 

    • You should not have lights with different socket types on the same switch (i.e. a light with an GU10-MR16 bulb on the same switch as a light with an E26-PAR20 bulb). Doing so will result in uneven dimming.

  • Get a good quality dimmer switch compatible with LEDs. Not all wall dimmers are created equal. Cheaper brands don’t always live up to their advertised capabilities. 

  • Our fixtures will not stand in the way of any dimming features. If you're having problems with dimming, it is either your blub(s) or the wall dimmer switch.