Decorative Lighting, Home Lighting, LED Lighting

LED Edison Bulbs: Vintage Style Meets Energy Efficiency

led edison bulbs vintage style energy efficiency

LED Edison carbon filament bulbs have a loosely coiled filament that offers a unique, vintage look that is ideal for exposed-bulb fixtures. They’re a popular lighting design choice for both home and commercial use – check out our Design Trends post to find out why.

If you love the antique look of an Edison bulb but worry about electricity usage, we’ve got good news. LED technology has advanced so far that you can now have the unique vintage style and warm glow of carbon filament bulbs without the cost of operating a traditional incandescent bulb.

Let’s take a closer look.

An Illuminating Journey environmental savings

Some find incandescent bulbs more appealing because they emit a warmer light that many find flattering, but there is one major downside: incandescent bulbs are wasteful and use a lot of energy, which can get expensive. This drove manufacturers to seek an energy-efficient alternative to traditional light bulbs.

In the 1980s, compact fluorescents (CFLs) were introduced as a more environmentally friendly option to incandescent bulbs. However, in spite of their endurance, energy and cost-saving benefits, CFLs were met with some resistance because they were known to produce a harsher, colder light and take time to warm up and come to full luminescence.

To learn more about the benefits of CFLs check out our guide.

Then, in the mid 90s, electronic engineer Shuji Nakamura invented the first bright blue light-emitting diode (LED). Nakamura’s invention was followed by innovation from the scientific community. Thanks to Nakamura’s high-brightness blue LED, key breakthroughs in efficiency and reliability were made, quickly leading to the development of a white LED, which was ideal for lighting design purposes. Manufacturers began working with this new LED technology and soon developed the LED light bulb.

Over the years, improvements have been made to LEDs, making them a viable alternative to the incandescent bulb.

Initially, LED bulbs had a prohibitive cost and emitted a cold light that didn’t appeal to all consumers. The lighting industry recognized this and shifted their focus to improving the aesthetic by mimicking the brightness and colour temperature of incandescent bulbs.

With the resurging popularity of Edison bulbs, light bulb producers began developing energy-efficient LED alternatives that would fit this popular design trend without the accompanying costs. First produced in 2008, thin LED strips were used to capture the look of a loose filament. Combining these strips with traditional glass shapes, consumers are now able to pick up a faithful LED recreation of an original carbon filament bulb.

Questions about LEDs? Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to LEDs.

Embellish Your Lighting with LED Edison Bulbs

Thanks to their vintage vibe and industrial-chic appeal, Edison bulbs are ideal for adding interest to a simple fixtures or plain walls. Their loose filament and warm glow are perfect for showing off in bare bulb fixtures like pendant lamps.

LED edison bulbs home decor

For more ideas on how to use Edison bulbs in your lighting scheme, take a look at 7 Ways to Use Edison Bulbs in Your Home Decor.

Find your ideal shade and shape. Browse our selection of LED Edison bulbs:

Warm LED Edison Bulbs

Warm white Edison bulbs have a colour temperature of about 2,700K. Warm light is ideal for family and dining rooms, as well as some commercial applications such as restaurants and hotel lobbies.

Very Warm White LED Edison Bulbs

Very warm white LED Edison bulbs have a colour temperature of about 2200K. In comparison, typical incandescent bulbs have a colour temperature of about 2700K. Because they emit a warmer light, very warm white LED Edison bulbs are ideal for decorative and accent lighting.

Castello Style LED Filament Bulbs

For added luxury, high-end Castello Style LED filament bulbs are perfect for creating an elegant, warm atmosphere in commercial spaces like cafes, restaurants, and retail stores. They’re available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and filament styles:

Take a look at our full range of luxury Castello Style LED filament bulbs.

Energy Efficient and Elegant

With a variety of shapes, sizes, and colour temperatures to choose from, LED Edison bulbs allow consumers to have the best of both worlds: the look and warmth of an incandescent with the energy savings of an LED.

Learn more about Carbon Filament Bulbs.

Shop our full selection of LED Edison bulbs.

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About Nicky Walker

Nicola is a lighting specialist at The Lightbulb Company with a keen awareness of the important role lighting plays in our everyday lives. She enjoys discovering new ways in which lighting can affect science, mental health and of course, most of all, reduce our carbon footprints.