220V LED bulbs

First check the base on the socket or in the instructions, then choose the colour temperature. A 220V LED bulb screws or clips straight onto the mains supply, with no transformer: the electronics sit inside the base. This selection brings together E27, E14, G9 and G4 bases, mostly in warm white, with some models showing a visible filament.

220V LED bulbs: what changes when there is no transformer?

220-240 V is the mains voltage: nothing to add between the light fitting and the bulb, you simply screw or clip it in as you would a classic bulb. The electronics that drive the LED are built into the base. The four bases offered here, E27, E14, G9 and G4, are all designed for 220-240 V.

220V LED bulbs without a transformer: what changes when you connect them

A bulb designed for 12 V cannot be connected to a 220 V circuit: it needs a power supply that steps the voltage down. The reverse is also true, which is why it pays to check the voltage marked on the fitting before ordering. If your installation is low voltage, take a look at the 12 V low voltage bulbs. Otherwise, the whole LED bulb range runs on mains power.

220V LED fitting or 220V bulb: where the electronics sit

On a 220V LED fitting, the driver is inside the body of the fitting: the bulb cannot be replaced. On a 220V bulb, the electronics travel with the bulb and can be replaced on their own. It is this second case that lets you change the colour temperature or the wattage later, without touching the fitting. Browse all the light fittings that work on this principle.

Which base to choose between E27, E14, G9 and G4?

The base is chosen to match the fitting, not the bulb: E27 for large screw threads, E14 for small ones, G9 and G4 for pins. A G4 will not fit an E27 socket, and a pin base does not screw in. So note the base indicated on the socket or in the instructions before ordering.

E27 and E14: the screw bases

E27 is found on most ceiling lights, chandeliers and pendants. The smaller E14 turns up on compact fittings and table lamps. The Bado model covers several sockets on its own, handy when fitting out a room with mixed fixtures. See the E27 base bulbs and the small E14 screw bases.

G9 and G4: the small pin bases

Both of these bases clip in, with no screwing. The G4 and G9 pack is a quick fix for spotlights and designer fittings, and comes in warm white as well as cool white. Watch the space available behind a recessed spotlight: the base has to match, but the size of the bulb matters too. See the G4 and G9 bulbs.

Warm white or cool white: which colour temperature for which room?

Warm white, between 2700 and 3500 K, gives a soft yellow light suited to the living room, bedroom and dining room. Cool white, from 4500 to 6500 K, is whiter and suits working rooms such as the kitchen. Most of the models in this selection are warm white.

2700 to 3500 K: the warm light of the living room and bedroom

Around 2700 K, the light leans yellow and rests the eye at the end of the day. This is the range of the 2700 K bulbs, and it covers most evening uses. For a bedroom, stay in this family and avoid very white bulbs above the bed. See the bedroom bulbs.

4500 to 6500 K: the whiter light of working rooms

In a kitchen or over a worktop, a whiter light makes colours and textures easier to read. The 3000 K mark remains a good compromise for a living room that doubles as an office: it is more neutral than 2700 K without turning blue. See the 3000 K bulbs and the bulbs designed for the living room.

Which bulb for a living room LED ceiling light?

For a living room LED ceiling light, note the base indicated on the fitting and choose a warm white light for a restful mood. Several light points of moderate wattage light a room better than one strong point. If the ceiling light is dimmable, you need bulbs that are compatible with a dimmer.

LED ceiling lighting: how many light points to plan for

As a general rule, allow one main source per living zone: the centre of the living room, the reading corner, the way through to the kitchen. A ceiling light with several sockets spreads the light better than a single point, provided all the bulbs are identical. Modern style bulbs blend in effortlessly.

Powerful LED ceiling light: spread the light rather than increase the wattage

Increasing the wattage on a single point creates hard shadows and dazzles. Better to multiply moderate sources and keep the same colour temperature throughout. If your dimmer is already installed, the fifteen dimmable E27 warm white filament bulbs will fill every socket. See also the bulbs compatible with a dimmer.

Living room LED chandelier: which bulbs for a fitting with several sockets?

On a chandelier, every socket takes the same reference: same base, same colour temperature, same wattage. Round or globe shapes and visible filaments still look good in an open fitting. A pack lets you fill every socket without mixing shades.

Matching every bulb on the same chandelier

Buying by the pack avoids shade differences between two references. The fifteen round E27 vintage LED bulbs cover a whole chandelier in one order, and the fifteen large dimmable filament bulbs suit fittings where the bulb is seen from a distance. Discover the retro models.

Living room LED chandelier: shape, material and colour of visible bulbs

On an open chandelier, the shape works as hard as the light: round, globe or oval for a classic look, tube for a linear structure. Glass and aged brass marry well with a gold-toned frame. Browse the glass bulbs.

Fitting a powerful LED wall light: which bulb to plan for?

For an LED wall light, first check the base and the space available: a closed shade will not take every bulb shape. A warm white light brightens a wall without dazzling. In a living room, two wall lights of moderate wattage give a more comfortable result than a single very strong one.

Living room LED wall light: brightening a wall without dazzling

A wall light throws the light onto the wall, not into your eyes: that is what makes it comfortable at sofa height or along a hallway. A visible filament adds a luminous pattern when the wall light is open. See the bulbs with a visible filament.

Powerful LED wall light: check the base and the space available

Before ordering, measure the space between the socket and the edge of the shade. A small screw base often fits where a large bulb will not. On a fitting already in place, the Mordane model and the Valeno model both have a G9 base. All wall fittings can be found in all the light fittings.

How do you match the shape, material and colour of bulbs to the fitting?

When the bulb stays visible, its shape and material matter as much as its light: round shapes and glass globes go with most fittings, while the tube suits linear pendants. A white or gold finish is easy to match, a black or red one is best kept for an already dark fitting.

Visible bulbs: round shapes, tube, globe or oval

The round, the globe and the tube are the most represented shapes in the selection, in equal numbers. A clear glass globe lets the filament show, a tube slips into a narrow frame. The oval remains rare and is best kept for fittings with a vertical socket. See the E27 base bulbs.

Glass, metal or brass: keeping the room consistent

Metal and glass make up most of the references, with iron and brass on the more elaborate models. A gold or brass-toned base matches gold frames, and the Éclat Doré E27 filament bulb plays that role. The white finish bulbs remain the safe choice, and the amber finish warms up a wooden interior.

How do you install, care for and budget for your selection of LED bulbs?

Switch off the power before changing a bulb, then screw or clip it in depending on the base, without forcing. A dry cloth is enough for cleaning. The models in this selection come with a two-year guarantee and some accept a dimmer. As for the budget, the grid shows the current price of each reference.

Screwing or clipping: the right moves for each base

Screw bases are tightened by hand, never with pliers. Pin bases come out with a gentle straight movement, pulling along the axis. Clean with the power off, using a dry cloth: water and spray products have no place on a base. The models in this selection are IP20, so they are protected from splashes; for outdoors, a protected fitting is better, so take a look at the outdoor bulbs.

Guarantee, dimmer and budget: what to check before confirming

The bulbs in this selection come with a two-year guarantee. Only some models work with a dimmer: check the wording before fitting out a dimmable circuit, for instance with the living room ceiling lights or the E27 dimmable bulbs. On the budget side, the range runs from entry-level references to more elaborate filament models.

To fit out a whole room, start from the fitting: note the base, choose the colour temperature, then order the number of sockets you need to cover. Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service support every order. Explore our light fitting catalogue to match the bulb to the fixture, then confirm your selection in the grid above.

Frequently asked questions about 220V LED bulbs