Colin and Justin: A few glowing recommendations

The formerly humble light bulb is having quite the glow-up

Published Sep 04, 2026  •  3 minute read

Light bulbs have come a long way more recently and are much more sophisticated. ‘Smart’ bulbs can alter brightness, shift from warm to cool white, change colour and, increasingly, perform several jobs from one fitting.

In previous columns, we’ve essayed about the four principal layers of lighting. ‘Ambient’ lighting provides illumination to brighten space, via, for example, flush-mount fixtures and pot lights.

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‘Task’ lighting delivers for activities such as reading or cooking courtesy of desk lamps, or under-cabinet fittings.

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Penultimately, ‘accent’ lighting is directional, and is used to highlight architectural features, artwork or shelving, using wall sconces or targeted tracks.

Finally, ‘decorative’ lighting is as much about appearance as it is illumination, and useful examples include sculptural pendants, or distinctive floor lamps.

The most successful rooms combine all four layers, and allow lighting to shift according to mood, activity and time.

In today’s column, we’re going back to rudimentary issues to discuss the (formerly) humble light bulb. But wait: it’s had quite the glow-up…

Previously, when it came to bulb selection, the decision was simple: 40 or 60 watt, clear or frosted, followed by a nervous glance at the price tag before chucking a multipack into the trolley.

Today? Well, bulbs have become way more sophisticated. ‘Smart’ bulbs can alter brightness, shift from warm to cool white, change colour and, increasingly, perform several jobs from one fitting. And we’re so here for it.

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We’ve long maintained that lighting is one of the most important ingredients in any interior. You can lavish cash on timber, upholstery and art, but bathe everything in the wrong illumination and your room runs the risk of resembling a hospital waiting area.

Conversely, good lighting flatters modest finishes, deepens colour and makes everything feel instantly warmer.

Let’s look at the evidence. First up: selectable colour temperature, often marked CCT. Measured in Kelvin, it determines whether white light appears warm and golden or cool and crisp.

Around 2700K delivers an incandescent-style glow; 3000K is slightly cleaner, while 4000K and beyond become progressively brighter.

Crucially, you no longer have to choose just one, and, this in mind, we’ve rostered a selection, all of which are available in stores like Home Depot or Canadian Tire. Globe Electric’s ‘Ambiance Select A19’, provides five settings from 2700K to 5000K via a switch on the bulb.

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EcoSmart’s ‘Selectable A19’ goes further, offering six temperatures from 2700K to 6500K. Hey: one bulb, several personalities – rather like us before coffee.

Even more interesting is variable brightness. EcoSmart’s ‘Universal Select’ lets you select the equivalent of 40, 60, 75 or 100 watts (from 450 to 1,600 lumens) as well as six colour temperatures.

In other words, you decide how bright or how warm the bulb should be. Renovators and mind-changers, rejoice.

Remember, though, watts measure energy consumption; lumens measure light output. Shopping by “60-watt equivalent” remains useful shorthand, but lumens are the figure to watch.

Then come smart bulbs. Philips ‘Hue Essential’ offers tunable white from 2200K to 6500K, colour, app or voice control and controllable dimming. For a simpler entry point, Philips ‘WiZ’ serves tunable white, scheduling and app control using your existing Wi-Fi, without requiring an additional hub.

We particularly like smart lighting, being that many of today’s rooms work overtime; breakfast calls for clean, useful illumination, a rainy afternoon may require brighter reading light and dinner needs warmth.

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Many systems allow schedules, so you can create settings such as Arrival, Dinner, Movie and Reading rather than prowling around switching six lamps individually.

But take a tip: technology alone doesn’t suffuse good lighting. Restraint does. Just because a bulb can turn purple doesn’t mean your pine-panelled sitting room need look like a nightclub in New York.

Think, instead, in layers, and specify warm lamps at seating height, adjustable downlights for general illumination and brighter options around kitchens, desks and utility zones.

Tunable white is particularly useful in open-concept rooms, being that it allows the same space to move from practical by day to atmospheric after dark.

It’s also important to check compatibility before buying. Not every LED works happily with every dimmer, smart bulbs (generally) need constant power to remain connected, and enclosed fixtures may require specifically rated lamps.

The foregoing mightn’t sound terribly sexy, but neither is spending the day up a ladder wondering why your kitchen looks suddenly blue.

Watch ‘Small Town Escapes with Colin and Justin’ on HGTV. Discover the ‘Colin+Justin Home Collection’ at Homesense and Winners. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

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