DesignerDeco

Lamps

Posted on 17. Feb, 2009 by DesignerDeco in Modern Decor

Lamps are often used when there’s a need to artificially shed light on a room or an object. Lamps can be classified into different kinds. In decorative light fixtures, the term “lamp” means any type of light-emitting appliance. Lamps can either be free-standing or can be carried around easily. In electrical components, lamps are parts of a bigger or more complex mechanism or appliance.

Types of lamps

According to placement and use

For decorative purposes, lamps can be classified according to their placement and usage.

Wall lamps

Wall lamps are types of artificial light sources that are mounted vertically along a wall or an upright surface. Wall lamps are often added to a room in order to provide additional lighting. Depending on the tastes of the homeowner, wall lamps can either have the lights focused upwards for a toned down ambiance or downwards to provide adequate lighting for reading or showcasing an object. Wall lamps can also be used to illuminate dark hallways or passageways. Wall lamps come in many different designs to match the interiors or to set a theme or mood in a room or area.

Mood lamps

Other kinds of lamps are also used to set a mood in a setting. Lava lamps from the 1960s are a popular type of artificial light source that are great conversation pieces as well as effective décor in rooms.

UV lamps

UV lamps on the other hand are specialty lamps that are used mostly in tanning beds. Since UV rays are what cause skin to produce more melanin when exposed to sunlight, UV lamps used in tanning salons produce higher concentrations of UV light for quicker darkening of skin tone. UV lamps are also used by some in medical treatment and therapy of mental illnesses. However, exposure to light emitted by UV lamps should be regulated.

According to light source

Lamps can also be classified according to how they produce light.

Incandescent lamps

Incandescent lamps are types of lamps that give off light thanks to the superheated tungsten filaments inside. Incandescent lamps are cheap to install, as they are affordable. However, maintenance or upkeep is expensive as it eats up more voltage and easily burns out.

Gaseous discharge lamps

Gaseous discharge lamps on the other hand can further be classified into two types –
high-pressure and low-pressure. High-pressure gaseous discharge lamps make use of bulbs with metal halide, mercury vapor, and high-pressure sodium gases inside them while low-pressure sodium and fluorescent lamps are considered low-pressure gaseous discharge lamps.

Tags: Lamps