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A Quick Guide to Improve Your Bedroom Lights

The one room in your home that is probably the most favorite is the bedroom. It is a place of rest & peace and a place where we rejuvenate ourselves. It is also the place where we take some of the most important decisions in life, be it in light or in darkness. We even use it for studying, pondering, and coming up with the most creative solutions.

In essence, this room is the most important room among all the rooms you have. And an important room like this demands enough time to be spent on its design. Especially the lighting design and the bedroom lights. That’s why, as lighting experts, we have taken this time to give you a few tips & tricks to get your bedroom lighting right.

This quick guide should help you get started in either redesigning your bedroom or if you are designing your bedroom for the first time.

Bedroom Lighting Ideas - Lights Layering

The layering of lights is essential to get the best lighting outcome for your bedroom. It is, in fact, the key to best lighting. There are three types of layers to get this perfect lighting. They are general lighting or ambient lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting.

General or Ambient Lighting

It is the first layer of lighting that you should consider. Ambient lighting is what you would need for your everyday use. A good ambient lighting requires natural light. So it is necessary to include lighting through large windows, skylights, and of course, artificial lighting.

The goal of ambient lighting is to give you sufficient light for everyday activities that take place in your bedroom. When it comes to ambient lighting, ceiling fixtures such as chandeliers, ceiling lights, pendant lights, and floor lamps are the best way to achieve it. These bedroom lights will offer sufficient lighting to get your things done.

Accent Lighting

This lighting is meant to focus attention or highlight specific spaces in your bedroom. For example, if you have an exquisite piece of artwork then an accent light would give this art piece enough light. Accent lighting can, at times, act as mild ambient lighting by providing a pleasant glow to the room. Using lights such as wall sconces, creative fixtures or tape lights will serve this purpose quite well.

Task Lighting

Need focused light on a specific activity? Then the task light is what you need. It could be applying makeup, reading, or working on your laptop. Whatever your need may be, these lights will give you just enough and focused light to get your job done. It’s also important to not confuse focused lighting with typical desk task lights. Task lights come in various forms and shapes. You get wall-mounted lights, sconces, pendants, directional lights, and many more.

Bedroom Lights and Shapes to Consider

Here are the few types of lights and lamps that you should consider.

Nature blending bedroom lights

Ceiling lights

Floor lamps

Pendant lights

Scones

Swing lights

String lights

Flush mount

Chandeliers

Table lamps

These are the 10 styles that you should consider for your bedroom depending on the type of lighting you require for your bedroom.

You can check out some of Oorjaa’s best bedroom lights collections to start redesigning today.

[oorjaa]

A Quick Style Guide to Buying Pendant Lighting

Before you start wondering what the various types of pendant lights could possibly be, and get confused, ask yourself — what is a pendant light? Or What is pendant lighting?

In simple words, pendant lights are sleek yet elegant ceiling lights which typically contain one or more bulbs. There are pendant lights that feature more than 12 bulbs; however, they are always suspended from the ceiling to give lighting to a specific area.

Pendant lights are generally smaller in size and made out of different materials. Shades are also quite common among pendant lights. In essence, any light fixture that hangs from the ceiling on a chain, cord, rod, or any other suspension apparatus can count as a pendant light.

This flexibility in making the light has made it favourite among lighting designers to develop new and exciting pendant styles every day.

So, the next question you obviously have is how do I select the right pendant light?

Here’s how to choose the right pendant light

There are few things to consider before you make the final decision to buy the pendant light.

The first of them is where you plan to hang the light and how much space the light should cover. You should then consider the size, suspension system, and bulb quantity to make this happen.

The next thing you should consider is the shape of the light. We’ll be covering the styles in just a little bit.

As mentioned earlier, you also have different materials from which it is created. For example, at Oorjaa, we use natural resources such as leaves, tree bark,, cement, and other naturally available resources to create beautiful pendant lights.

If you are looking to establish a style statement, then you should definitely check out our pendant lights.

For now, we've put together six popular types of pendants for you to choose from when considering pendant lights for your home.

6 Popular Styles of Pendant Lighting

1. Bowl Pendant Lighting

Bowl pendant lights are the most common type of pendant lights. They are a favorite among many because of their simple yet robust design. In fact, most task lamps in this family of lights are of this variety. You may also use an inverted bowl used for pendant lighting, which shed the light upward rather than down. This style of pendant fits any room based on your needs.

2. Drum Pendant Lighting

Drum style pendant lights are obviously named after their shades, which are styled like drums — with a stretching cloth or other material over a circular frame. These lights can be used for ambient lighting, depending on their shape and size. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes to choose from.

3. Expose Bulb Pendant Lighting

This pendant style hit the market a few years ago, and it doesn't seem to be going down anytime soon. Consider this light for minimal, industrial, or rustic decoration types. They are also budget friendly, because all you need is the fixture and a bulb. They’re perfect for a great DIY project.

4. Globe Pendant Lighting

Be it orbs, spheres, or globes, we find it safe to say that this type of pendant light is styled by its round shape. This pendant style picked its roots in the late 1950s and '60s, so if you're going for an antique look, then your search just ended. They are the perfect fit for an antique look.

5. Abstract Pendant Lighting

If you are an artistic soul then this is the right pendant light for you. Lighting designers love creating these lights because of the limitless possibilities available. Every material capable of protectively housing a lightbulb and hung from the ceiling has been used to mold these pendant lights. However, you must remember that these lights may not provide the best illumination. Still, they are perfect for decorative ambient lighting.

6. Mini Pendant Lighting

Mini pendant lights are smaller versions of the standard pendant. It can apply to the size of the fixture, the light bulb, or the drop length. Individually, these are used for task lighting since they're small, tightly focused sources of light. They are perfect if you have a small space, but you need lighting there anyway.

Choose the Best Pendant Light For Your Occasion

So, here’s the advice we can give you. Choose the light wisely based on your budget, need, and style. This should help point your finger at the right light.

Do check out some of our designs. They are awesome and they will make your home bright and beautiful.

[oorjaa]

Table Lamps: Enlighten Your Home with The Right Lamps

When it comes to indoor lighting, table lamps reign supreme because they can adapt to any setting and environment. They can either complement the style of a room or they can set the mood & feel for the entire space. Regardless of how they affect your surroundings, table lamps will continue to profoundly enhance the beauty and magnificence of every home.

However, it is not uncommon for shoppers to get dazed with all the amazing collections of table lamps they see online and offline. This leads to confusion when it comes to making the right choice for their space.

Maybe they need a simple table lamp that can brighten their bedside or maybe they are looking for an exquisite decorative piece cantered in their living space to make it spectacular. The purpose can be different but to choose the right lamp is critical and can be quite a daunting task.

So, we made this insightful guide to help you navigate through the hundreds of options available and pick the right one.

The Different Styles of Table Lamps

First and foremost, the deciding factor should be the style of the table lamp. While there are many styles available, we have broadly categorized them into 4 types.

Metal Table Lamps

Metal table lamps come in many colors such as bronze, steel, gold and others. They have sturdy material and they last longer. If you want to make your space look cool and edgy then metal table lamps are the right choice. They grab the attention as they set themselves apart from the other decorative pieces in that space.

Ceramic Table Lamps

If you are looking for elegance then ceramic table lamps are the best. They look beautiful and stunning. They will be a perfect addition to set the stage for the entire space. They can be perfect central pieces for your living space, hallways, or to enhance your garden seating area.

You may sometimes confuse ceramic table lamps with stone table lamps. They look similar but they are built with different materials. While stone table lamps have their own oomph factor, it is important to choose the lamp based on the setting.

For example, a stone lamp may look perfect next to an aquarium which is also filled with stones. It completes the entire setting.

Glass Table Lamps

Like ceramic lamps, glass table lamps are elegant. But glass table lamps can be a tad hard to find because real glass table lamps are hard to make. Nevertheless, if you find one then buy it to make it a centerpiece of attraction.

Wooden Table Lamps

Wooden lamps make your space look natural. They can blend in with your existing wooden structures in your room and make it whole or complete. They also last longer and the beauty of wooden table lamps is that as they get old, they start to look better.

At Oorjaa, we love nature so we make a lot of lamps which are natural looking. Many of our table lamps are made out of wood, paper, and other fiber material. You should have a look at them if you are considering one.

Cement/Clay Lamps

Another natural looking type. Cement or clay lamps bring in an authentic earth-like feel into your room or space. They are the best lamps for cozy spaces or to improve the aesthetic of a certain space. Your creativity can make these lamps become better each year.

Where To Use These Table Lamps

So, the eventual question is where can we use these lamps. While we do cover some spaces where you can use these lamps, let us be specific in which type of lamps you can use for different settings.

Table Lamps for Study Room

Study table lamps are used only for one purpose: To help you study better. You need sufficient lighting in a study room. So that should be your primary deciding factor. As for the style, you need a type of table lamp that can make you feel less stressed and more excited. Last we checked, anything that looks natural will make you feel that way. We recommend you choose a wooden or cement/clay table lamp for your study room.

Table Lamps for Bedroom

You go to the bedroom to rest or to ponder over the things that are happening in your life. Ceramic lamps will make this process better. They are smooth, soft, and provide just enough light to shed your darkness away. Of course, a perfect bedroom lamp also depends on the style of your bedroom. So you need to be vigilant while choosing what works best for the setting.

Living Room Table Lamps

Living rooms come in different types, shapes, and sizes. There are modern living rooms and there are classy traditional living rooms. So adding a table lamp to your living room can be a little tricky. You need to first decide where you need a table lamp. Is it for a corner in a living room, beside a fireplace, underneath a large collection of family photos, or is it right under the chandelier?

Based on these factors you can choose a living room table lamp that can best suit your setting.

Dining Table Lamps

Metal lamps can look cool on dining tables. They make it lively and energetic. A perfect addition as you energize your body with your food. You may also choose a different one, depending on your dining table. If your dining table has a traditional look, a wooden table lamp might be better. The material of your dining table should also be considered when making a final decision.

Choose The Right Lamp by Considering All Factors

It is important to consider all these aspects when you’re deciding on a table lamp. Be mindful of what you choose because a table lamp does set the mood for the space.

You can check some of our collections too, you may find what you are looking for.

Have a nice day choosing!

[oorjaa]

The Inside Story: What Lights Up Our Designs – Oorjaa

I often get asked, why paper?

It’s a valid question because in India, paper is not a very popular material for craft or lifestyle accessories. Even though other Asian countries like japan and China use paper a lot in architecture, but not India. Truth be told, paper found me, in a way. It is 1997 and I had decided on a mid-career shift from ad-film making. I moved to Bangalore, from Bombay and I was learning pottery with the idea of becoming a full-time potter when I wandered into a talk by Suhag Shirodkar (who is today a close friend) on paper making at home. It wasn’t love at first sight but paper soon took pottery’s place and I found myself a full-time papermaker instead!! I loved the tactile quality of paper and I found the process was fascinating, how plant fibers transform into delicate paper. l also marveled how paper was so deceptively fragile and the surprising ways it responded to the elements, making it so easy to manipulate and sculpt.

Best of all I loved the way it romanced light.

I was soon making paper full time and I built a papermaking studio in 2000, with one assistant Prashant, a struggling artist from Bengal who still works with Oorjaa, and occasional help from the watchman, Suresh, next door, who today is Oorjaa’s chief papermaker. We explored making paper lamps from many natural fibres like kora grass, jute, sisal, hemp, lantana, pineapple, but mainly from banana and lokta because of the translucency of the resulting paper.

Setting up the studio and sourcing natural fibres, was not easy, but it opened up my horizons. Craft, livelihoods, rural economies, urban consumption, it was all so new to me, after 20 years of film making in Bombay, so I learned a lot.…and all paths lead to and deepened my interest in, sustainability and the environment.

This is about when, the seeds of Oorjaa were sown, again quite accidently.

What makes our Oorjaa paper different?

It’s the raw material and the way we process it. Most handmade paper in India is from cotton rag or sugarcane cud (bagasse). Ours is from banana fibre, which is extracted from the truck of adult banana trees, after they have run their course and are cut. Or from lokta, the bark of mulberry trees form North-east India. These two materials have a high cellulose content and a longer fibre length so the paper is very strong. The way we process it, without the use of harsh chemicals, not just retains its inherent strength but gives it greater translucency and an amazing malleability that allows us to sculpt it the way we do. I have lights at home that are 15–20 years old, they look old, but they haven’t torn or disintegrated!

Another factor is water usage. Paper-making uses a lot of water so the studio was designed to recycle water and also harvest rainwater. Every drop is precious.

Speaking of the studio, it is a very beautifully and intelligently designed building by Chitra Vishwanath of Biome. Made from compacted mud blocks and designed for maximum use of air and natural light so we actually survive without turning on lights and fans while we work. You can see pictures of the studio right here on the website.

Recycled paper tubes used in stunning architectural structures by architect Shigeru Ban(Image Source: japantimes.co.jp)

Coming back to paper. It is a highly under rated and under explored material in our country. To know what paper is, look at what the Japanese do with paper, apart from lights.

They have lived with paper for centuries and love it.

But what I love about paper is that it showed me that nature is full of material that we can use without resorting to plastic and also that by it’s ephemeral quality it reminds us that life is transient, just like we are !

[oorjaa]

Stuff We Love: Cement Lamps by The Purple Turtles

Concrete lamp. God knows I’ve had my eye on one, ever since I saw the Trabant Pendant concrete lamp by Joaquim Manz. So, when The Purple Turtles’ asked me if I’d like to try out a few concrete lamps from their new series, I simply could not tell no. Seriously, I just had to. Because concrete you see is bae.

I think I have a love affair with concrete. From as long as I can remember. My father is a civil engineer, which means the affair with concrete started at an early age. I used to follow my father to construction sites and dabble my hands in concrete- thanks to the generous workers who used to pour wet, mixed concrete {primarily to keep me at bay} for me to play with. One of my earliest DIY with this fabulous material was a cross between coaster and a charger {come on, I was 10?} an idea that I stole from my grandmother who used to make coasters with plaster of Paris. I was so proud of it but threw it later. It was pretty bad.

But then that was the 90’s where glitter, new and varnish ruled. And concrete was chiefly considered pedestrian and kept hidden in between bricks and plasters. Thanks to more people inclining towards modern simplicity that concrete is finally getting the attention it deserves in the decor space. Today that coaster would have been pretty rustic. And thanks to The Purple Turtles the love for concrete is aflame! Once again.

Beautifully etched in feather cement, the purple turtles concrete cement lamps are dynamite. Or lets say, botox for your interiors. Kept at its simple and raw best, these concrete lights add oomph to practically any space. If you like Nordic and Scandinavian aesthetics or minimal, modern and rustic you will find this specially interesting. I love the natural grey of the cement and it certainly complements my beach house aesthetics. There is something about plain concrete that’s charmingly unfinished and I love that. And its fascinating to see how designers and homes around the world are using this ready mix from a humble bag to create out of the box decor elements.

But how did Concrete lamp become such a rage

For concrete lamps, I will have to start with Concrete in general. Le Corbusier or Corbu enamored the world first with the possibilities of concrete. He essentially created brutalism in design as we know. I’ll quote the Guardian, here

“Le Corbusier’s brutalism took an early lead, not least because of concrete’s cost advantage: it is cheap and abundant, the second most consumed material in the world, after water. Brutalism also had the art-historical advantage of fitting easily into a centuries-long narrative. The monumental brutalist vaulting of the Washington Metro, for instance, is uncannily similar to that found in largest concrete dome in the world – the 2,000-year-old Pantheon, in Rome.”

“It’s easy to see, then, how brutalism is flourishing in the age of Occupy. But there’s another force driving the brutalist resurgence, which is maybe less austere and selfless: photography, in general, and Instagram, in particular.”

Hah! Now that is where the resuregence of concrete comes along. And designers are not just doing concrete but are fitting in a perfect balance between concrete and materials that are more organic. For example Teal and Tom Hiddleton.

“If you’ve seen High-Rise, the 2015 Ben Wheatley adaptation of JG Ballard’s novel, you will surely remember the vision of Tom Hiddleston’s smooth yet chiseled naked body as seen from above, framed by a raw-concrete balcony. The intersection of the organic with concrete makes for striking visuals, and even concrete on its own has stunning visual power. Something as simple as a shadow packs a much harder punch when it falls across a beautifully textured grey background.”

I think personally though, I’ll take teak. Just how its incorporated in The Purple Turtle Study Lamp. Absolutely love the harmony of two very contrasting materials in essence in this concrete lamp.

I first heard about The Purple Turtles from Olie Living Lighting and it really lives up to the hype. Love the concrete lamp, the pendants and the desk lamps from their Wabi Sabi Collection. While I have used the Gong Aztec print in my home, this one is my absolute favourite. Imagine how pretty will this look over a dining area. Infact, lets not bias you with my choices. Go take a look at The purple Turtles concrete lamp for yourself. I think you’ll absolutely adore what you’ll see.

As for me, I am currently eyeing the Vivid collection from TPT. That pouffe is made with pipe frames and that screams jungalow.

Lovely Sunday to you ladies and gentlemen.

P.S: We lost our lovely cat on Friday. But fact is, she was a cat and she is the master of her own will. In the slightest of gap, she jumped out of the 9th floor balcony and it was over before I could save her. Thanks to a lot of cat owners calling me and writing to me about similar incidents that I finally mastered the courage to think that maybe it wasn’t my fault after all. Thank you for your condolences on instagram as well. It meant a lot to me. Grieving will not get her back and death is often the truth you must accept. So, keeping a good spot in my heart reserved for shingi forever, I am compelled to move on. Because life goes on. And its wise to face the truth.

But you know somewhere, I am very angry on Shugi. That was a selfish move. She died on me.