MiniLineLights.co.uk 

It's not just the bulbs that light up the room!™
 

Below are a few notes to get you started.  These - and much more besides - are also included in our guide to decorating with light and colour, which you can download for free by clicking the button on the right.

For more advice, please see our selection of books on interior decoration further down the page.

Click the button below to download our FREE guide to decorating with light and colour (file size = 425KB)

The guide is in PDF format - you can get a free PDF reader from Adobe website

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

• The overriding consideration must always be children's safety – see the section below.
• One ceiling light in the middle of the room (or wherever it was arbitrarily placed when the house was built) is seldom ideally positioned or adequate. Unless it can be repositioned you are better off considering it a merely decorative light, and adding other lights for optimal functionality and aesthetics.
• Spotlights are great where you need a concentration of light, but be sure to supplement them with other lights to provide good ambient lighting levels throughout the room.
• Children spend much of their time playing on the floor, and good lighting should therefore illuminate the floor area especially well. They also view things from a much lower height than adults, therefore lights should be of such construction and/or positioned and directed so as not cause glares even when viewed from low level.
• Diffused light, such as from string lights and our illuminated mobiles, can be used to add ambience and highlight features during daytime, and they double as a nightlights at bedtime.  Low-voltage and other low-energy lights consume so little energy that they can be left on more or less all the time without any real cost or environmental concerns.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

• Lights which are within reach of children (including which they can reach by climbing on furniture etc.) must not become hot, or at least the bulb must not be within reach.  Lights which are of such design/construction that a loose object such as a toy or piece of clothing can enter the shade or other enclosure and rest on top of a hot bulb should be avoided to minimise fire hazard.
• It is strongly recommended that all lights within reach of babies or small children operate on extra low voltages, and ideally at no more than 24V current.
• Freestanding lights must be stable enough not to be easily knocked over, and ceiling and wall lights must be fixed securely so that they don't fall (and cannot be pulled) down.
• ‘Candle’ shaped light bulbs can have inherent structural weaknesses causing them to explode more easily than normal round bulbs, and their use in children’s rooms should therefore be avoided. In most cases you can use a small round bulb or a small low-energy bulb instead.
• Low-energy bulbs and low-voltage lights help cut down your energy bills - and help preserve the planet for your Little Ones!

1. Why is lighting important?
2. What are the different types of lights used for?
3. Are the products safe for use in small children's rooms?
4. What does 'extra low voltage' mean?
5. Are ceiling lights difficult to install?
6. Can I take your lights abroad / Can I have your lights delivered abroad?

Why is lighting important?

Lighting is fundamental to the look and feel of a room, as well as to its functionality:  a room would be quite useless if you could only use it during daylight hours, and it would look quite awful if you only put in a light bulb without any shade to light it!  Often rooms which people find attractive and 'cosy' are so exactly because of the lighting, and the atmosphere it creates.  Why would this be any less important in a baby's or child's room, where they spend most of their time?

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What are the different types of lights used for?

Different lights serve different purposes, that is why it's important to combine different lights for the optimal effect.  Ceiling lights help to create a pleasant atmosphere and mood in the room, as well as providing general ambient lighting. They are usually the starting point of planning the lighting in your nursery.  Wall lights create soft lighting which draws attention to the perimeter of the room, creating a cosy feel. A wall light also gives the baby a sense of security at bedtime.  Desk lamps provide good levels of task lighting, ideal for nursing and changing the baby at night.  String lights and other decorative lights are essential for every nursery! They are the perfect nightlight, and in the evening create a lovely atmosphere.

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Are the products safe for use in small children's rooms?

All products comply with the UK safety standard BS EN 60598. Desk lamps and most string lights use extra low voltage so they never get hot, and are designed so that no electrical parts are accessible by little fingers.

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What does 'extra low voltage' mean?

These lights operate on very low voltages (typically 6-24V), making them even safer than normal mains voltage products.  They also don't get hot because of this.

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Are ceiling lights difficult to install?

All our ceiling lights connect to your ceiling rose the same way as your current ceiling light does.  Changing a light fitting is not difficult, and is certainly within the skills of most people capable of basic DIY tasks and equipped with usually nothing more than a small screwdriver, as long as you follow the instructions supplied with each product.  However, if you are unsure of anything, please consult a professional electrician.
WARNING: Before removing your existing light fitting, switch power off at the fuse/control box - switching off at the wall switch only means there is still live current in one or more wires in the ceiling rose!

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Can I take your lights abroad / Can I have your lights delivered abroad?

All our products are intended for use in the UK only.  All products with a wall plug or transformer/adapter are equipped with a UK 3-pin-plug; although in some cases this can be removed and replaced with a European 2-pin-plug, we cannot guarantee this.  Ceiling lights are generally easier to fit into a standard ceiling rose in most European countries, but we cannot unfortunately advise on this - please consult a local electrician in your destination country.  If you decide to change any components (eg. plug, adapter) for use in Europe, please note that this voids the warranty and is entirely at your own risk; please make sure also that you use a replacement component with the same power output etc. values.

FOR US CUSTOMERS:  Please note that our products work on European 220-240V @ 50Hz mains electricity (and not the US standard 110-120V @ 60Hz); also, bulbs commonly available in the US are slightly different from the European models.  Therefore our products are not suitable for use in USA (or anywhere else outside of UK).

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