Start with the socket: E27 is the standard large screw base (27 mm wide) found in most ceiling lights and table lamps, and E14 is the small 14 mm base used in chandeliers, wall lights and candle lamps. Then choose the light colour: warm white (about 2700 K) for living rooms and bedrooms, cooler white for kitchens and desks. For a statement pendant, an oversized amber filament bulb from Illumina costs $24 to $45 at Buyrouth; for colour and app control, Wi-Fi smart bulbs start at $12.

Bulb bases explained

• E27: the large Edison screw base, used by most household lamps and pendants.
• E14: the small Edison screw, for chandeliers, wall lights and candle bulbs.
• GU10: a twist-and-lock spotlight base with two pins, common in ceiling spots.
• MR16: a bi-pin spotlight base. Many MR16 fittings run on 12 V, while the Forest Lighting MR16 bulb is rated 190–250 V, so check what your fitting needs.

Need a lamp socket where there isn't one? The E27 bulb socket adapter ($3) plugs into a wall socket and holds an E27 bulb, with its own on/off switch.

Warm white, cool white and lumens

• 2700 K (warm white): a soft, yellowish light for living rooms, bedrooms and restaurants.
• 4000 K (neutral white): clear light for kitchens and bathrooms.
• 6500 K (daylight): crisp, bluish light for work areas.

Brightness is measured in lumens (lm), not watts. As a rule of thumb, about 800 lumens matches an old 60 W incandescent bulb. Amber glass makes any bulb look warmer and dimmer than its rating, which is why amber filament bulbs are chosen for mood rather than reading light.

Oversized amber filament bulbs (Illumina)

These large decorative E27 bulbs are made to be seen, in bare pendants, open cages or wall sconces without a shade. All are rated 220–240 V with amber glass. The listings don't say they are dimmable, so use them on a normal switch.

• Illumina G150 ($24): an 8 W LED, 150 mm wide and 225 mm tall.
• Illumina ET160 ($32): a 4 W LED with soft filament, 165 × 265 mm.
• Illumina PS52 ($33): an 8 W LED, 160 × 310 mm.
• Illumina G200 ($35): an 8 W LED, 200 × 300 mm.
• Illumina G200 Edison ($35): a classic Edison-type bulb rated 60 W, 200 × 300 mm. The other Illumina bulbs here are 4–8 W LEDs, so this one uses much more power.
• Illumina HoneyComb ($45): an 8 W LED with a honeycomb pattern, 200 × 380 mm, the largest of the range.

Measure first: a 200 mm-wide bulb won't fit inside most lampshades, and a 380 mm bulb needs room below a pendant.

Smart bulbs

Smart bulbs connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and are controlled from a phone app or by voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Leave the wall switch on, since a bulb with no power can't respond to the app.

• Tuya Smart Wi-Fi 10 W RGB E27 bulb ($12): 1000 lm, colours plus warm and cool white, in the Tuya Smart / Smart Life app.
• MOES 7 W smart Wi-Fi filament bulb E27 ($19): the vintage filament look with smart control, 806 lm and white light from 2700 K to 6500 K. A "do not disturb" mode stops it switching on by itself after a power cut.
• MOES Matter E14 smart bulb ($13): 6 W, 470 lm, colours plus 2700–6500 K white, with Matter support.
• Govee smart E14 bulbs #H600C, pack of 2 ($25): up to 450 lm each, 2700–6500 K, colours and Matter support. The listing notes a 25 mm thread length, so check the socket depth.
• MOES Matter GU10 smart bulb ($13) and Govee GU10 smart bulbs #H600D, pack of 2 ($25): smart spotlights; the Govee bulbs give 400 lm each.

Everyday LED bulbs

• Forest Lighting 7 W LED E14 candle bulb ($2): warm white or daylight, not dimmable.
• Forest Lighting 7 W LED MR16 spot bulb ($2.50): daylight or warm light, rated 190–250 V.
• Forest Lighting 30 W LED E27 bulb ($5.50): a bright daylight bulb for large rooms, rated 190–250 V.

Buying from Buyrouth

Standard delivery across Lebanon costs $5 and takes 2–5 working days, free on orders of $75 or more. Fast delivery costs $8: 24 hours within Beirut, 72 hours outside. Pay cash on delivery or by card, or pick up in Sin El Fil between 9 am and 4 pm.

Frequently asked questions

Will an E27 bulb fit an E14 lamp?

No. E27 and E14 are different sizes, so check the old bulb or the lamp's label before you buy. Smart bulbs come in both: the Tuya and MOES filament bulbs are E27, and the MOES Matter E14 and Govee H600C bulbs are E14.

Are the Illumina oversized bulbs dimmable?

Their listings don't say so, so use them with a normal on/off switch rather than a dimmer.

What does 2700 K mean?

It's the colour temperature in kelvin. 2700 K is a warm, yellowish white; 4000 K is neutral; 6500 K is a cool daylight white. Many smart bulbs here let you choose anything from 2700 K to 6500 K.

Do smart bulbs work with a normal wall switch?

Yes, but leave the switch on and control the bulb from the app or by voice. If you switch it off at the wall, the app can't reach it until the power is back.

How bright should a living-room bulb be?

About 800 lumens per bulb is a common choice for general light, roughly what an old 60 W bulb gave. The MOES filament bulb gives 806 lm and the Tuya bulb 1000 lm.