Lighting

Help! I am tyring to buy a light for my sewing room and am baffled by all the choices. I would like one that is adjustable and can light up the area around my sewing machine in particular. I have looked at Ottlite but there are so many choices. I would appreciate any input to help me decide.

Sorry.....I didn't notice until the post was finished that you don't live in the U.S.A. I am sure that you can purchase the items I mentioned in stores where you are though.

My husband went to the local Menards, and purchased a shop light ( they are 4 ft in length....) and he put in on the wall, where my table is. When you turn this on, it lights up the entire room, and the ladies love it.....
For your light on the ceiling, use a florescent light, like the ones you install in your kitchen .....DH put the light up on the ceiling too. He purchased the kitchen light at another local hardware store as well. I have the same light in my kitchen too, these lights can be purchased for under $30.00 ( the ceiling one ) and the shop light(the shop light is white in color ) can be purchased really reasonable too. You have to purchase the florescent tube bulbs when you purchase the shop light or the ceiling light fixture.
DH didn't permanently fasten the shop light ( it's a 4 ft light fixture ) to the wall, He just placed a couple of nails in the wall, to fasten it that way( no, you can see the nails !! )
Presently my craft room is being re-done, otherwise I would take a photo to let you see both lights.
I really like the lighting I get from these two lights in my craft room. I have never heard anyone complain about the lighting in the craft either.

Here's a pic of a similar shop light ( that DH put on the wall )
48" Performance Titanium Light at Menards

Menards also has lights that you can put on the ceiling, so that it can be light up the entire room ( I have one in my craft room & my kitchen...)
http://www.menards.com/main/lighting...493-c-7495.htm
( this is a more expensive one than I have. There's lights ( ceiling ones ) that do not have the brown decorative brown around it...( it's just plain ) the plain ones are under $30-$40.
( none of these lights fixtures come with the florescent tube lights. the 4 ft. florescent tube lights are sold separately )
Here's something I found that I would like to put in my craft room...it's a ceiling light with 3 adjustable light fixtures ! TAKE a look 1
http://www.menards.com/main/lighting...68-c-12470.htm

I don't know if they have small goose neck lamps in Scotland or not. I bought an inexpensive desk lamp at Wal-Mart for $8.00. It sits behind my sewing machine with the light directed at my sewing space. With the cover of my machine in the up position, I don't get any glare into my eyes. JCY

I have Ottlites and I love them. I have two floor ones and two desktop ones. They bend so you can angle them where you need them.

My daughter was once given a light that architects use...a round one with a regular bulb and an adjustable arm. It also had a round florescent bulb, but since it was an older light this doesn't work anymore. She doesn't have room for it in her present apartment, so it has been installed in the sewing room. The regular bulb is great by itself and it lights up everything. I also have an Ott light which is good for closeup work, but it doesn't light up the room like the other light does. I really like this light.

I recently bought a small bendable LED lamp that attaches to the side of the sewing machine. I can direct the light stream where I need it. There is also an LED bar that attaches in the throat of the machine. As for room light, I have a light kit on the fan which causes reflection on the rulers and is annoying. Then I added a table-top Ott lite that I can direct where I need it too.

Be sure that you use an Ott light or similar style, with an appropriate bulb. You want to be sure you are seeing the colors correctly in a bright white light. I found a similar style at a hardware store that was much cheaper than the Ott lights, but the bulb was identical. You need that true color type of bulb!!! Crucial!

I have a small table top Ott lite that I love, but would like an Ott Floor Lamp to really get some light. They also have lights to attach to your sewing machine which I think is a great idea and I may have to try as well.

This is the Ott light I have. It's so completely convertible ~ floor or table lamp. OttLite 2 in 1 LED Magnifier Floor And Table Lamp at Joann.com I usually use the table configuration. Since there is a magnifier it seems the light shows through that glass and illuminates the room a bit more than other types with the shade.

I've found it to be great and usually keep it on top of the bookcase. With my set-up I can turn it to be either over the cutting table or over the sewing machine. I use it mainly for color selection and positioning. For general lighting I just use a regular lamp.

haWhatever light you chose, you'll want to be sure it mimics natural light, like the Ottlites do. Florescent bulbs are terrible and I dislike them immensely because they cause too much glare, are too hard on the eyes, and do not mimic natural light, so colors you see under florescent bulbs are not necessarily the true color of what you are looking at. Natural light is easiest on the eyes. The great thing about the ottlites is that they have bendable necks so you can direct them where you want/need them.

Thank you all for your replies. I think I will go for the Ottlite, now just to decide - desk or floor?