Flick the switch

from Our Home Winter 2022

Blinded by automation

Light up your winter and brighten your home with on-trend and sustainable lighting.

STORY: NICOLA CECCATO. PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGAN FISHER

Having recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary, Lights Plus Shepparton has seen all the changes and trends of the lighting market for the past two decades. Owner Mark Libro is astonished by how much the lighting industry has changed in the past 20 years. “It’s completely different compared to when we first opened, we had hardly any stock. It was fairly basic, but now we’re booming,” Mark said. “LED wasn’t around 20 years ago but everything is LED now, which is a huge bonus for customers with saving money and the lifetime expectancy of LED fittings is better. “It’s very energy efficient and long lasting.” With a majority of past light fittings being either halogen or fluorescent, LED has changed up the lighting market—providing a more affordable and sustainable option for home owners. Alongside LED lighting, Lights Plus offers other energy saving items such as ceiling fans and smart lighting systems. “We also have ceiling fans, which are huge in summertime, and there’s a lot of new styles of ceiling fans,” Mark said. “There’s the DC range, which is energy efficient and quieter than any standard ceiling fan, it’s been very popular as well. “Smart lighting is another big option too. That’s coming through very strong as well so people can control their home automation and have their lights come on at certain times. “You can have the program on sensors, so you’re not having to leave your lights on.” With trends in home styling and furniture constantly changing, the lighting industry has kept up—providing larger varieties of materials and lighting styles. Materials such as wicker and satin brass have made a regular appearance in people’s homes recently, with the modern industrial

Satin brass is right on-style.

style enjoying a boom in the market in the past year. Lights Plus Shepparton also offers a free consultancy service to help you with your everyday lighting needs. “We run through your plans and help you with selections according to your colour schemes and what you’re designing with,” Mark said. To see what Lights Plus has on offer, visit the store at 203–205 High St, Shepparton, or phone 58211300.

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