Top Blog Posts of 2023 — 1000Bulbs Blog

2023 is coming to a close in a few days, and it’s definitely been a year for the books. We’ve seen the end of most general-use incandescent bulbs, new lighting technologies, and so much more. Before it’s time to ring in 2024, let’s look back and see the top blog posts of 2023.

Top Posts Published in 2023

First, let's explore the most popular blog posts that were published this year. We've covered a wide and diverse range of lighting topics, from product spotlights to handy how-tos.

1. All the Bright Moves: Top 4 Must-Do Lighting Trends for 2023 – Published in January, this post looks at popular residential lighting trends for 2023. It covers natural lights, downlights, track lighting, and more.

2. What are Lumens, and How Many Do I Need? – This popular post from February is geared more towards commercial businesses. It dives into both lumens and footcandles, explaining how to determine the right amount of light needed to cover any space or room. It also briefly touches on how to use our Lighting Layout Tool.

3. The End of the Incandescent Era is Nearing – If the title doesn’t give it away, this post from April was another crowd-pleaser. With all the confusion surrounding the incandescent ban, it became a hot topic throughout 2023. This brief post focuses on why the bans were put into place and what the best replacement options are.

4. The Ultimate Christmas Lights Checklist for 2023 – Unsurprisingly, Christmas is always a popular topic around 1000Bulbs, and this year was no exception. This comprehensive post from October covered everything you could possibly need to plan out your holiday display.

5. How to Add Sockets and Plugs to Bulk Wire – Also from October, this handy post is a hit. If you’ve never added plugs or sockets to bulk wire, give this post a read and watch the corresponding video to learn how. It's not only a useful "how-to" for adding sockets and plugs, but it can also help you repair C7 and C9 stringers.

Top Blog Posts from January 2023 to Present

On top of the most popular posts published this year, we also have a treasure trove of posts dating back to 2012. Here are this year’s most popular posts:

1. Common Signs It’s You Ballast and Not Your Bulbs – There are a lot of fixtures out there that use ballasts, so it’s no wonder this post from 2017 is still one of our most popular. It’s a great resource that explains what ballasts are, the signs of ballast failure, and how to test ballast function using a multimeter.

2. Can I use a 100W Equal LED Bulb in a 60W Socket? – As the majority of incandescent bulbs were phased out this year, we’ve received tons of questions about finding replacement LEDs. One common question focuses on wattage, specifically whether you can use an LED bulb with a higher wattage equivalent in a lower wattage socket. This helpful post from 2016 explains the wattage differences between LEDs and incandescents.

3. 7 Common Home Lighting Mistakes - Does your room still seem too dark even after adding a new light fixture? Maybe the color seems off or faded? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then this next post is perfect for you. Published in 2015, this article covers the most common home lighting mistakes and offers solutions to correct them.

4. Why You can’t Use Certain LED Bulbs in Enclosed Fixtures – Aside from wattage questions, we also receive a lot of inquiries about enclosed ratings. This 2017 post covers a range of common questions, including what an enclosed rating is, general types of enclosed fixtures, and when you need an enclosed rated bulb.

5. How to Identify Halogen and Xenon Bi-Pin Bulbs – One of our all-time most popular posts, this helpful how-to guide from 2013 covers everything you need to know to identify and replace mini bi-bulbs commonly used in puck lights, landscape lighting, and other assorted fixtures.

Onward to 2024!

2024 should prove to be another exciting year in lighting. We’ll continue to provide in-depth, helpful posts and video content throughout the coming year. If you have any suggestions for posts or videos you’d like to see next year, let us know in a comment below. And remember, if you have any questions or need help finding the right lighting for your home or business, don’t hesitate to call 1-800-624-4488 to speak with one of our US-based lighting experts.