Not too long ago, wholesale providers of any type were exclusive to business and commercial customers. Wholesalers would sell their wares in bulk, with van loads of supplies heading to high street shops to be sold on to the consumer. But that is no longer the case, and when it comes to the home, the lighting wholesale option has become popular for home owners who wish to make their houses more energy efficient, and in doing so slash the cost of their domestic lighting bills.

It might seem like a strange choice to make, but it certainly works. While it is still common to see fluorescent tube lighting used in commercial areas, it is no longer uncommon to see the same lights suspended from the kitchen ceiling of a suburban home. Equally, while recess downlights were once the exclusive option for high street shops, it is now normal to see them in the contemporary family home, with the fire rated downlight particularly common.

It seems that the commercial has effectively become the domestic; and wholesalers are perfectly happy to facilitate the change. These days, wholesalers no longer insist on bulk-ordering, making it viable for the home shopper to purchase what they need for the lowest prices possible. But what has become popular amongst the domestic buyers is nonetheless surprising.

One example is the popularity of tube lighting. Traditionally, these would have been considered too ugly for the home. The long fluorescent rods were featureless and dominated the fixture instead of enhancing the aesthetic design or intricate structure of a light shade. However, they are made to burn less energy for a longer period of time, and provide more light in any open space. The savings that can be made on lighting the home has prompted interest, but they also offer a stylish option for discerning stylists to chose.

While the home has utilised the tube light well, it is equally true to say that the workplace has been inspired by the more aesthetic designs also. A perfect example is the Rossi surface mounted fluorescent ceiling light, which has a streamline design that places it amongst the most impressive models of its type. Available in silver or white, its curved segments give an overall look is far more high-class than the stereotypical tube light, making it highly popular with up-market offices, but offers the same cost-efficiency.

There is a major advantage to having lights that are fire rated, with fire safety in the building being enhanced. This is because the process of installing the light would normally compromise the fire safety rating of the ceiling, but with a fire rated light the integrity of the ceiling is maintained. Materials in the light itself expand when exposed to high temperatures, so that when there is a fire whatever spaces might exist are sealed by the expanding material. The ratings of individual lights vary, and it is important to ask your local wholesale supplier about them.

Fire rated spotlights and downlights can also make a home look extra stylish. For example, the Lombardi recessed gimbal light, which operates on an efficient low-voltage, can be fixed to the ceiling or high on a wall, in a kitchen or living room. It suggests an urban, contemporary edge to a room, but it comes in a variety of finishes, from satin white to chrome to polished brass, which makes it possible to match a variety of decor styles.

Even in the bathroom, there is a fire rated downlight available that can add more efficiency and style than might have been thought possible. The LED shower downlight, for example, is discreet and easily fits into the ceiling. Coming in satin chrome or polished chrome finishes, it brings an edgy, modern sense to a traditionally low-key room.

When it comes to fluorescent tube lighting, it is clear that what was once thought of as bland and functional is enjoying a rebirth as a contemporary fitting for the modern home. And while shops, offices and other commercial entities will continue to go to their local wholesalers for all their lighting needs, home owners are now also turning to the lighting wholesale option, compelled by their desire to attain the highest degree of cost efficiency in the home.