Shedding a new light

With the shortest day of the year occurring on December 21, now is a good time to rethink your relationship with the humble light bulb. Your old incandescent bulbs are just not as efficient as LEDs, and there are a slew of LED options that can do far more than turn on and off at the flip of a switch.

The new look of light

The lighting aisle is now LED central, which is a good thing. LED bulbs consume up to 90 percent less energy, so they save you money on electricity. Even better: Many bulbs are also offered with features that add convenience, improve security and enhance appearance in our homes.

• Smart bulbs. You can turn lights on and off, adjust the brightness and even choose different colors — all through an app on your phone.

• Motion sensing. There’s no more forgetting to turn out the lights. These energy-efficient LED bulbs automatically turn off when no motion is detected in a room.

• Dusk to dawn. You don’t need a timer or even an app to control these lights. Screw one into a lamp or outdoor light fixture and it will automatically turn on when the ambient light dims.

• Security camera. A camera eye built into the bulb lets you keep a discreet eye on your property via an app, eliminating the need for dedicated security cameras in some instances.

• Color-changing. These smart bulbs can change colors — literally, millions of options from warm white to neon blue — to match your mood or party theme.

• Vintage. Miss the look of a traditional light bulb? Statement-making vintage light bulbs use innovative LED filament technology to mimic the warm glow and appearance of a classic incandescent bulb.

Take a trip down the bulb aisle at your favorite home improvement store to discover the many ways you can shed a new light on your home.