Forget everything you assume about hanging neon signs in your room—they have come a long way from the days of kitschy repurposed commercial signs and clinical bathroom fixtures. These days, they’re showing up as accents in homes both traditional and contemporary. Plus, they’ve gotten more affordable, since they can be made of gas-filled tubes that contain glowing argon gas (traditional neon) or LED tubes that are less expensive and fragile.
According to Birddog Lighting, a Bozeman, Montana-based lighting specialist, neon lights use about 50 percent less energy than other types of bulbs and will last for over 10 years if they are maintained correctly. (Compare that with traditional lightbulbs, which may only last a few years to a month.)
Today’s neon ranges from sophisticated to romantic, and can accent walls, bathrooms or bulletin board. Here’s how to get a little bit of neon in your own home.
