Modern, progressive, stylish homes these days have lots of spotlights, and decent, design-conscious folk everywhere are familiar with the lexicon of lighting - uplighters, downlighters, halogen spots, wall sconces, et cetera.
But the laws of physics have conspired to play a cruel trick on these aesthetes. The problem with an uplighter is that it can only point upwards. Downlighters, usually built into the ceiling, are even worse, and can only shed light downwards. This is fine and well for those whose living area is frozen in time and space, but what of the fate of those who find themselves, at short notice, in possession of a new work of art and hosting a dinner party?
Well, now you can bid farewell forever to "no-spot-for-my-art" misery, with a small ray of lighting joy from Germany. The Lichtsack - literally "light bag" - is a tiny bean bag with a small but powerful halogen spotlight. You can leave it on the ground and point it up at any angle, you can put it sideways on a bookshelf, you can put it on the table.
Der Lichtsack, £60 (€76), is available from Minima on St Stephen's Green, Dublin, and other top gizmo stockists.
Gizmo suggestions welcome: smaccarthaigh@irish-times.ie
