LIGHTING TEMPERATURE GUIDE

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LED bulbs have been a major improvement for the general public. For people who aren’t familiar with them however, they can be a bit overwhelming. 

 

Before LED bulbs, the selection was easy, there was basically only one color, yellowish. You just needed to choose the size and shape. Now, when you go to buy a new bulb, there is a whole wall of them staring back at you. How do you know what to get? How do you find the one that you like? One that doesn’t give you a headache? This guide is here to help with your selection:

 

The first and most important thing to learn is the ‘K’ or ‘Kelvin scale’ notation. With lighting, the Kelvin scale is the color scale as perceived by the human eye. Essentially, the lower the number, the more yellow, the higher the number, the more blue/white. The most common consumer numbers that you will find on packages are 2700k, 3000k, 3500k, 4000k or 4100k, and 5000k. Here is a breakdown of those ‘colors’

• 2700k: Considered a ‘Warm White’, this is the bulb you want to choose if you were looking for something similar to the standard ‘incandescent’ bulbs we were talking about earlier. A more ‘yellowish’ color. Due to its soft warm tones, this color temperature is often used in bedrooms and living rooms to create a cozy atmosphere.

• 3000k & 3500k: These colors are slightly cooler than a 2700k bulb but are also considered a ‘Warm White’. They have a ‘brighter’ feel and are a great choice for bedrooms and living rooms as well as some kitchens, bathrooms and offices.  

• 4000k & 4100k: These colors are the beginning of the ‘Cool White’ spectrum. They are more of a neutral white and are geared for more task oriented rooms. They work well in garages, kitchens, bathrooms and offices. 

• 5000k and up: These colors are designed to simulate the color temperature of a bright, sunny day. They often appear blue in color and are best suited in offices, hospitals, places of that nature. They are often times used to ‘increase productivity’. These are also the color most complained about because they are unknowingly installed in homes where this type of light is just a bit too harsh. 

 

The other important number to look at when making a lightbulb selection is the ‘CRI’. The ‘CRI’ is the ‘Color Rendering Index’, it measures the ability of a light source to bring out the true colors of an object. Without a high CRI light source, objects can appear faded, dull or inaccurate. A decent CRI rating is considered 80CRI and above. The lesser quality LED bulbs tend to have a lower CRI rating and can contribute to your unhappiness with a bulb selection. 

 

While LED bulbs are quite affordable now a days, they are still more expensive than traditional lightbulbs. On the flip side, they are also designed to last anywhere from 10-20 years and they consume only a fraction of the energy than standard incandescent bulbs while putting out A LOT more light per watt. A traditional 60watt light bulb draws anywhere from 40w-60w, it’s LED equivalent draws maybe 7w-10w, total. That is a HUGE difference and will extend the life of your light socket as well as drastically decrease your energy bill. 

 

Lastly, and this is very important, not all LED bulbs are dimmable! If dimming is a requirement for you, be sure the box is labeled ‘dimmable’. Trying to dim a non-dimmable bulb will cause havoc with the electronics and result in some wild strobe like effects. 

 

Our advice would be to stick to the major brands and avoid some of the lesser known manufactures. There are some companies that manufacture LED bulbs for a few dollars cheaper, but you get what you pay for, these bulbs usually fail much shorter than the stated 10-20 years of operation. Get yourself a quality LED bulb in the color you want with or without dimming capabilities and you will be happy with your selection for many years to come.