A brief guide to understanding Kelvin ratings, different light temperatures, and the color of light bulbs to choose for various spaces.
When it comes to choosing light bulbs for your home or workspace, one of the key aspects to keep in mind is the color temperature of the light. This, measured in degrees Kelvin (K), greatly affects a room’s atmosphere. Understanding the differences between neutral, warm, and cool light can help you make the right choice, so you don’t end up selecting a light bulb that boosts concentration in rooms where you want to relax, and vice versa. In this article, we’ll explore Kelvin ratings, the various light temperatures, and which light bulb color to choose for different areas of your home or business.
What are Kelvin degrees in light bulbs
Kelvin degrees (K) are the unit of measurement for the color temperature of light sources. The Kelvin scale defines the shades of light emitted by a light source, using as a reference the temperature to which an ideal black body would need to be heated to emit light of a similar color. The higher the temperature, the cooler the light; the lower the temperature, the warmer the light emitted.
How do you calculate Kelvin degrees for light bulbs?
The calculation of Kelvin degrees is based on the color temperature of the light emitted by light bulbs. Common values for incandescent light bulbs ranged from 2700 to 3000 K, while LED light bulbs have a much wider range: approximately from 1,800 K up to 6,500 K. By law, all light bulb manufacturers must provide information about color temperature among the product specifications listed on the packaging.
How to choose the right color temperature?
Choosing the color temperature depends on the environment and the desired lighting effect. To create a warm and cozy atmosphere in living rooms, bedrooms, or relaxation areas, we recommend light bulbs with a color temperature of up to 2,700-3,000 K. This warm light creates pleasant and relaxing illumination. Industrial settings, large retail environments, and hospitals, on the other hand, require very different tones: generally, above 5000K.
Warm light: what it means and where it’s best used
Warm light goes up to 3,300K and has a yellow-red hue reminiscent of traditional incandescent light bulbs, around 2,700K. In fact, this is still the most common type of light bulb today.
When comparing the lights around us, the warmest are candlelight, at about 1,500K, or sunlight at dawn and dusk, around 1,800K. Warm white light is therefore ideal for home spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms, as it creates a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
That’s why many decorative LED light bulbs emit a warm or very warm light.
Photo: @paulinesimpkin6
Natural light: how many Kelvin degrees and in which spaces is it suitable?
Natural light, often referred to as "neutral white" or "cool white," traditionally has a color temperature between 3,300K and 5,300K. For example, around 5000K is the light of an electronic flash, and midday sunlight is about 5,200K.
Some brands label lamps and light bulbs that emit 3,500–4,000 K light as “natural light” because they produce a color temperature similar to the ambient daylight in homes when the sun is shining into the rooms.
This shade does not distort colors and helps with concentration. That’s why it’s ideal for spaces where optimal color rendering is needed. Offices, art studios, or workspaces where good visibility is important use light bulbs of this kind.
Photo: @lisaland.ing
Cool light: what it is and where to use it
Cool light, with a color temperature above 5,300 K, emits a blue-white tone similar to direct daylight. Daylight with a completely overcast sky is around 7,000 K. It’s mainly used in garages and outdoor areas, in commercial or industrial settings like supermarkets, hospitals, or workspaces where accurate color rendering and intense light are needed.
In conclusion, Kelvin degrees and the different shades of light offer a variety of choices when it comes to lighting. Understanding the differences between warm, natural, and cool light can help create the desired atmosphere and improve energy efficiency.
When choosing a light bulb, it’s important not to consider only the right brightness in terms of lumens and watts, but also to take into account the room, the desired lighting effect, and the activities that will take place in that specific space, in order to achieve optimal lighting for every need.
Photo: @simohome_18
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