X

dining-room-332207_640By now, you probably already know that LED lighting offers several unique benefits that put it above other lighting technologies. These include unparalleled energy efficiency that lowers your electricity bill, a long lifespan, low heat signatures, and remarkable durability against heat and cold.

Another feature of LEDs—one that’s less known—is their ability to generate practically every known color in the color spectrum. From once only generating a bluish white light, LEDs now come in a wide range of color temperatures, making them suitable for practically any lighting application.

But what is color temperature, and why is it important? Before you buy LED lights for your [city] home, be sure to understand how color temperature works and why it matters when choosing your light bulbs.

History

You may have heard the terms “daylight,” “warm white,” and “cool white” when buying light bulbs. But do you know what these terms mean?

Measuring the “whiteness” of light bulbs first started in the 1800s when William Kelvin, after experimenting with a carbon block, discovered the material changed its color when exposed to heat. The higher the temperature, the more the carbon block would change its color, going from a red, to orange, then yellow, and finally, a bright, bluish white light at the highest temperature.

Kelvin’s research would give him the distinction of his name being used as the unit for measuring color temperature.

Color Temperature in Lighting

In terms of lighting, color temperature is officially referred to as correlated color temperature (CCT), which describes the color of light emitted by a light source, measured using a Kelvin temperature scale. Simply put, it describes the whiteness of light, whether it’s cool (bluish) or warm (yellowish).

Today, lighting manufacturers refer to the Kelvin scale to describe the color of light emitted by any artificial light source. Warm white light has a Kelvin rating of 2,000K to 3000K, and is characterized by a reddish light. On the other hand, cool white light has a Kelvin rating of 4100K and above, and emits a white glow.

Color Temperature Applications

So, what color temperature should you pick when choosing light bulbs for you [city] home? Your selection essentially boils down to the kind of lighting effect you want to create.

For example, a warm white light, with its soft, warm glow, usually makes it a poor choice for office work.

In contrast, a cool white light that simulates daylight helps you stay alert, thus making it great for tasks such as cooking, computer work, and writing among others.

Your choice of color temperature should also matter if you’re following a specific décor scheme in a living space. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to have a uniform color theme, which looks and feels better in terms of creating a pleasant mood or atmosphere.

Bottom line, when choosing LED light bulbs and deciding over color temperature, it’s important to consider what effect you want to create and what your goals for interior design are.

X