the biggest mistake you’re making with lighting
Colour temperature
Perhaps the two most important factors when choosing an LED light source are colour temperature and colour rendering. We’ve touched on colour temperature in previous blogs, but feel It’s such an important subject it’s worth giving this more attention. You can read our separate blog dedicated to colour rendering here.
When we talk about colour temperature we are referring to the warmth or coolness of light. Warmer light being more yellow, cooler being more blue. There is no ‘standard’ ‘White’ LED. You need to make a choice when you purchase your fittings, do you require a warm or cool light.
Candles are very warm of course, basically yellow/orange, whereas daylight at noon is very cool. The colour or warmth of white light is ranked on a scale, The Kelvin scale, the warmer the colour the lower the colour temperature. Candles being around 2000 degrees Kelvin (k) while daylight typically 5500 – 6500k.
This image says it all. The same white wall, the same hanging light fixture, but a full array of bulbs in varying color temperatures, or Kelvin. Pin this image, save this to your phone, tattoo it on your arm, because you’re going to want to come back to this again and again.
2000K – 2600K – this is what you see mostly in vintage-style Edison bulbs. They create a really orangey, amber light. Fine for the occasional decorative fixture, but it’s REALLY orange, guys. Use with caution.
2700K – this is warm white and is probably the most standard. This is used most often in homes in recessed lighting, decorative lighting, and table lamps. It gives a warm white glow and is closest to the old incandescent light bulbs most of us knew before LED became a thing. Great for most homes.
3000K – this is a soft white, and is great if you want a crisper white and don’t want things to feel yellowed. We use this often in our more contemporary projects.
3500K – this will often be labeled as “true white”, but do not be fooled. This color will look blue inside your house. Just say no.
4000K+ - I’m going to save you some time. DO NOT BUY THESE FOR INSIDE YOUR HOUSE. This is acceptable at best for garage lighting, but it is blue and gross and makes your skin look terrible. Do you know when you walk into a Target bathroom and look like death?! THIS IS WHY.