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Warm versus Cool Lighting: What is Best for Your Home?
Bulb color temperature is one of the most underrated elements in creating a cozy home. Many homeowners overlook it because it is so simple. Warm lighting gives off warm yellow tones, whereas cooler lighting gives off blue, sometimes green, tones. So what is the best lighting color temperature for your home? Is warm lighting or cool lighting best? Well, it depends!
Understanding Color Temperature
First, let's talk bulb color temperature. Bulb color temperature is measured in Kelvins. So, you'll often see a thousand number, e.g., 2700, next to a K on a bulb box. Warm bulbs fall under the 2000K-3000K range, more natural lighting is 3500K-4000K, and anything 5000K+ would be considered cool lighting. Here is a quick visual chart on what that looks like. Generally, Lighting Design recommends that residential lighting bulbs be no more than 2700K-3000K in color temperature. This gives off the best lighting without washing out home colors or casting harsh lighting.
Warm Lighting for Home
Warm lighting is what Lighting Design typically suggests to use throughout the home. The reason for this is that warm color temperatures between 2700K and 3000K don't wash out home decor, paint, or furniture colors. Additionally, those color temperatures provide a warm, cozy glow. The best rooms to use this type of lighting are living rooms, bedrooms, and dining areas.
As a homeowner, it can be quite annoying to move from room to room with different light colors. If you choose to install cooler temperature lighting in other areas of your home, be sure not to go extreme or to install dimmers.
Cool Lighting for Home
Some people may prefer cooler temperature lighting in their home. It really depends on personal preference. Rooms such as offices, bathrooms, or garages may benefit from cooler temp bulbs in the 3500K-4000K zone. As a tip, remember that places like Walmart or the grocery store tend to use bulb temperatures on the cooler scale and around 5000K. Be careful when installing cooler bulbs; you may get the same lighting effect as one of those stores. And while great in the stores, your home is not where you want Walmart-vibes.
Finding the Right Balance
At the end of the day, every choice you make for your home is a matter of personal preference. When it comes to selecting the perfect color temperature, you need to find the balance between functionality and style. Let us know how you plan to balance warm and cool lighting in your home.
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