Home Lighting: Color, Temperature & Why They Matter
Ever get hung up in the lighting aisle silently debating warm vs. cool light bulbs? What does light bulb temperature even mean? Aren’t newer LED bulbs supposed to stay cooler than the old incandescents? And what about light bulb color? Does that only apply to novelty and holiday lights?
The pros at TCP Lighting just happen to be obsessed with lighting color temperature, and we’re delighted to share what we know.
Read on for an explanation of light color temperatures and the scale used to measure them, plus our tips on choosing the best lighting color for every room of your home.
What Is Light Color?
We’re going to talk a lot about warm vs. cool light bulbs, but we’re not talking about heat output. We’re not really talking about light bulb color, either. The best lighting color guide to imagine is the color wheel from art class. Remember learning about primary and secondary colors? That’s also where you may have learned that blue, green and gray are considered “cool” colors whereas red, yellow and orange are referred to as “warm” colors. In terms of home lighting, color temperature echoes that pattern.
So, what is lighting color temperature? It’s a measure of how white a lamp’s light is, expressed in units of measure called kelvins that are abbreviated by the upper-case letter k following a four-digit number. Higher numbers denote whiter, cooler light, and lower numbers signify warmer light with a yellowish cast.
How Light Bulb Color and Temperature Influence Your Home
We’ve all experienced how light affects paint color differently in the store than it does in our homes. It may feel like a bait and switch, but really it’s just the perception of paint changing color with the temperature difference of, say, 5000 Kelvins in a retail shop and 3000 Kelvins in your living room.
The upside here is that you can take control of your home’s entire ambiance by paying attention to how warm vs. cool light bulbs create different moods and atmospheres. Keep this mini light bulb temperature guide in mind as you relearn how to read a light bulb box when choosing LEDs for your home:
Warm Colors
A light bulb in the 2000 K to 3000 K range will yield a soft, warm light with hints of yellow. This kind of bulb creates a cozy, homey feel that’s often the best color lighting for entertaining and relaxing.
Neutral Colors
Between 3100 K and 4500 K, light bulb color becomes cooler and brighter, facilitating tasks like reading or food prep. This lighting can lend a more energetic vibe to a room with a clean sense of clarity, thanks to the absence of both yellow and blue tones.
Cool Colors
When the kelvins climb above 4600, they denote very bright light that may begin to take on a bluish hue. Daylight clocks in at around 5000 K, so anything beyond that is generally reserved for specialty work.
Best Lighting Color Guide for Homes
Light up your home with the warm or cool light that suits every moment, from family meals to vibrant celebrations to productive WFH days to quiet nights in — and everything in between. Our light bulb temperature guide shows you how to choose the right lights:
For Your Bathroom
You need a flexible combination of lighting for bathrooms. Both the guest and master bath require bright, clear task lighting for grooming and a softer, warmer light source for relaxation. Dimmable LED lights are great solutions for this conundrum, allowing a range of brightness levels. Choose kelvins in the 3000-4000 range for a vibrant light bulb color on the brightest setting.
For Your Kitchen
The most popular room in most homes is also one of the most difficult to light, as it hosts activities from cooking and baking to homework to game nights to romantic midnight snacks. Employ the layered lighting principle for the most flexibility. That means starting with an ambient light source from the ceiling, like sleek and sophisticated LED downlights in the neutral kelvin range of 2700 to 3500. They’re dimmable, so you can have a vibrant look during the day and a softer glow in the evening. Then add focused task lighting, like chandeliers or pendants, over the island or other workstations with neutral color light bulbs. Finally, install under-cabinet lighting to avoid deep shadows and elevate your countertops. These, too, are available with dimming options that allow for a glowing nightlight effect overnight.
For Living Spaces
Your living room, den, family room and other shared living spaces are where all the good stuff happens — movie marathons, family celebrations, friendly get-togethers, even date nights. Opt for a light bulb temperature in the 2400 K to 3000 K range to achieve a warm and welcoming vibe. These are great settings for showcasing your personality with quirky light choices, like LED bulbs in a retro-inspired fixture. Their filament construction looks old-school, but these LED beauties put out a warm glow without getting hot or burning up your utility bills.
For the Home Office
Did we say the best lighting for a home office? Sorry, we meant the best lighting for your playroom-slash-home-office. When the kids no longer need a room for afterschool play but you need a space for working remotely — or one room doubles as both on different days — your lighting choices get a bit trickier. Start with the commonalities between the two purposes: you both need a bright, neutral light bulb temperature and a combination of ambient and task lighting. Go for a nice mix of ceiling fixtures, floor lamps and tabletop lights to complement the natural light from windows. The best color light bulb in this situation falls in the 3000-3500 K range with a clear, white cast that can help increase productivity.
Lighting Solutions From TCP
For over 30 years, TCP Lighting has been committed to helping you save money with energy-efficient lighting while delivering brilliant illumination for any setting. Now that you see how home lighting color temperature impacts every room’s look and feel, you’re ready to find TCP bulbs at your favorite retailer and start leveling up the light color of your home.
