With the naked eye, one might think that all lights are the same. But that’s not exactly true. A lighting specialist will beg to differ.
Most people don’t realize that light bulbs are manufactured in different colour temperatures. The colour temperature you use in your home or office can help set the mood in your living room or make you more productive in the office.
What is Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT)?
Before choosing which colour temperature light bulb to use, you need to understand Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT). The Correlated Colour Temperature is what helps you understand the hue and tone of what to expect from a specific lighting design or fixture.
CCT is measured in Kelvin (K), and several temperatures on the Kelvin scale represent different colours.
For instance, a light at 2000K-3500K will look orange or yellow and is known as ultra-warm or ultra-white. As the temperature increases in Kelvin, the colour changes to a brighter colour, like ‘paperwhite’ (often known as natural or neutral white), and is usually within the range of 3500K and 5100K.
Then there is the bluish-white known as cool white, generally within the range of 5100K and 20000K.
Low CCT or High CCT?
When choosing a bulb for your space, you need to plan for the atmosphere you intend to create. The classic white bulbs have a low CCT and add a warm yellow hue to the room’s colours. They don’t appear as bright and natural or cool white bulbs.
Therefore, they would be ideal for bedroom and living room lighting.
However, your office space, kitchen, bathroom, and utility areas such as the basement would benefit from bulbs with a higher colour temperature as these spaces are used to complete tasks.
Bear in mind that the lower the CCT, the more flattering the lighting effect. Higher CCTs will make blemishes and imperfections pronounced—just like they would appear in natural light outside the home.
Having that in mind when deciding which colour temperature light bulb to use for which areas in your home help you make the right choice.
For instance, using a warm white light in your bathroom will make the flaws in your makeup-less visible. Putting on your makeup in natural white light will improve perfection, and if there are any flaws, they will be visible enough for you to fix.
However, there is no harm in having both colour temperatures installed in your bathroom. Turn on the warm light for a more relaxed atmosphere.
When you need to perform a task, such as makeup or cleanup, turn on the natural white light.
Colour Temperature Bulbs You Can Use For Different Areas
| Environment | Ultra-Warm | Warm | Natural | Cool |
| Living rooms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Bedrooms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Bathrooms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Closets | ✓ | |||
| Kitchens | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Basements | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Game Rooms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Theatre Rooms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Utility/Storage Rooms | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Garages | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Nurseries | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Offices | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Offices Buildings | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Warehouse/Industrial Environments | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Retirement Homes | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Daycare centers | ✓ | |||
| Hospitals/Doctors’ Offices | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Mechanic Shops | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Car Dealership | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Spas | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Restaurants | ✓ | ✓ |
In a Nutshell
The colour temperature light bulb to use in your space should be entirely dependent on the purpose and the mood you wish to create in the room or environment.
For instance, just because you run a retail store business doesn’t mean you should install natural cool white lights.
If your goal for your store is to have a more relaxed atmosphere, then you should choose a decorative warm or ultra-warm light. The same idea applies to every room or space.
Choose a colour temperature light bulb that fits your unique need and purpose.
For further enquiries, feel free to get in touch with your friendly lighting consultant or specialist, Lightmakers to help you make the right choice.