A Guide to LED Light Temperature

If you want to get the lighting right in your home there are a few things you might want to consider, such as: 

• Whether you will be using a halogen or LED bulb

• If the lighting will add value to your home 

• How to create mood with the lighting in your home

• If you will be using sustainable lighting

Another thing that you might want to consider is LED light temperature. The temperature of the lighting can be ‘make or break’ for effective lighting systems. So, we have put this guide together to help you understand light temperature and how to get it right in your home. 

What is LED Light Temperature? 

Colour temperature is a way to display and measure the colour that the light bulb will emulate. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvins, which was proposed by William Thomson in 1848. 

• The higher the Kelvin temperature = the cooler the temperature

• The lower the Kelvin temperature = the warmer the temperature 

Different Temperatures

There are different temperatures that you can get, the main three are cool white, natural white and warm white.

Each room in your house has different lighting requirements based on the purpose of each room. For example, you need the lighting in your bathroom to be crisp and suitable for precise tasks e.g. shaving, plucking or applying makeup. Whereas, in your bedroom, you will want warmer and cosier lighting for relaxing activities e.g. reading a book or watching TV. 

Cool white typically measures between 3,100K to 4,500K, and these are very bright and ideal where you need crisp light e.g. bathroom, kitchen or workspaces. Check out Light Supplier’s range of LED kitchen lights here. 

Warm white measures around 2,000K to 3,000K and it is the most common light temperature that you will find. It provides a warm and relaxing light that will instantly make the room feel cosy and inviting. This is ideal for living rooms or bedrooms. If you are interested in getting tips on bedroom mood lighting, then check out our great blog post here. 

Natural white is crisp and clear, and this typically measures 4500k to 5500K. This is ideal for spaces where you need to clearly see what you are doing, and there are minimal other light sources. For example, it is great for basements or garages. Also, security lights tend to use this light temperature. 

Are you looking to take the lighting in your home to the next level? Invest in lighting manufactured by Light Supplier today

What Effect Does Light Temperature Have on Humans?

Light temperature affects everyone’s biological rhythms. The amount and temperature of light that our body absorbs affect how tired or how awake we are. This is due to a hormone called Melatonin. It is produced naturally in our bodies and it controls our sleeping patterns. Find out more about it on the NHS website. 

Crisp and bright lights, such as light temperature over 4500K releases melatonin, which keeps us awake for longer. This is useful when you are trying to focus on a task, therefore it is best used for task lighting or in workplaces. However, if this type of lighting is used in your bedroom, then you might feel more awake when you want the opposite. 

A great lighting option to perfect the lighting in your home, particularly for multi-purpose rooms like bedrooms or living rooms, is to install dimmer switches. This lowers the intensity of the light and can create warmth. Read our blog post ‘Dimmable Light Fittings For The Bedroom’ for more information. 

Colour temperature is not only important for the appearance of the lighting, but also for your health and daily routine. Use light temperature to your best advantage.