It’s important to find the right lighting for every room in your home. While color temperature, brightness, wattage, and Kelvin all play a role, it’s the right balance that matters. In any given space, you may have varying degrees of color temperature – this approach can add warmth and dimension. Here, we’ve looked at the details of the type of bulb to help you find the perfect bulb for every room.
Common Types of Household Light Bulbs
Most of the bulbs commonly used in homes are one of four types:
Incandescent bulbs: Incandescent bulbs are commonly used in appliances such as ovens and microwave ovens. Compared to other types of bulbs, they consume a lot of energy and burn out quickly.
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs): Energy-efficient and long-lasting, these spiral bulbs can be used in both exterior and interior luminaires.
Halogen: Halogen bulbs are most commonly used in exterior lighting fixtures such as spotlights and floodlights, but they can also be used for recessed and track interior lighting. They are less energy efficient than CFL and LED bulb types and generate heat when in use.
LED: These durable bulbs are very energy-efficient and offer a variety of color temperatures. They are perfect for use throughout the home.
Color Temperature and Brightness
When deciding on the right light bulb for your space, consider the color temperature (an important factor that determines the mood of the room) and the brightness of the bulb. Brightness is especially important for task areas like kitchens, laundry rooms, and offices, but finding the right light color or temperature can be the difference between a functional space and one that feels completely sterile.
To find the right light for every room in your home, familiarize yourself with a few keywords, including Kelvin and Watt.
Kelvin & Watts
While wattage can sometimes determine the brightness of light, Kelvin has different uses and refers to the warmth or coolness of light. Bulbs with a high Kelvin rating produce a whiter light, while bulbs with a lower Kelvin rating produce a warmer white light.
Kelvin Rating
Kelvin plays an integral role in creating the right atmosphere for any particular space in your home. When you switch from a lower Kelvin grade to a higher Kelvin grade, the color temperature changes, resulting in a different color of light.
- <2000K-2600K (Warm White): Creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. Most light bulbs in your home are probably in this range.
- 2700K-3000K (Soft White): Soft White glows a yellowish light that is white enough to bring energy to living rooms, dining rooms, and other gathering spaces.
- 3100K-4000K (Bright White Light): While you don’t want bright white light throughout your home, you might choose bright white light if you have a workshop, garage, or other practical or task-oriented space in your home.
- 5000K+ (Daylight): This light is very cool and may produce a blue cast. With a Kelvin rating of over 5000, it is best suited for industrial spaces and other non-residential areas.
Watt
A watt is a unit of energy that a light bulb consumes per hour, although the lumens (brightness) per watt vary greatly depending on the type of bulb you use. High-wattage bulbs consume more energy than low-wattage bulbs.
Bulbs compared to tile lumens
- 800 Lumen Incandescent = 60 watts
- 800 Lumen Halogen = 45 watts
- 800 Lumen LED = 9 watts
How Much Light Do You Need in Each Room?
When determining the appropriate amount of light for a space, don’t think about wattage, Kelvin, or how many bulbs you need for your fixture, but understand that lumens can be the most important factor. The way a room is used affects the amount of light required. Kitchens and bathrooms are spaces that usually require the most light. The hallway is at the other end of the scale, while the restaurant is in the middle.
Use this guide to find the right light temperature and lumens for each room:
- Garage (bright white): 8,000–10,000 lumens
- Kitchen and bathroom (warm): 6,000–8,000 lumens
- Home office/study (bright white): 5,000–7,000 lumens
- Dining room (soft light): 3,000–5,000 lumens
- Bedroom and living room (pastel white): 1,000–3,000 lumens
- Hallway (warm to soft): 500–1,000 lumens
