What colour temperature is best for your home?

3 years ago
3 min read
By Default Admin

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Have you ever stopped to notice the difference between the lighting in your home, to the lighting at your work? Or perhaps, to your favourite retail store, or restaurant? We wouldn’t exactly blame you if not... It seems simple, right? Light is light after all. It’s either bright... or it’s dark… or it’s something in between.

The lighting in your home can often be an underestimated element for thought. Many factors come into play with this, including the colour temperature of light you select for your home.

The temperature that you choose for spaces in your home can completely transform the mood and ambience of a room so it’s important to understand the basics. What is warm white, cool white and daylight white, and what are their differences? Where in your home would you use different colour temperatures, and why is this important?

WHAT IS COLOUR TEMPERATURE?

The term ‘colour temperature’ is used to describe a light shade that is provided from a light bulb. It is measured in degrees of Kelvin (k) on a scale of 1,000 to 10,000.

As shown in the above scale, the lower the number, the warmer tones the light has, which outputs a more orange/yellow light. The higher the number, the colder the tones, displaying light with a bluish tone.

WARM WHITE LIGHT.

On the lower end of the scale, typically around 2,700 - 3300k, is what many refer to as ‘warm white’ light, or ‘yellow light’.

It is a soft form of lighting and has a warmer feel than both cool white and daylight white. Due to its warming properties, warm white lighting creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere and is often used in areas of the home including the living rooms and bedrooms.

With its softened properties, it’s said to be excellent for reading and for adjusting your eyes as you prepare yourself for sleep so this light band is great for bedside lamps or reading nooks.

COOL WHITE LIGHT.

Near the middle of the scale sits ‘cool white’ light and is typically between 3300 and 5000k.

This light has a more neutral tone which is perfect for everyday living. Because of its crispness, it is best suited for places where concentration is required or detailed tasks are performed, e.g., kitchen, home office / study, laundry and garage / workshop.

As this sits in the middle of the scale, a cool white light is seen as ‘brighter’ and more natural to the human eye when compared to warm white light.

DAYLIGHT LIGHT

Daylight light sits on the slightly higher end of the scale, typically ranging from 5,000 to 6,500k.

As described in its name, daylight light bulbs are designed to mimic the sun’s natural light and are brighter with cooler tones when compared to cool white light.

Whilst daylight light is a popular choice in commercial or retail settings, it can be used in home bathrooms, too. With its natural light properties, it’s considered a popular choice to assist with make-up application.

CLEAR BLUE / BLUE SKY LIGHT

Colour temperatures of 6,500k and up on the Kelvin scale have more cooling blue tones and are not typically found in a home setting but more likely seen in commercial spaces.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

At Latitude Homes, we work with specialist lighting suppliers for LED light bulbs that provide a range of colour temperatures, perfect for everyday living. With advanced technology today, there are options available that provide the ability to have an all-in-one solution where you can adjust the colour temperature to suit when required.

Whilst the above can be read as a guideline, colour temperature choices for your home are of personal preference and should be selected based on what works best for you, your family, and your home.

Our Latitude Homes representatives are here to assist you with all your lighting queries, should you have any on your home build or upcoming project. To find contact details to your nearest home builder, click here.