Measuring colour temperature is much in the same way that we use Lumens (Lm) to measure a light source brightness, only colour temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (K) letting us measure the warmth or coldness of the light source. A light source with the Kelvin rating of 5,000K or more is described as a cool colour which has a sharp blueish tone to its colour. With the light sources that have a Kelvin rating of 4,000K or lower are a warm colour with a soft orange/yellow tone to its colour.
Different light sources have different colour temperatures, the Kevlin rating for a candle is 1,850K, sunlight light being 5,780K, and moonlight 4,100K. So choosing the right colour temperature is as important as the right fitting and brightness, as it is very disappointing to switch on the lights and have the colour too warm or too cool.
LED lighting has a big advantage over traditional incandescent and halogen light bulbs, as these these light bulbs are only capable of producing light with one colour temperature. LED’s have the option of replicating a much wider spectrum of white light, with the industry standard of 3,000k for warm white and 6,000k for cool white.
The warm white colour temperature has become the popular choice for residential lighting, as most customers prefer this colour temperature as it very similar to the incandescent and halogen bulbs that they will be replacing. As this lighting has soft tones it helps keep a relaxed and friendly environment.
The cool white colour temperature is used where a brighter light source is needed say for instance in a shop or a hospital, as the light serves for both a functional use and an aesthetic purpose. This light gives a room a modern looking feel, but can also highlight or enhance the appearance of existing decor, and they are particularly suitable for rooms with a white finish such as a bathroom or kitchen.
Using both colour temperatures with one another is not uncommon and also enhance not only the appearance of the room but the functionality of the room as well. A perfect example of this would be a kitchen, on the ceiling you would have the warm white colour temperature to create general ambience, while using the cool white colour temperature on the under side of the kitchen cabinets creating an area suitable for working on.
If you are still stuck on what kind of colour temperature you should be using for your project, our lines are open and our sales team will help you with advice on which one will suit your needs for your project. You can contact us on 0116 2799 083 or via e-mail john@instyleled.co.uk