Warm White or Cool White?
The same room can feel cosy or clinical depending on the colour of the light. The numbers on the box look technical, but they are easy to understand.
What the numbers mean
The colour of light is measured in kelvin, written as K. A lower number is warmer and more yellow. A higher number is cooler and more blue.
| Colour | Name | How it feels |
|---|---|---|
| 2700K to 3000K | Warm white | Soft, cosy and relaxing, like an old-style globe |
| 4000K | Natural white | Clean and neutral, good for seeing colours |
| 5000K to 6500K | Cool white or daylight | Crisp and bright, with a hint of blue |
Room by room
- Living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms: warm white.
- Kitchens: warm white for a home that flows together, or natural white if you want a crisper light on the bench.
- Bathrooms: warm white is flattering, and natural white is better for make-up and shaving. See our bathroom lighting guide.
- Laundries, garages and workshops: natural or cool white.
- Outdoors: usually warm white. See our outdoor lighting guide.
Keep to one colour in a space
Mixing warm and cool lights in one open-plan area usually looks like a mistake. Choose one colour for the space, and match your new lights to the ones you are keeping.
What does tri colour mean?
A tri colour light, sometimes called CCT, has a small switch that lets you choose warm, natural or cool white. It is handy if you aren’t sure which you’ll prefer, or if you need to match lights that are already in the room. Many of our oyster lights work this way, and so do some spotlights and garden lights.
How much light do you need?
Brightness is measured in lumens, not watts. Watts tell you how much power a light uses. As a rough guide, today’s LED lights give around 80 to 100 lumens for each watt.
A simple starting point is about 150 lumens per square metre for living rooms and bedrooms, and about 300 for kitchens and bathrooms. A 4 m by 4 m bedroom is 16 square metres, so it needs about 2,400 lumens in total, which you can share between a ceiling light and lamps.
What about dimming?
Not every LED light can be dimmed, so check the product’s specifications. Most dimmable LED lights work best with a trailing-edge dimmer, and your electrician can fit one that suits. An unsuitable dimmer can cause flicker or humming.