When you decided to look into LED lighting solutions for your business or home, you likely noticed the term, “color temperature” being used a lot. Find out more about the color spectrum and what it has to do with your LED lights.
What is Color Temperature Anyway?
This term is what professionals use when referring to the color of a LED light bulb. We define color temperature by the amount of pure white, yellow, red, and blue light waves that are in any given light source.
For some, it may be useful to think of the color temperature regarding how warm or cool a white LED light bulb is. Another simple way to think about color temperature is to compare the light at different parts of the day. At noon, the sun emits light that is bright and white, especially close to the equator. Alternately, at sunrise and sunset, sunlight takes on a more yellow, orange, or even red-ish tint.
More about the Color Spectrum in Kelvin
Experts measure color temperatures in degrees Kelvin. This temperature is used to measure the part of the color spectrum that is found in a particular source of light. Although convention dictates that yellow-red colors be considered “warm,” while blue-green colors are considered “cool,” the application of the Kelvins system to LED color temperatures follows a different modus operandi.
Instead, the higher the Kelvin temperatures are what we consider “cool” while lower color temperatures are considered “warm.” As a general rule for color temperature, lower color temperatures typically have more yellow in them while higher color temperatures will go from yellow to pure white and eventually to blue. When looking at LEDs, it’s important to know that Color temperature IS NOT an indicator of lamp heat but rather a description of the spectrum of light being emitted by that LED.
From coolest to warmest: what color temperature looks like
We know that the in’s and out’s of LED light can get a bit tricky. Here’s an easy temperature cheat sheet to help guide your way as you decide on the right LED lighting solutions for your space.
- 1900 Kelvin: Sunlight at sunrise or sunset, candlelight
- 2000-2700 Kelvin: Accent lighting
- 3000-3200 Kelvin: Primary light sources in retail locations
- 3700 Kelvin: Coated lamps
- 4000 Kelvin: General lighting for factories, parking lots, and warehouse facilities
- 5000-5500 Kelvin: Daylight lamps for horticulture and aquariums
- 5600 Kelvin: Sunlight at midday during the summer
- 6000 Kelvin: Begins to get a blue tint; sometimes seen on automotive headlights
When deciding on the LED lighting solutions for your home or office, keep in mind that cool light produces higher contrast than warm light, making it more preferable for the completion of visual tasks. Alternately, warm light is preferred for living spaces because it tends to be more flattering to skin tones and clothing than cooler light.
Although our specific recommendation will vary depending on your lighting needs, typically we recommend a color temperature between 2700 and 3600 Kelvin for general indoor and task lighting applications. Call our trained lighting design experts today to learn more about which LED lighting solution is best for you and your space.
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