Colour Temperature

Lighting plays a massive role in our daily lives. With the flip of a light switch our homes can have lighting all through the night and keep businesses open twenty-four hours a day. With the advancement of electric light there is now technology to change the colouring of light.

What is Colour Temperature?

Colour temperature is the colour or shade of light emitted from a light source. It is referred to as the temperature and is measured in degrees called Kelvin. The lower the Kelvin, the warmer and more yellow in colour the light will be. The higher the Kelvin, the cooler or bluer the light will be. The rating of Kelvin affects how the eye perceives paint tones and colours.

Colour temperature generally ranges from 1,000 – 10,000 on the Kelvin temperature scale. The image below is an example of the different shades there can be within natural light. While they are not exact, they can provide an idea of the different tones of lighting you can install in your home.

General Categories of Colour Temperature

Here is a general breakdown of the colour temperatures and their practical uses.

Warm Light

• Warm lighting is a range of light between 1,000 – 3,000K.

• This type of light are the tones that homeowners install in bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms. It provides a calmer atmosphere.

• The standard incandescent bulb we are most familiar with is usually around 2,700K.

Cool Light

• Cool lighting is a range of colour light between 4,000 – 6,000K.

• The temperature range closer to 5,000K is considered almost neutral and similar to the light spectrum of daylight at midday.

• Great lighting choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices. Colour temperature in this range is thought best for rooms that require clearer lighting for projects and activities.

Day Light

• Day lighting is a range of light between 7,000 – 10,000k.

• The coolest light temperatures will be found in industrial buildings, businesses, airports, and any place where it is essential to see people clearly and be alert in your surroundings.

When designing or renovating, homeowners now have choices in what type of lighting, aesthetic, and vibe they want to put throughout their home. Often more yellow tinted lighting is found through homes, but the modern white aesthetic styles cater to a cooler white lighting. Styles and colours will change. That is why it’s unwise to permanently install too warm or cool colour temperatures in your home.

Light Fixtures

Recessed pot lights have become quite popular, especially in standard height ceiling rooms where there is not as much ceiling clearance­ for larger light fixtures. Within some LED recessed pot lights there are settings that allow for the adjustment of the colour temperature of each individual fixture.

Also, when first buying light fixtures, it is a good decision to make sure that it’s convenient to replace the light bulbs. There are some light fixtures that require semi-dismantlement in order to change the light bulb. This can become bothersome after a while if the bulbs burn out in separate intervals. Many LED fixtures have an integral “lamp” that never needs replacing.

There is not necessarily a right or wrong colour shade to install but you may not want bright cool lighting in bedrooms, as it may not provide the most relaxing atmosphere. Colour temperature throughout most homes is often chosen based on the preferences of each homeowner. So, whatever your lighting preferences, Blue Crest Electric is willing to help you with any of your electrical installations and projects. Feel free to give our team a call.