Let there be light – Will it be bright or will it be colorful? There are so many options now for lighting in our homes. Not only do we have to choose the style and type of light fixture, but we also need to choose the mood. That way we can be seen in our best light. (see what I did there)
Did you know, other than the wall color, lighting has the biggest impact on how your room looks or is perceived by your eyes? Lighting can help make a room look light and bright or dark and moody depending on how it is applied.
Have you ever gone into a public restroom, looked in the mirror, and said to yourself “oh my goodness…I left the house looking like this??”. It may not be your makeup or skin tone, it may just be the lighting type and temperature.
Which type of light do you think makes your skin tone look the best?
No matter how beautiful the light fixtures are in your home, if you use the wrong temperature of light, it will drastically affect how your room looks, feels, and even how it functions.
A few fun (and important) facts:
The temperature of light is expressed in KELVINS. The lower the number the warmer the appearance, whereas the higher the number the cooler the light appears. So a K of 3000 will appear more yellowish/goldish and a K of 6000 will appear more bluish.
The color you choose for your lightbulb can completely transform the paint color you are just about to apply to all of your walls. Remember, you just picked out that color under the fluorescent lights at the big box store. Pro Tip: That is not the place to make a final paint decision! Your paint choice should be made in your home under your lighting conditions.
When choosing a bulb or lighting color (not everything is bulbs these days) you should think about how you want your space to “feel”. Cozy and warm, crisp and invigorating, or somewhere in between? Which feeling do you prefer? There is no wrong answer as this is a purely personal preference, so you will ace this pop quiz.
Personally, I love the feel of a warmer white that is around 3000-3500 K in most of my spaces. Though I do need a cooler white (5K daylight) when I am trying to paint or work. Any color temperature above 5500k makes me cringe on the inside. For me, it tends to make spaces feel cold and sterile, especially if the walls are already white.
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to buy a few bulbs and experiment in different areas of your home to see what you prefer You may want a warm white in your family room and a daylight white in your kitchen.
So, next time you are in the never-ending light bulb aisle of the big box store, or lost on the amazon highway, just refer to your newfound knowledge about lighting color temperatures. It’s all about the big K.
PS. Don’t forget each person in your household will have different preferences. I prefer a warmer white, my husband likes a little cooler.
What temperature do you like? What temperature does your partner like? Are they the same?
Watch for an upcoming blog on LEDs and lighting your world with color.
As always, helping you build a “foundation” of knowledge.
