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With all the talk of warm white vs cool white, you might be wondering what the differences are and which one is best for your home? Read on to find out more about these two different types of white light so often found in bulbs!
Warm white vs cool white light choices, what are the differences and what should people need to know before they choose between them? There are many types of bulbs that have a very warm or even red tone. Partly this is due to their color temperature which explains how much blue there is in the lighting spectrum. The lower color temperatures will be more yellow and orange in their light quality whereas the higher color temperatures will be cooler blue tones.
LED light color temperature (CCT) is the measure of the hue of a specific type of light source. Measured in Kelvin, it refers to degrees along the visible spectrum and ranges from red at 1700 – 1800K through orange-yellow (slightly less warm than yellow), bright white/blueish white, to blue at ~6000k and ultra violet above 10000K.
When choosing your bulb, manufacturers tend to match these descriptions of white light with temperature:
The differences in warm or cool light are more than just looking warmer and cooler in hue, as this choice will affect everything that it illuminates.
Warm white 2700K light is typically found in homes and provides a warm, cozy feel. It has always been the most common choice for home lighting before CFLs and LEDs became popular as it was cheaper to buy incandescent bulbs which naturally produced this kind of light over those which were cooler or brighter.
The yellowish tone will soften the look of your home and will make it feel more inviting. It’s best used in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms where you want to create a relaxed atmosphere or accentuate items which are already warm toned such as wood furniture or rugs.
On the other hand cool white light of 4000K looks clean and modern but can feel harsh and sterile. This is the most popular choice for offices, shops and other commercial spaces where a bright light is required but you don’t want to detract from anything in your room with warm tones (such as wood or earthy wall coverings).
The blue tone will give more of an impactful look that makes objects stand out which can be good for highlighting features of your room but not so good if you want to create a warm atmosphere.
Daylight white light is a more modern choice and can be used in many areas of the home. It provides excellent brightness but with an extremely cool tone which makes it unflattering when lighting living spaces such as bedrooms, lounges or dining rooms but great for daytime use to supplement areas of buildings that struggle to get natural daylight.
How do I know which one I am buying?
Cool white will be described with a 4000K or over color temperature and warm white is 3500K or under.
So where should I use warm white vs cool white lights?
Warm white light works best in living rooms and bedrooms where you want to create a warm atmosphere. This color is also often used for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms as it provides the most natural lighting of any cool or warm tone. It’s not recommended for commercial spaces or offices though where cool white can be more effective for its brightening effects.
Cool white light is best in areas where you need a brighter, more high impact lighting such as hallways or utility rooms and it can also be good for garages too if the cool color temperature isn’t going to make working uncomfortable. It’s not suitable for living spaces due to its harsh nature though so avoid using this kind of bulb in living rooms or bedrooms where it will be unpleasant and unflattering for people.
When you purchase a new LED bulb, make sure to check its color temperature so that you can pair it with the appropriate lampshade or light fixture in your home. If we know we’ll want warm white lighting then choose cool white bulbs and vice versa if we want cool white color temperature.
On top of this, another consideration when choosing between cool white and warm white light is the color temperature that the bulb emits compared with any lampshades or other coverings on lamps or pendants in your home.
A lampshade or light fixture will alter the color temperature of your bulbs, so use a warm white bulb in any space where you have an uncovered cool white shade because this will bring out its blue tone. If you have covered shades that are more yellow toned then using cooler bulbs to compliment them would be beneficial otherwise the light will become even more amber in color.
Cool white bulbs particularly need to have a very high CRI (color rendering index) otherwise the rendition of colors will be poor, meaning they should show colors exactly as we see them with our eyes, but at the same time they should not look too cold or sterile which is why warm white lights are preferred in many homes and offices.
Lets take a look at the common areas where your choices will make a difference.
Warm white or cool white for outdoor lights: what are the differences and which one should you choose outdoors? This blog post will help to explain as well as give some tips about choosing warm white vs cool white outside. When making a choice between warm and cool lighting, it’s important to keep in mind that there are a few differences between them that you should be aware of.
Warm white lighting will have a more yellow tone, while cool white has a bluer appearance to it. Knowing this difference is key in making your choice about which one you want for outside lights or fixtures so if you want a warm or cool white exterior look, this is something you’ll need to keep in mind.
Warm White Outdoor Lighting will have more of an amber glow with less blue tones whereas Cool White outdoor lights are almost pure white and may feel cold which isn’t good for lighting up areas around our home.
It’s a good idea to use warm white for outdoor lights if you prefer more of an amber glow rather than cool white which isn’t very attractive. A warmer light is much better when it comes to exterior lighting, especially in areas where people are likely to be spending time such as on the patio or near entrances where guests will arrive at your home after dark.
The colors you see outdoors in the evening can be a bit different from what your interior lighting is like, so it’s important to keep in mind that warm white outside lights will provide much more of an inviting appearance which people are going to appreciate when they come over.
When you’re thinking about warm or cool bathroom lighting , it’s important to keep in mind that the color temperature of your light will affect how relaxed people feel when they use the bathroom.
The two main differences between warm and cool lights are that they operate on different spectrums of the light spectrum as well as how this color temperature is used each time we turn them on throughout the day.
In general terms for our homes, cool white is most often used for kitchens and bathrooms because it gives off a very crisp appearance which can be nice in these areas during preparation of meals, but then warmed up if
Cooler lights such as those with a high CRI (color rendering index) will give more of an energetic and stimulating appearance which is why we typically see cool white in kitchens where it’s important that people don’t feel tired or sleepy after eating their meals.
Warm White Bathroom Lighting: A warmer light in a bathroom will help people to feel more relaxed and comfortable in the environment. This is why warm white provides a much better way of lighting up your bathrooms compared to cool white when it comes to helping them function properly at night time.
Warm vs cool bedroom lights, what’s the difference and which one should you choose for your bedroom?
If you’re wondering whether it’s better to have warm or cool lighting in a bedroom, the thing to keep in mind is that cooler colors are more stimulating whereas warmer colors are more relaxing, so it makes sense to have warm white lights in a bedroom. That’s why cool whites aren’t recommended for bedrooms unless restricted to light sources that are being used to keep you awake rather than prepare you for bedtime.
Should kitchen lights be warm or cool? For example, if you have a harsh fluorescent light fixture above your kitchen countertop or table, it’s going to look quite different from this compared to a warm white LED or incandescent bulb.
Warm white kitchen lighting will provide a much more inviting and warm appearance than cool lights, so it’s always recommended to choose this type of color temperature when you’re looking for LED or other types of bulbs to install in your kitchen. Warm whites are also good if you’d like strong under-cabinet lighting because they can help create a very powerful glow without being too harsh on the eyes.
If you’re wondering whether it’s better to have warm or cool lighting in your kitchen, the thing to keep in mind is that cooler colors are more stimulating whereas warmer colors are more relaxing. That makes sense because people want their kitchens to be relaxing and inviting, so warm white is a much better choice for these types of rooms.
However, too warm and the light will not be suitable for the task orientated activities of meal preparation. Typically commercial kitchens use a 4000K cool white light in the preparation areas but 3000K in areas that may be seen within a dining space.
If you’re wondering whether it’s better to have warm or cool lighting in a living room, the thing to keep in mind is that cooler colors are more stimulating whereas warmer colors are more relaxing so it makes sense to have warm white lights when decorating your living room. That’s why cool whites aren’t recommended for living rooms unless restricted to light sources that are being used for more task orientated activities, such as reading, writing and studying.
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