Which light color is better for me?

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Colour temperature: A way to describe the light appearance provided by a light bulb. It is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K), with temperatures for commercial and residential lighting applications falling somewhere on a scale from 2000K to 6500K.

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This is one of the most common questions we get from new home-owners when they start shopping for lights. Well, it is not possible to give you a straight answer immediately as every person’s lifestyle and preference is vastly different. You could be someone who works long hours and needed soft illumination at home to unwind or you could be someone who need conducive lighting for your young kids. So how can we advise you with so many different variations?

There are few types of light colours that home-owners generally choose: warm, cool white and daylight. Over here, we prefer to use the colour temperature as the measurement as it is more precise and accurate. The range between warm white is 2700K – 3000K, cool white is 4000K and daylight is 6000K – 6500K. The lower the kelvin, the more yellowish the light will be. As the chosen light colour for your new home depends on your preference, interior design and lifestyle. Let us share with you on how to know which light colour suits you the best!

Warm (2700K - 3000K)

As the name suggests, warm light gives off a warm hue which helps to creates a relaxing feel in a living space. It is the most popular light option for new homes these days. If your interior colour falls between the neutral tones(i.e. white, brown), warm light colour will elevate and enhance the colour palette of the space effortlessly. Warm tone also creates a cozy ambience that resembles a hotel room.

One of the main reasons why you always feel so relaxed and enjoyable when you are in a hotel is because of the careful choice of light colour. Well-positioned light fixtures and soft light illumination have the intangible ability to make you relax and enjoy the little things around without you realising it!

Consider going for 3000K if you want a good balance between coziness and functionality. As 3000K light output is on the whiter side of the warm spectrum, this color temperature allow you to read comfortably without compromising the overall look of the home.

Cool White (4000K)

Cool white is considered the middle tone in the whole warm-white light spectrum and this light colour resembles the color of sunlight. It is also commonly used as the main light colour for homes. In terms of CRI, 4000K usually ranked the highest so if you do visit museums frequently, you will notice that most of the lights they use are in cool white,. Since 4000K allows visitors to see the true colours, it is best suited to bring the paintings to life.

Cool white will make the space look brighter visually compared to warm(although the wattage is the same). So home-owners who prefers a brighter illumination at home, or if your interior colours are mainly dark shades(i.e. grey, dark blue) and worried that the space may look too dim, consider 4000K as it helps to illuminate the space better than 3000K.. As cool white is a good mix between the warm and daylight, it still lights up the area with a hint of warmth, providing a suitable environment for residential use.

This light colour is particularly ideal for task use. As the CRI is the most accurate at this colour temperature, 4000K is very popular for areas like kitchen and study areas where high color accuracy is useful.

Daylight (6000K - 6500K)

Daylight has a slightly more ‘bluish’ tint compared to cool white. This light colour is commonly used in commercial spaces like car parks or clinics. where the main goal is to light up the space as much as possible. This is no longer a popular option for homes since the light output tend to make the home look less welcoming and washed out. Your thoughtfully picked grey laminates and your lovely cream wall will turn out "bluish" if you are using daylight. Most people have switched to cool white as an alternative due the aesthetic reasons.

Will you go for daylight?

We hope this simple article has helped you to have a better idea of the difference between the light colours! We still highly recommend you to visit a physical store and see in person. Looking at photos online could be misleading. And by immersing yourself in the light experience can help you better understand your preference. Definitely worth it!

Have more questions you wanna know about? Stalk us on IG @shioklighting