Cool White or Warm White
Choosing the “color of light” emitted by a lamp was not a common practice with traditional lamps. Some LED products have a color selection, and selecting a color will set the mood of your space.
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) in lighting describes the color of light emitted by a lamp and is measured in kelvins (K).
Consider a scale ranging from 1000K (very red) to 10,000K (very blue) (actual scale is wider). The higher you go up the scale, the more the light resembles blue daylight.
Contrary to popular belief, color temperature does not describe the actual temperature of the lamp, but rather the color it produces, and the higher the color temperature, the “cooler” a lamp will appear.
There are no rules; the decision is based on personal preference and usage. If you prefer the traditional yellowish color of a traditional lamp, warm white (2700-3000K) is the best option; this is the most popular choice for homes. If you want a modern, clean look, a cool white lamp (4000K+) may have a cleaner, brighter feel. Cool white light contains more blue light than warm white light and appears brighter to the eye (this is why cool white bulbs have a higher lumen output when compared to the equivalent warm white bulb). It also appears that people from sunnier countries prefer white light over people from cooler countries who prefer warmer light.
Choosing the right color temperature for commercial applications is important and will depend on the mood you want to create and the products you are promoting – for example, freshly baked cookies and bread may look better under a warm white light. A cool white light may not make the product appear as appealing, but it is a good idea to experiment to see what works best.
The following are some common areas where the various colors can be used:
Living room, bedroom, and hallway – warm to warm white
Kitchen, study, bathroom, cupboard, office, retail – white to cool white
Commercial, retail, and art studios during the day
Allow some time to adjust to any change, especially when switching from warm to cool temperatures.