What is the right light color for your lighting project?
The heat of light or color temperature is expressed in Kelvin. The higher the Kelvin number, the “colder” and whiter the light. The lower the Kelvin number, the “warmer” and yellower the light. The following examples will help you to visualize the Kelvin numbers:
1500 Kelvin candlelight
2700 Kelvin light bulb / halogen
5500 - 7000 Kelvin Daylight
Practically any color temperature can be achieved with LED lighting, as LEDs do not have a specific color temperature. It is therefore just as possible with LEDs to produce a light color similar to that of an incandescent bulb as well as light colors in the daylight range.
The rule of thumb is that light colors below 3000 Kelvin are referred to as warm light and everything above 3000 Kelvin as colder light. Which light color or which Kelvin value is the right one for which application is not least a matter of taste. Nevertheless, we believe that there are certain recommendations that can be followed.
TKL has been familiar with light and lighting for 25 years now and has witnessed the development of LEDs from the very beginning and has also played a part in determining them for its own range. Experience has shown that the following light colors can be assigned to the respective applications.
2700K - 3000K Living area
3000K - 4000K Work area
4000K - 6000K industry / production
This division is based on experience.
Living area:
In the living area, there is a clear trend away from 2700 Kelvin (light bulb / halogen) towards 3000 Kelvin. The 3000 Kelvin are still pleasantly warm white and “homely” and are nevertheless somewhat fresher and more modern than the 2700 Kelvin in the incandescent bulb look.
4000 Kelvin is rarely required in the home, but there are still applications where this rather cool light temperature can be interesting. In a modern loft, for example, where the living, sleeping and working areas merge together, this very “fresh” light can certainly appeal.
At this point, it is important to know that the light color has nothing to do with the light intensity. So if you feel that your current lighting installation with halogen spotlights looks too gloomy, it is not advisable to switch to cool white LEDs. If you like the warm white light of halogen lights, you can achieve more brightness in your rooms with LED light sources in 2700 Kelvin and the correspondingly higher luminous intensity (lumens).
Work area:
A light color of 4000 Kelvin has established itself in the professional work area (office lighting). Also make sure that you achieve sufficient light intensity (at least 500 lux) on the desk surface for office workstations.
Of course, it is also possible to equip an office with 3000 Kelvin or even daylight white (over 5300 Kelvin).
Industry / production:
In technical lighting, light colors above 4000 Kelvin are almost exclusively in demand. Linear light profiles in warehouses or production facilities are often ordered with 5000 Kelvin.