Still, choosing the right temperature for specific areas of the home, such as under the cabinets or in accent lighting, can add purposeful touch. For example, if a kitchen has a row of recessed can lights, it would be unwise to throw in a random 2700K bulb when the rest of the set are 3000K.
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How to mix lighting temperaturesīuilders and designers shouldn’t shy away from mixing color temperatures in a single room, but Dross says that you must do it carefully. If you use the warmer temperatures with cooler colors, they’re also going to get kind of washed out looking.”īut if a builder is unsure what color the homeowner wants to paint the house or if there are other circumstances limiting the knowledge of the final look a client is going for, Dross says to go with 3000K as it will give the best average rendering of every color. “You’re not going to get as nice a notice of grain in the woods that might be used in the space. So your beiges are going to look a little sickly,” Dross says. “What happens is you get a mushy, greyed out tone. Dross warns that a mismatched temperature-color palette combination can lead to less than desirable results. Unfortunately-or fortunately for lighting enthusiasts-there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to lighting temperature, as the color palette and function of the room will determine if a cooler or warmer temperature would work best. Here are five tips for how to find the right lighting temperature: How Do You Choose Light Temperature? With so many factors contributing to a well-lit room, the search for the right temperature for each space can be daunting.
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“For example, a warm light that may feel comfortable in the evening will often contrast starkly with natural light from windows at mid-day.” Designers can then work around that by specifying lighting fixtures that are able to toggle between lighting temperatures based on environmental conditions or timing, or by assessing the conditions of each space. “Limiting homeowners to one temperature is challenging in any space, however, as lighting needs often shift throughout the day,” Cecilia Ramos, says senior architectural market director for Lutron, parent company of the lighting manufacturer Ketra.
Lighting designers caution against choosing a single temperature for the entire home-or even a single room.
“This warmth is generally associated with intimacy and calmness, like a restaurant lit by only candlelight.”īut finding the right temperature for a home isn’t just about averaging the overall look and feel of a project. “The lower the color temperature (2200K-2700K), the more fire-like, or warm the space will feel,” Rick Leeds, director for North American contract sales for FLOS USA, says. “If your rooms are cooler, meaning you’ve got a black and white, blues, purples, greens, slate, granite, and stainless steel, 3000K is going to look and work better.”Ĭolor temperature can also affect the space’s overall mood and energy. “If you have a warm surrounding, as in the room has a lot of golds, yellows, beiges and wood tones, I suggest that you use 2700K for that environment,” Dross says. Commonly used temperatures range from 2700K-3300K, according to Jeff Dross, corporate director of education and industry trends at Kichler Lighting. Warmer temperatures go well with warmer colors, earth tones, and wood grains, while cooler temperatures bring out the vibrancy of blues, purples, and greens.
Temperature is closely related to the color palette of a room. Finding the right lighting temperature for a room can be a challenge, but if a builder is successful, the selection can improve a space’s appearance and functionality.Ĭolor temperature refers to how warm or cool a light source is: The lower the temperature is in Kelvins, the warmer the light.