Choosing a light bulb can be overwhelming…watts, lumens, kelvin. What does it all mean? I’m breaking down the best light bulbs for your home.
If you’ve been around here for a while, then you know I’m always stressing the importance of lighting in a home. A room with multiple light fixtures (overhead, sconces, lamps, etc.) will look much better than a room that just has one light source. This blog post breaks down the dos and don’ts when it comes to lighting a room.
But even if you have multiple light sources in a space, there’s still another mistake you can make…choosing the wrong light bulb.
Choosing a bulb with the wrong kelvin temperature or brightness can change the look, energy, and mood of a space, so it’s important to choose wisely!
However, choosing the perfect light bulb can be overwhelming. Kelvin scale? Lumens? Watts? LED lights? CFL bulbs? Incandescent? There’s so much to consider, so let’s break it all down.
LED All the Way
First, LED bulbs are the way to go because they last so much longer than CFL and incandescent bulbs and they’re much more energy-efficient. Plus, they don’t emit as much heat, which reduces fire risks.
Every single bulb in our house is an LED bulb and we probably won’t have to change a light bulb for a very long time! They consume less energy while delivering brighter light.
In the past, you would always look at incandescent watts when buying an old incandescent bulb in the store. Now, you want to look at lumens.
Watts measure the amount of energy use required to light products, whereas lumens measure the amount of light output.
So you want to look at the number of lumens to figure out how much visible light you will get, instead of the watts!
Choosing the Right Lumens
To put it simply: the more lumens, the brighter the bulb. When you buy a light fixture, it often tells you the maximum wattage to use when choosing a light bulb.
The chart below from ComEd (our local electric company) helps explain which Lumens to choose for the incandescent light bulbs you’re replacing.
Chart via ComEd
For example, if you wanted to buy an LED light bulb to replace a 60-watt bulb, you would buy one with 800 lumens.
If it’s a light bulb in a table lamp with a shade, I often go for 800 lumens.
However, for exposed bulb shapes, like in the vanity light in our bathroom, I opt for a lower brightness of about 450 lumens. This keeps the light appearance soft and flattering.
So, once you have the lumens (light bulb brightness) figured out, it’s time to think about color.
Kelvin = Color Temperature
To me, this is the most important part of choosing a light bulb. You want to choose a light bulb with the right color temperature for your space because it changes the way an entire room looks…the paint color, the energy, the mood. It’s pretty important!
The lower the number the warmer the color. Lower kelvin temperature numbers (e.g., 2000K) will give off warm white or warm light, while higher numbers (e.g., 6000K) produce bright white bulbs or natural light.
I use 2700K-3000K in my home. These are often labeled “soft white”.
If I go much higher than that, I run the risk of a room feeling too cold and sterile, which is the exact opposite of how I want my home to feel. However, if you have task lighting in your home, perhaps in your home office, you may want to go slightly higher to 3500K.
My Light Bulbs & Recessed Canned Lighting
For most light bulbs in our home, I choose 2700 Kelvin with 800 lumens, often labeled as soft white. These provide warmer tones that make our living room and dining room feel cozy.
When we added recessed lighting during our renovation, we opted for these LED cans with adjustable kelvin temperatures.
They don’t even require light bulbs and you can change the color temperature directly on the back of them! I have them all set to “soft white”, but if I wanted one room to be a little cooler I could easily pop it out and change the switch on the back.
We also put them all on our dimmer switches. You can even retrofit your old cans with these and they’re easy to install. You just screw them in like a light bulb.
Quick Tips for Choosing the Perfect Light Bulb
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, here’s a quick recap to help you choose the best light bulb for your space:
- Save Energy and Money: While LED bulbs may have a higher upfront cost, they save you money in the long run with lower energy bills and longer lifespans.
- Opt for LED Bulbs: LED bulbs are more energy-efficient, last longer, and provide excellent light output compared to old incandescent bulbs or CFL bulbs.
- Think Lumens, Not Watts: Remember, lumens measure brightness while watts measure energy use.
- Match Kelvin to Your Space: Use the kelvin scale to choose the right color temperature. For a cozy home, I prefer 2700 to 3000 kelvin, but that’s just me!
- Pay Attention to Labels: Look for the Energy Star label to ensure the bulb meets efficiency standards and reduces energy consumption.
Creating A More Energy-Efficient Home
Having all LED bulbs in your house saves a lot of energy, but it also reduces your energy costs over time. LED bulbs have a higher upfront cost compared to compact fluorescent bulbs, but they use less power, last longer, and lead to significant energy savings.
I hope this post was helpful and that you’re now excited to convert to all LED lights in your home. Now that you know the best way to choose light bulbs, I hope you’ll find ones that flatter your home and provide the mood you’re going for in each room.
Casey