What Are The Difference Lumens Ratings And Color Temperature

Bulbs 101

What Are Lumens?

The definition of a lumen is a unit of luminous flux in the International Organization of Units, equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle by a source of i candela intensity radiating equally in all directions.

In other words, lumens are the measurement of light output or brightness. Watts measure the amount of energy used, whereas lumens measure the amount of low-cal produced. The more lumens in a low-cal bulb, the brighter the light.

In the past, you were able to guesstimate how bright the light was based on an incandescent seedling's lighting watts, merely with LED lighting, it's getting more and more difficult to tell. A lumen effulgence scale is at present an essential tool when choosing a bulb.

Lumens = Brightness

LUMENS TO WATTS CONVERSION:

With new, energy-efficient LED light bulbs around, we can no longer rely upon wattage to betoken how bright a bulb is. If you need a trivial extra assist to effigy out the lumens on a brightness calibration, hither is a conversion tabular array to indicate how to catechumen watts to brightness.

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Cheque Out the Gratuitous Online Conversion Guide: Catechumen Lumens to Watts

Lumens brightness scale chart with lighting watts and bulb types.

You may already know well-nigh the different types of low-cal that you need to layer to properly low-cal a room, but we're non here to talk about ambience, accent, and job lighting! You lot can learn almost those in our lighting guide for new homeowners.

When you're trying to figure out the appropriate lumens on the brightness scale for your bulbs, that's a whole other animal. In order to decide how many lumens yous need to light a room, yous should consider the general rule that designers and architects apply:

Bedrooms and living rooms need about 10-twenty lumens per square pes, while kitchens and bathrooms need around 70-80 lumens per square foot. A 100 square pes bedroom, for example, will need about i,000 lumens total, dispersed between all the lite bulbs in the space. A 100 foursquare foot bathroom, all the same, volition need 7,000 lumens total, distributed between all the light bulbs.

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Kelvins

COLOR TEMPERATURE

Illustration of the Kelvin color temperature scale for lumens brightness scale

In improver to determining lumens on a effulgence scale, you also want to figure out the color of your calorie-free seedling. Generally, the college the Degrees Kelvin, the whiter the color temperature of the seedling. Although the whiter lights will appear "brighter" than those of a lower Kelvin reading, the amount of lumens on the brightness scale does non alter, and true brightness is not affected.

Learn About Kelvins & Colour Temperature in This Video

Kelvins and Color Temperature

SEEN IN REAL LIFE

A warm light will provide an inviting and cozy vibe to your infinite. In contrast, a cool or white light will bring a fresh and sharp look to the room. What type of infinite calls for which kind of low-cal? Nosotros recommend bathrooms and kitchens have libation lights to ensure you can see exactly what you're doing. Bedrooms and living rooms can become a little warmer to create a more relaxing space.

Three images of a globe in different temperature lighting, from warm, to cool, plus warm/cool comparison.

LIGHTING FACTS

WHAT'Due south IN THE BOX?

Non all low-cal bulbs are equal. There is a lot more to a low-cal bulb than the 40 or 60 lighting watt description. That's why the packaging is total of useful information to aid you lot select the all-time seedling for your needs. Information technology even includes the voltage, energy cost, and the amount of lumens on the brightness scale, so you know exactly what you're getting.

Review the below sample of our light bulb packaging and a diagram of the different parts of one of our light bulbs.

Understanding Your Bulb Packaging

Kelvins and Color Temperature

DIMMABLE BULBS

Dimmable bulbs help increase the lighting versatility in your space. Sometimes, yous want your living room to exude a chic, cozy vibe, merely other times, you lot need to provide a well-lit space for dinner parties and other big events. A dimmer will let yous modify the ambiance of a room immediately. Our AiO fixtures are dimmer uniform!

When you lot dim a light bulb, it lowers the wattage, decreases the Kelvin temperature (to a ruddy/orangish hue), and reduces the lumens on the brightness scale. Changing all three elements of the seedling will substantially alter the aura in your space.

Dimmable all-in-one custom globe light fixture by Color Cord Company

BULB-INSPIRATION

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