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WHAT IS LED COLOUR TEMPERATURE?

WHAT IS LED COLOUR TEMPERATURE?

When people talk about LED colour, in most cases they don’t mean Red, Green or Blue. They are talking about ‘colour temperature’. 

LED colour temperature is the colour of the light that is emitted from the LED. It has nothing to do with how hot a bulb feels, but the colour of the glow that the LED generates. The most common colour temperatures are warm white, natural white and cool white.

DIMMABLE LED BULBS

All SERA products are available in Warm White and Natural White. Shop the range today.

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WHAT IS KELVIN?

A light’s colour temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (K). Kelvins range from 1900K to 6500K. The Kelvin Scale runs in the opposite direction to the temperature scale; the warmer the glow colour, the lower the Kelvin rating.

For example, a warm light will have a low Kelvin rating of 2700K with a yellow/orange glow. A light bulb with a high Kelvin rating of 6000K or more is a cool light with a blue/white glow. 2700k is pretty much the same colour as a traditional incandescent light bulb.

WHAT IS A WARM WHITE LED COLOUR?

WHAT IS A WARM WHITE LED COLOUR?

Warm White (2200k – 3200k) A burning candle is around 1900K, a traditional incandescent light bulb is pretty much the same colour as 2700K and a good match for a halogen lamp is around 3000K. If you’re looking to replace your existing light fittings with more energy efficient LEDs, buying bulbs in this colour range will ensure a similar look and ambience to your existing setup. Warm light is preferred for cosy living spaces because it is more flattering to skin tones and clothing.

WHAT IS A NATURAL WHITE LED COLOUR?

WHAT IS A NATURAL WHITE LED COLOUR?

Natural White (4500k – 5500k) Sometimes called Neutral White. It looks like natural daylight. Natural white is perfect for replacing existing office lighting or retail lighting, or to give contemporary homes a fresh look. A Natural light LED colour temperature is preferred for visual tasks because it produces higher contrast than warm light.

WHAT IS A COOL WHITE LED COLOUR?

WHAT IS A COOL WHITE LED COLOUR?

Cool White (6000k upwards) Extremely white and can start to look blueish in colour as the colour temperature rises, this can look very much like a camera flash. This an ideal light colour to choose for large industrial areas such as factories and warehouse, as it provides a crisp clean working light. You probably wouldn’t have this in your home or office as it can feel quite clinical.

SHOULD I GET WARM WHITE OR NATURAL WHITE?

So when it comes to choosing an LED Colour, what should you choose?

Here’s what we would recommend:

WHERE SHOULD I USE WARM WHITE LEDs?

WHERE SHOULD I USE WARM WHITE LEDs?

  • Replacing traditional bulbs (if you wish to improve energy efficiency without changing the look of the space)
  • Spaces that benefit from cosy ambience – restaurants, hotels
  • Within the home: living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms
  • See our High performance Dimmable GU10 here
WHERE SHOULD I USE NATURAL WHITE LEDs?

WHERE SHOULD I USE NATURAL WHITE LEDs?

  • Visual tasks, such as reading or computer work
  • Spaces that require concentration and productivity: offices, industrial spaces, shops and retail
  • Within the home: kitchens and home offices
  • Or anywhere where you would like to have a more contemporary feel

REMEMBER! LED COLOUR TEMPERATURE AND LED BRIGHTNESS ARE NOT THE SAME!

The brightness of an LED light source, measured in Lumens, determines the strength of the light emitted from the bulb. 

Most of our LED products can be used with dimmers, but dimmers do not affect the colour temperature of a light source – only its brightness. For more help, please contact us or visit our Guide to Dimmable LED Lights.

All SERA products are available in Warm White and Natural White. Bestselling bulbs include our LED MR11 3w Dimmable and LED AR111 8w Dimmable bulbs. 

Most of our Linear Lighting is also available in Warm or Natural White.