Color temperature is a characteristic parameter of light, indicating the color of light emitted at a specific temperature K. To learn more about what LED color temperature is or how much color temperature of LEDs is suitable, continue reading!
What is color temperature?
Color temperature is a characteristic measure of light, indicating the emitted light’s color and whether it is warm or cold light. The unit of measurement of color temperature is Kevin (abbreviated as K). Kelvin ranges from 1000K – 10,000K, corresponding to the color gamut from warm to cold.
Types of light colors
Light is classified into three main categories based on color temperature. In addition, light is classified into 3 main categories: warm light, neutral light, and cold light.
Warm light has a color temperature ranging from 1000K to less than 3500K. At that range, the light can be light red, orange, yellow, bringing a sense of lightness, relaxation, and warmth to the space.
Neutral light has a color temperature ranging from 3500K to less than 5300K. The light color in this range is closest to natural light, giving people a pleasant and comfortable feeling.
Cold light is the light with the most excellent brightness, in the temperature range from 5300K and above. However, under normal use conditions, people only use light types greater than 5300K – 6700K. Light with a color temperature more significant than this range will cause glare and damage vision.
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LED color temperature
Color temperature is one of the critical parameters of LED lights. It is clearly shown in the specifications of the lamp. One of the strengths of led lights that makes them applicable in many places, different areas, and locations is that led lights have a very diverse color temperature. For example, the light’s color temperature in the bedroom is usually shallow to help create relaxation and comfort for the eyes.
However, LED lights arranged in offices or offices often have a large color temperature. Therefore, it helps focus more on achieving goals and high efficiency at work. Besides, LED lights with neutral light color temperature are popularly used in showrooms, supermarkets…
- 2700K (Warm White): This color temperature is suitable for use in homes, restaurants, and hotels. Create warm, cozy, attractive. Similar to sunset or candlelight.
- 3000K (Soft White): This color temperature is suitable for bathroom and kitchen use. Soft white still brings warmth, but the light is clearer for living or working.
- 3500K (Neutral White): This color temperature is suitable for spaces requiring alertness, such as offices and retail stores. This neutral light mimics the color of natural daylight during the day, remaining warm and easy on the eyes, promoting focus and alertness.
- 4100K (Cool White): This color temperature for lighting is suitable for high-precision environments. For example, professional garages and grocery stores need sharp lighting for workers and customers.
- 5000K (Bright White): This color temperature gives an apparent white light. Suitable spaces are warehouses, stadiums, hospitals, ER rooms, and other industries where the most vital light is needed to do the job precisely.
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Outstanding characteristics of LED lights
The amount of heat generated during the operation of LEDs is also much lower (almost negligible) than current conventional light bulbs. It is also one of the reasons why LEDs save electricity and are more potent than other bulbs.
Besides, LED lights have other advantages. For example, when operating, they do not generate infrared or ultraviolet rays. Moreover, the designs with many different styles have turned LED lights into a lighting device worth choosing for the living space of each family and public.
Any slight shock or impact can break the filament of the fluorescent bulb and lead to an explosion. In contrast, due to the safety and compact construction, LEDs are not easily destroyed and damaged. As a result, LEDs are safer for users in the long run and safe for the environment because they do not contain mercury. In addition, the LED light is continuous and doesn’t flicker like fluorescent bulbs, which have been blamed for migraines and epilepsy.
LED lamps can replace incandescent and fluorescent lamps because of advantages such as energy-saving, long life, and small size. Moreover, they are negligible heat generated during operation, good operation in low-temperature conditions. In addition to the above characteristics, manufacturers also continuously improve technology to bring better lighting performance and excellent power saving to other LED lights.
How to choose the right LED color temperature for your home?
Selecting the LED light color temperature to suit the living space is equally important to improve the quality of human life.
#1. For the living room
The living room is the most significant space in the house. But it doesn’t need apparent light. Therefore, you can use warm white or neutral light with color temperatures from 3500K to 4500K.
#2. For kitchen
The kitchen is a room dedicated to cooking and eating. So for the best, you should install neutral and cool white light with a color temperature range of 4000K to 6000K. Using cold colors will confuse you when cooking and lead to unsatisfactory dishes. For example, fried food is yellow, so it is easy to mistake if warm light is used.
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#3. For bedroom
In the bedroom space, we should use LED bulbs with yellow light or warm light with low color temperature from 2000K to 3000K. With warm light, colors will help the room feel warmer. The reason to use warm colors is that cold colors often create a feeling of coldness and lack of warmth. However, cold colors should be chosen to create coolness for homes in hot climates all year round.
#4. For bathroom
Bathrooms can only choose between warm light from 2700K to 3500K and neutral light from 3500K to 4000K, depending on preference. The advice for this space is to use warm light to reduce glare. Because the bathroom is often tiled, painted in bright colors, and has a mirror, it is easy to cause glare.
#5. For balcony and stair
Warm light should be used to be more harmonious to create a sense of lightness when walking or watching on the balcony. With stairs, it is possible to combine decorative lights to increase beauty.
With these two spaces, you can also choose cold colors if the purpose is to display or hang some decorations. This will help the display or ornament be seen more clearly. Should choose underground lights, stair lights, or ceiling lights to illuminate these areas of the house.
Thus, it is necessary to consider the color temperature when installing or replacing a light bulb. Because this directly affects the light in the space, mood, and emotions and affects the person’s natural sleep cycle.
How to measure Led color temperature?
The most widely used and most accurate way of measuring the color temperature of LEDs is the use of a color temperature meter. In particular, this type of machine is being divided into 2 types:
- Conventional colorimeter with sensor: It is cheap, but the accuracy is not high. It is suitable for areas that do not require high color.
- Spectrophotometer: High accuracy but very high cost. They are used in areas that require strict accuracy in color measurement.
Conclusion
As you can see, the color of light is related to color temperature. Therefore, when choosing LED lights for lighting, you need to consider what area should be illuminated. And which colors are suitable for the job and the environment.
Hopefully, you now understand LED color temperature, its meaning, and its application. So you can make the best decision for the lighting environment based on the color temperature parameter of each LED product.
