Homeowner 101: Choosing Lighting

I once made the mistake of painting samples on the wall in a living room before installing the recessed lighting we were planning. I chose the color I wanted before the lights went in, but luckily did not order the paint yet. As soon as the new lighting was installed, the new color I chose suddenly looked dingy and dirty somehow. Don’t make that mistake! Lighting is such an essential party of any home, with the power to transform the atmosphere in an instant. The correct lighting can add impact and make a room stunning, while the wrong lighting can visually shrink a room or make it feel sad. And if you are considering re-painting a room or installing new flooring, it is absolutely crucial that you get the lighting right first. But with so many lighting options available today, both online and in store, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right light temperature, bulb base, bulb shape and type, and price. In this blog post I’ll give you some tips to help make the decision for different parts of your home.

But first, a quick note about integrated LED light fixtures. A couple of years ago I purchased an LED porch light to install at a rental. It was a modern style that matched what I was going for, easy to clean without any detailing or sconce where bugs usually get stuck, and at a very attractive price online. After only a couple of years, the bulb burned out and there is no way to replace the bulb without replacing the entire fixture. A waste of money and resources! And when I returned online to leave a review, I saw that it had been discontinued and the reviews reflected my experience. So I would advise against buying integrated LED fixtures where you cannot replace the bulb unless you plan on replacing them regularly.

Watts vs Lumens vs Kelvin

Before getting excited about which chandelier to install, let’s discuss the light bulbs themselves. Watts, lumen, and kelvin are all units of measurement used to describe the performance of light bulbs. Understand the differences between these three so that you can select the right light bulb for your home depending on area and use.

Watts

Watts are a measure of the amount of energy a light bulb consumes. A higher wattage means that a light bulb uses more energy, which also means it produces more light. A high wattage can drive up your energy bill, so replacing old bulbs of high wattage with lower wattage ones can help you save money over time. However, the relationship between watts and light output is not linear, and more efficient light sources, such as modern LED bulbs, can produce more light (and even color light) while using fewer watts. So use watts to determine energy cost, not necessarily amount of light produced (see next paragraph). In the case of chandeliers, you will need to add up the watts for all the bulbs to make sure the fixture can handle the energy use. In modern fixtures with modern bulbs, this normally shouldn’t be a problem.

Lumens

Lumens are a measure of the amount of light produced by a light source. A higher lumen value means a bulb produces more light, which makes it brighter. Lumens are a more accurate way of determining the brightness of a bulb than watts because they take into account the efficiency of the bulb and the amount of light it actually produces. Even though an LED bulb uses less wattage, it will have more lumens than an incandescent light bulb. Keep in mind the use: a night stand lamp could be around 400 lumens for a nice nighttime glow, whereas that would be too dim for a kitchen overhead light. As before, you can add up all the lumens of your bulbs to get the total lumens for a space. For example, a 10 x 10 ft dining room is recommended to have about 4000 lumens total, so adding up the total lumens of that beautiful chandelier you’ve been eyeing should give you the right idea on which lumens bulbs to get. A warmer light will seem dimmer than a cooler tone light, which we will get into next.

Kelvin

This is where it starts to get down to personal preference, mood you’re going for and use of the room. A Kelvin is a measure of the color temperature of a light source. It is measured in degrees and ranges from warm (2700K) to cool (6500K). A candle flame is about 2000 Kelvins, whereas stadium lights and industrial lighting are 6500K. For home use, 5000K is usually the limit. Warm light has a yellow or orange hue, while cool light has a bluish hue. The color temperature of a light source can affect the atmosphere of a room, so it's important to choose the right kelvin value for the desired effect. As I mentioned before, a cooler tone seems brighter than a warmer tone, so choose something closer to 3K for bedroom lights, night lights, salt lamps and mood lighting but keep it out of working areas. Choose something closer to 5000K (usually considered “daylight”) for laundry, garage, and kitchen prep areas. A 5000K under cabinet lighting system is perfect for food prep and cleaning. Even better, choose something with a dimmer. Somewhere in the middle is the “neutral” Kelvins, such as 4000K which can go in living rooms, ambient lighting, and overhead bedroom lights.

Bedroom lighting

The bedroom is a place where you relax and unwind, so it’s best to choose lighting that promotes a calming atmosphere. You can opt for a dimmable ceiling light or a bedside lamp to create a warm and cozy ambiance. A warm white LED light bulb is recommended for a comfortable and relaxing environment. If you do your makeup or get dressed to impress inside your bedroom, make sure to add brighter bulbs of a cooler shade to your makeup area. There’s something uniquely frustrating about trying to apply makeup in a dimly lit area.

For a more modern and stylish look, consider adding a statement light fixture above the bed or a floor lamp in the corner of the room. If you often get up in the night, consider adding dim, ambient lighting underneath your bed with either a motion activated sensor or a button control you can step on as you get out of bed.

Laundry room lighting

The laundry room, on the other hand, requires bright and efficient lighting to make sure you can see what you’re doing. A bright overhead light is ideal for this room. You can choose a fluorescent light (although I wouldn’t), LED panel light, or an LED bulb that gives bright and efficient lighting. The great thing about LED lights is that you can get color-changing ones, dimmable ones, and rope ones to get creative with. Choose a bunch of bright colors and add a disco light to make folding laundry feel more like a party.

A good lighting solution for the laundry room should be durable and have a high color rendering index (CRI), so the colors of your clothes are accurate and vibrant, and you can see stains.

Living room lighting

The living room is a space where you spend time with family and friends, so it's important to choose lighting that sets the right mood. A combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting can help you create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The amount of lighting and the temperature of the bulbs really comes down to personal preference here. Most people dislike bright daylight overhead lighting while watching a scary movie, but you do you!

Ambient lighting can be provided by a ceiling light, while task lighting can come from table lamps or wall sconces. Accent lighting can be used to highlight art pieces or architectural features in the room. A great approach to living rooms, especially those with high ceilings, is to choose dimmable flush mount lighting and then dim the lights according to use.

Kitchen lighting

The kitchen is another space where bright and efficient lighting is essential. A good combination of overhead lights, under-cabinet lights, and task lighting can help you create a functional and stylish kitchen. Overhead lights can be in the form of a pendant light or a flush mount light. Under-cabinet lights provide task lighting and add a warm and cozy touch to the room.

In conclusion, choosing the right lighting for your home can have a huge impact on the atmosphere of each room. Now that you know the differences between watts, lumens, and kelvin, you are more prepared to tackle the lighting in your home. Whether you’re looking for relaxing, bright and efficient, or stylish lighting, there’s a solution for every part of your house.

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