Which light to choose: warm, cold or neutral

Features of lighting of different temperatures

The temperature of light is a physical characteristic that determines the shade of the glow of a particular light source. The indicator is measured in Kelvin (K), and light is conventionally divided into three categories:

• warm (up to 3500 K) - has a yellowish tint and is considered the most comfortable and "home";
• neutral (3500-4500 K) - as close as possible to natural sunlight, perceived by the human eye as white;
• cold (over 4500 K) - with a bluish tinge, irritating to the retina of the eyes; in living quarters, such light is used very dosed.

Designers often distinguish warm white light with a range of 3000-4000 K in a separate category, it is considered the most comfortable for human vision.
In lighting scenarios for residential interiors, it is recommended to use light from the range of 2500-4000 K. Shades can be mixed, but you should not use “polar” light sources (both warm and cold) in the same room.
Different types of lamps can produce light at different temperatures. When purchasing light bulbs for lamps, you need to pay attention to their packaging - the range of their glow should be indicated there:

• Incandescent lamps - always shine with warm or warm white light, comfortable for the eyes, but in other characteristics they are inferior to other sources (spend more energy, often burn out, get very hot).
• Halogen - also have a warm or warm white glow, safe and pleasing to the eye. These bulbs are more efficient and durable than incandescent bulbs, but they also get very hot during use.
• Fluorescent lamps - can have any shade of glow, but their light is quite harsh, it can cause discomfort and tire a person. In addition, these lamps are not environmentally friendly as they contain mercury.
• LED lamps are universal light sources, they can work in any light range, are economical, durable and safe, but they also cost significantly more than the previous varieties.

In home lighting, you can, if desired, use and combine any types of lamps that are suitable for the selected lighting scenario.

How to adjust the temperature of the light for different rooms

Living room
The main room in the house performs several functions at once: they rest here, receive guests, do handicrafts and other hobbies, and sometimes work. Light should provide comfort to all users of the room, regardless of their occupation.
The main lighting in the room should be as close to natural sunlight as possible. It is it that will help create a relaxing and relaxed atmosphere in the room, but at the same time it will allow you to work, read, do needlework and do other things without undue eye strain.
Local illumination is best organized with warm light sources in recreation areas and neutral light sources in work areas. For this, interior lamps are best suited: sconces, floor lamps, table lamps. An alternative source of light in the living room can be a soft and unobtrusive lighting of the ceiling or floor, made with LED strips.
To easily adapt the light in the living room to any conditions and events, you can purchase devices in the room with several operating modes that allow you to change the lighting temperature.



Bedroom
Lounge lighting must work to create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, otherwise users will experience discomfort and possibly even trouble sleeping. Lighting in the bedroom is built according to the following rules:

• The main chandelier is selected with a warm glow. If desired, it can be replaced with recessed luminaires. The best option would be devices whose light can be dimmed to a minimum.
• Additionally, on both sides of the bed, it is worth installing paired sconces or floor lamps. They come in handy for reading or leisurely conversations before bed. Luminaires should have light-diffusing shades so that the illumination from them is comfortable for the eyes.
• The mirror and dressing table, if any, need to be illuminated with natural light - only it will transmit all colors and shades as they are in reality.
• If the bedroom has a work desk, it will also need a separate light (for example, a desk lamp or wall lamp). In terms of temperature, the best option here would be a device with a neutral white glow.

Cold light in the bedroom is discouraged. Resting with him is completely uncomfortable, and prolonged exposure to cold light sources can generally provoke insomnia.

Kitchen
Light of different temperatures will help not only create a cozy atmosphere in the kitchen, but also visually correct some of the layout features:

• Small rooms are best lit with neutral or warm light. One luminaire located in the middle is usually enough to fully illuminate all areas. The best option here would be frosted glass or plastic devices that are simple in shape.
• If there is not enough light in the work area, it must be added there. The ideal illumination of the working surfaces will help to achieve temperature-neutral lamps, which allow you to adjust the direction of the light flux. An alternative to them can also be built-in lighting.
• It is better to use a warm light to illuminate the dining area. It is cozy, calm and appetizing with him. The shade should be chosen closer to white, since too yellow light can make people in the room sleepy.

Local kitchen lighting is easy to organize using LED strips. They will not be difficult to fix in any part of the room, while they consume a minimum of electricity, but they give light of excellent quality.



Children's room
The health and good eyesight of the child largely depend on the quality of the lighting in the nursery, therefore, the choice of lighting devices must be approached with all responsibility. Each functional area of ​​the room will require its own type of lighting:

• It is better to choose the main light neutral or warm, close to neutral. With this kind of lighting, the atmosphere in the room will be calm and cozy. Another advantage is the correct color rendition.
• Chandeliers and lighting fixtures for the nursery should have closed, diffusing shades. Thanks to them, direct light will not "hit" the eyes and spoil the child's eyesight.
• There are neutral light sources in the play and work area. If necessary, they can be locally supplemented with warm lamps.
• As an alternative to classic bedside lamps, you can use decorative ceiling lighting. It is economical and can also be adjusted in color and brightness.
• For a desk, you need to select simple and safe spotlights. It is important that such devices are adjustable in height, brightness and direction of the light flux.

It is better not to use cold light sources in the nursery. They can cause irritability and fatigue in children's room.

Bathroom
The right light in the bathroom is very important for comfortable daily hygiene procedures: shaving, applying makeup, skin care. There are several rules here:

• Light is better to choose neutral or warm white. With it, the color of the skin looks better and, in general, all shades of the surrounding objects are perceived by the human eye most correctly (without distortion).
• Sources of light in the area of ​​the mirror should be located so that the light from them falls on the person from the front and evenly, otherwise ugly shadows will appear, interfering with the normal assessment of your reflection in the mirror.
• If possible, it is worth combining warm and neutral light sources in the bathroom. Warm ones are located directly above the font for comfortable rest and relaxation, neutral ones - in the rest of the room.

If it is not possible to combine different light sources, it is better to stay on warm white, it is universal for any activity and situation.



How to combine light of different temperature in one room

In order to competently combine several light sources of different temperatures in one room, you need to know and use the following simple rules:

• In interiors, only a combination of light sources of similar shades looks harmonious. In other words, natural lighting is always welcome in the room, and it should be supplemented with only warm or only cold lamps. It is highly undesirable to use blue and yellow light in one room at once.
• If a warm light, close to daylight, is chosen as the main light for the room, it can be locally supplemented with neutral sources. With their help, objects of art, interesting interior items, textured decoration elements are decorated. Natural light will help direct and focus visitors to the desired objects.
• Light of different temperatures is useful for zoning rooms. In this case, it is necessary to select and position the lamps in such a way that the light from them does not intersect and does not "mix" at the boundaries of the functional areas.
• In multifunctional rooms, you can use several independent lighting schemes to create light scenarios at once. For example, in the living room, which is also a study in the house, it is worthwhile to provide sources of neutral light for solving work tasks, as well as warm lamps for relaxing or receiving guests.

To save money and time on installing different connection schemes for several lighting modes, you can purchase devices for your home with built-in lighting temperature control. With their help, it will be much easier to select the right light for any situation.

It is not at all difficult to choose lighting for the house by temperature. To do this, you just need to clearly determine what effect it should create in each of the rooms: invigorate or pacify, tune in to work or rest, focus on something, or, conversely, dissipate attention.