The bulbs available on the market today come in three different light colours. One can find warm light, cold light and finally neutral light. Each of them can be used depending on the environment and location.

Warm light or cold light?

When taking into account UNI 12464, it is necessary to list the definitions and each characteristic of light. For example, warm light means a shade tending towards red, yellow and orange. To give an example, the warm light that everyone has in mind is that of the street lamps of yesteryear. Conversely, light tending towards blue and light blue can be defined as cold. Finally, neutral light is light that encompasses all shades of white and in which cold and warm colours cannot prevail over each other and thus remain in balance. Therefore, one can understand how the right use of light can give a more formal or informal look to the environment as well as being able to convey feelings of relaxation or others that ensure greater concentration.

What is the unit of measurement for temperature?

To measure the colour tone of a light bulb, the value expressed in degrees Kelvin (K) is used. If you have a light bulb at hand, you can see that it bears a number immediately followed by the letter K. To understand the intensity of the colour tone, one must pay attention to the value expressed on the product. In fact, the lower the number indicated, the warmer the light will be.

Going into detail, warm shades have a value between 0 and 3500 K. The most common one on the market is around 2700, 3000 K. Conversely, if it is between 3600 K and 6500 K then you have a bulb that will emit a cold light. The most common type is between 5500 and 6500 K and is comparable to bluish-white daylight. In contrast, values between 3600 and 5000 K are part of the white light gradations and therefore belong to the neutral shade.

Consequently, one has to be particularly careful since when one claims to want warm light, it is necessary to buy a bulb with a low colour temperature. Conversely, a higher temperature produces a bulb that illuminates the room with a cool light.

What light to use in the different rooms of a house?

After understanding how light bulb colours work and their different gradations, it is good to understand which light to use in the different rooms of a house. This is because light conveys very specific messages and plays a very important role in making guests and residents feel at ease.

– The living room

The living room is the area most experienced by the entire family and is also the room where guests are welcomed. Since this space is experienced informally, often associated with fun and relaxation, cold lighting should be avoided. In fact, the best light tone for this room is a warm one, possibly choosing to have several light points scattered throughout the room, thus avoiding single ceiling lighting in the middle of the room that creates a lack of homogeneity and does not illuminate effectively. In the living room, small table lamps with a coloured light or those made of painted glass that create fantastic plays of colour also lend themselves well. Therefore, light bulbs with a temperature between 2700 K and 3000 K are recommended.

– The kitchen
The kitchen is a completely different matter. Even in the case of an open-plan area that includes a combined living room and kitchen, a neutral light, perfect for cooking, should be placed in this room. It is ideal to place the light bulb directly on the cooking area so as not to strain the eyes during food preparation and at the same time ensure effective concentration. Consequently, a light bulb that does not exceed 4000 K and therefore diffuses a neutral light tending towards white is recommended.

– The bedroom
The bedroom is the area of the home dedicated to rest. Usually, unless it is for children and teenagers, adults do not spend much time in this environment, but the light tone must be able to aid sleep and promote the person’s relaxation, even in the morning as soon as they wake up. Therefore, the best light to choose is one tending towards warm. This is ideal as it creates a relaxing atmosphere and does not strain the eyes when reading. However, if there is an office and study area in the bedroom, whether of adults or of children and adolescents, it is good to have a table lamp with a neutral light to aid concentration and study.

– The bathroom
The bathroom is very subjective. Some prefer to have a neutral light tending towards white, others a warm light. However, you should not take the risk of not using a cold light because it can age your face considerably once you look in the mirror. The best choice is to use a neutral light and in the vicinity of the mirror to use spotlights with a warm colour tone.