How to Choose the Right Color Temperature LED Lights for Your Home

What Color Temperature should you choose for your home? It's one of the most common questions I get. Warm White? Cool White? Soft White? Day Bright? It's a confusing mess that leaves designers and homeowners frustrated. In this video, I break down what Color Temperature is and why there are no rules about what the "right" color temperature is...only suggestions.
In this video, we'll go over why warmer white light is generally considered cozier and more inviting, why some people prefer cooler color temperatures, and how each affects the rest of your design. We'll also discuss tunable white light that can change its color temperature.
As always, if you have questions, go ahead and leave a comment, and I'll get back to you as fast as possible!

[@Inlearningmode]

Before I had cataract surgery, I loved 4,000-5,000 kelvin. After, I prefer the 2700-3000. After the doctor did the first eye, I was looking into the bathroom sink brushing my teeth and I could see one eye looked all amber colored. You are making a very good point about depends on the person. The world looks so beautiful after the surgery, it was worth it.

[@DeliveredLumens]

What a great insight. Thank you for sharing!

[@fealXX]

KZbin tends to throw me to small, unknown to me channels after finishing a video in the last time, which really helps in discovering gems like this. Thanks youtube! :D

[@cloudyview]

Yep, this just randomly showed up for me - and completely relevant for me 😄

[@maxharrow]

Thanks for explaining where the Kelvin value comes from, which I didn't know. I wish the industry would set the value identification so we know what we get when we buy a LED light... so frustrating! Coming from the last century where a 60W used to... a 60W tungsten light and that was for any brand, same for 50W halogen lights... I find it ridiculous that if I buy 3 different brands of 3500K LED they will be all different.

[@vertvlogs675]

I am updating all the light bulbs in my home to LED and this video was so helpful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it saved me lots of time on research.

[@DeliveredLumens]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cloudyview]

I just recently bought some 2700k bulbs that are definitely on the blue/green side of the line - which I'm not super happy with. This video just changed my understanding of color temp completely - thanks for the knowledge!

[@DeliveredLumens]

Oh I love comments like this. Sorry for the boor experience!

[@Autunite]

That's what we light nerds call "tint", and is a deviation from the black body line. I'd rather go to the pink side than the green side.

[@psmauney5915]

Really enjoyed your video! We struggle with trying to find that “sweet spot” with color temperature and consistency. We use 3000k LED bulbs in our home but love the super warm glow of a 2700k LED bulb in a bedside lamp… Is it common for lighting designers and clients to use different kelvins in the bedroom?

[@timportoulas8606]

im surprised not more comments, you did such an awesome job explaining and educating your audience, and you are a great at presenting. Im getting all new light fixtures and struggling to keep the color temps uniform and some LED fixtures are stuck at warm, some are soft. I picked a chandelier that uses 18 LED bulbs (wagon style). I been going with soft - the LED bulbs available for this lamp come in 2700 soft white, 3000 warm white, and 4000 Natural daylight. Im thinking maybe 3000 is the sweet spot? Thanks for any advice. this is in a large opening living room with a dining room adjacent that has soft light LEDs

[@DeliveredLumens]

When are you likely to have these lights on? If it’s evening/nighttime (versus supplementing daylight) I would go 3000k or 2700K

[@carolchang3965]

Could you talk about CRI? Some lighting designer says CRI for LED isn't the same as incandescent and fluorescent. I generally spec 90+ CRI, but would love to know more.

[@user-ln3xr6nx9f]

The cornea does not yellow.cornea is clear and has no color to it. Its the lens inside the eye that yellows with age. This yellowing of the lens is also referred to as cataract. But i agree with you overall point yellowing affects perception of color

[@user-vm2md1tx7p]

wow! thank you, thank you, thank you. I am going to tell everyone I know about you. this content is amazing! (ps. I'm using my husband's computer and account; he would never be this effusive). -Dani

[@bErEkEtEqUiErE]

what light source were are you using in your kitchen? I need something similar.

[@whiteowl0227]

Have any recommended tunable lights?

[@marksplace]

We started off with fireplaces and oil lamps - both warm in color. Then we evolved into antique or Edison bulbs that had a warm glow to them.

[@ropehitch]

Wow, awesome video. I'm also becoming a lighting nerd. It seems necessary these days. I I just moved into a place. When I first viewed it (during daytime), I thought all the walls were white and the lights were fine. It turns out the walls are a cool white (with a bit of blue), and the the color temperatures are very high (up to 6000K even in the bedroom) with no lack of lumens. Crazy. My question is: can I just swap out to some warmer temperatures within the context of this paint color. I.E. does warm light work with cool walls?

[@DeliveredLumens]

It’s hard to know without seeing examples, but the short answer is yes. Just make sure it’s a high CRI source

[@robm-jp8xv]

Great video and also +1 to a very good random YT recommendation. I have a question on your point about color consistency if you don't mind: I'm building a granny flat for my retired parents which is a single ~40 x 10 ft room with kitchenette at one end, small dining space in the middle and bedroom at the other. I was planning for GU10 track lighting in the kitchen at 3000k, then 2700k track in the dining and 2700k ceiling fan light above the bed. I totally get your point about 5000k to 2700k being jarring, but wdyt about the above given it's just one "room". Thabks again!

[@DeliveredLumens]

I think varying between 3000k and 2700K is totally fine! Sounds great.

[@Mitchell_Neu]

great info. just curious, do you have preferred ways to layer light? lamp, wall wash lights? or is it all pretty situational? thanks!

[@DeliveredLumens]

It is situational. What room are you working on?

[@Mitchell_Neu]

basement office, no windows

[@susanjara9288]

I have two questions. What color do you recommend for attention to detail crafting and its kelvin? Second question is, I have a sewing machine and have trouble seeing because it isn’t bright enough. What can I attach on the top body of the sewing machine to see my stitch and needle position better?

[@DeliveredLumens]

The kelvin is really your preference. I would think about what light you normally craft in (is there daylight or not) as far as enough light. There are many low cost LED lights on flexible stands (usually used for selfies and such) that you can mount on your table or maybe even the machine itself!

[@Tamara_W]

I want the cool daylight in my apartment, it’s so dark inside, I do mot like the warm bulbs. Having difficulty finding LED cool daylight bulbs.

[@Looo0007]

what about differing CCT over different rooms. like a cooler/warmer but not by much in the kitchen vs living room (let's say, maybe 4000k vs 3000k) any opinion on that?

[@DeliveredLumens]

I think adjacent rooms are a bit dangerous. Especially if they share a purpose, like say kitchen and dining room. That said, something like a home office or a basement playroom shifting to a different color might make sense.

[@PhatDimes]

Im still a bit confused. I went to buy a smart LED bulb that had a chart on the back that said 0 - 6000k. It was at '3000k soft light'. I need the daylight lighting and the guy said it can do 5600k no problem. Huh? I read the box and it says it can do up to 5000k so why is it marked 'soft light 3000k'? Ugh..

[@DeliveredLumens]

That’s a really confusing one.

[@DhruvaSahai]

Will a dimmer change the color temperature down from 5,000 k to 2,800 k?

[@DeliveredLumens]

If you choose a warm dimming LED it will shift. But not that wide a range. More like 3000K - 1800K

[@WishingThePanda]

The rental unit I just moved into has an excess amount of recessed puck led lights. The lighting felt grossly cold so I've been going in and changing each one to 2700k. It was originally set to 6000k. No wonder why it made me feel ill!

[@DeliveredLumens]

YIKES!!

[@Hi-levels]

yeah my dad liked white leds due to his age. rip

[@sallydeppe8575]

I thought you were saying "tuna boat" white. Lol. You were saying, "tunnable".

[@DeliveredLumens]

I really like the idea of a tuna boat white. Maybe we can pitch Benjamin Moore!