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!

[@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 😄

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@charismatic9467]

Bro I went to replace one bulb in my living room and fell down one of the deepest rabbit holes of my life

[@michellesain7079]

I am a lighting nerd too. Thank you for making this fantastic video. I look forward to implementing your led color temperature test.

[@Lewehot]

I tried 2700, 3000, 4000, and 5000. 5000 is tooo white and bright. 2700 and 3000 are yellowish. 4000 is just right but harder to find. We put 4000 everywhere in my house. Very pleased. If you’re unsure buy 3000, 4000, and 5000 or a bulb that does all three with a switch, the replace all fluorescent and standard bulbs with dimmable LED 4000 lights like I did

[@GymBenefits-d9c]

We did 4000 in recessed throughout with 3000 in the lamps and it is absolutely perfect.

[@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.

[@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?

[@JamesCole-j4n]

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

[@GymBenefits-d9c]

We did all recessed, sconces and fan lights at 40000K and all table and floor lamps at 3000K. It is absolutely the perfect combination. Also, we have the recessed on dimmers and it is even better at night with both the 4000K dimmed all the way down and the lamps on full 3000K. It truly is the best of both worlds and have gotten so many compliments.

[@BrunoEllern]

Thank you very much for this video. I decided to go for 2700K on overhead lamps to simulate incandescent lights, 2200K on table lamps in my bedroom and living room when not using overhead lamps to simulate candle lights, and 4000K on task lights when working.

[@cosmos5822]

Great explanations for color temps and subtle variations!!! Now I understand why i find one cool led lamp annoying. Everything else is incandescently warm. I need to replace kitchen can bulbs and Will be making informed choices that unify color throughout my home. 💡💡💡

[@lifeisalotto]

Excellent and very helpful video

[@anilaswani4600]

Very helpful. Thank you for sharing. In the kitchen I prefer higher temperature lights so I can see better see for cutting etc.. but yes when you move to living room there is big change which is not best as you suggested. But I don’t see that I have a choice ..

[@bolokanar]

Quality content!

[@joellongiemusic]

This is the best video I have seen explaining this confusing concept. Thank you so much! It was so helpful.

[@DeliveredLumens]

Glad it was helpful!

[@genenecianciulli3675]

Great content!

[@zaf7819]

Best explanation of color temp I have seen, thanks

[@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

[@rosastratton2271]

I just wanna know what light bulb to use in my bathroom vanity, kitchen , living room and bedroom. Thank you!

[@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.

[@DeliveredLumens]

Not much argument from me. I will say though halogen lamps definitely did have differences. I’m old enough to remember GE being more pink and Philip’s being more green.

[@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

[@Dubbelehalvezool]

Very informative; I didn't know about that macular degeneration thing, but sounds logical.

[@trk8908]

Very helpful and well-explained, thank you! I'm redoing my kitchen. The house is in a wooded area with little direct sunlight. The medium sage green cabinet sample appeared to be gray when I brought it home. Am I right in assuming I need 5000K lighting in there? I want dimmable lights for the ceiling and undercabinet lights. Any other suggestions are welcomed.

[@IraSilver-jv9qu]

Can I purchase an instrument with adjustable Kelvin light to test with various colors?

[@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.

[@pierrex3226]

Indeed, CRI is critical. Low CRI LEDs just look horrible. A high CRI cool light can be beautiful, but with a low CRI and it looks like a soviet hospital

[@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.

[@rzorrilla52]

5:16 Needs correction… Daylight with clear sky is about 5000-6500K, Overcast/Shade/Heavy Overcast from 6500-10000K

[@GraingerProductions]

I know it’s all personal preference… but, I’m curious. When we chose our lighting, I did all our recessed “general lighting” at 4000k and I think of those as our daytime lights. We then have other lighting such as sconces, vanity lights, chandelier, some ceiling fans at 2700k, and these lights are normally used in the morning and evenings. Again, I know it’s personal preference and we are happy with it. After hearing you describe that lighting temp should be consistent, I guess I just started thinking our setup is weird. I’m curious your thoughts/experience.

[@DeliveredLumens]

There’s nothing wrong with your set up if you like it! My only point was that having two color temperatures on at the same time can be visually jarring but if you’re warmer in the evening and cooler midday that totally makes sense.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@bErEkEtEqUiErE]

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

[@SuiGenerisMan]

Making a video about color temperature and not showing visual examples of each K seems like an oversight, or perhaps a video for the blind

[@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!

[@matthewboyd8689]

If you want to be kept up at night, white or blue If you want comfortable and sleep ready, orange.

[@pierrex3226]

PSA : high CRI is critical when choosing LED lights. Sometimes you feel you don't like the color temperature when really you're just looking at light from a very cheap, poor LED light. I bought high CRI LEDs in my kitchen, the color is quite cool, but the light is beautiful. Warmer lights are more forgiving when using low CRI / cheap LEDs. The technology has been around for so long now, there's no reason not to buy high CRI. If the box doesn't say the CRI, I'd say don't buy it. High CRI lights will advertise it, and if you buy online, they don't have to be expensive.

[@csimet]

It really depends on your style and the color of the surrounding materials (like walls and flooring). I made sure to buy LED wafer lights for my remodel that permit color selection just in case I change my mind. I typically like general lighting to be more neutral in the 3300-3500K range and decorative lights in the 2700-3000K range. It creates an "offset" between the general lighting and decorative lighting removing the flatness all the same color creates. Anything above 3800K is too white and stark looking, unless you have a room full of natural light you want to fill in.

[@ಮಮತ_onlyone]

2:06 in india we can't find light bulbs of temprature other than 6500k

[@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

[@Juangalt]

The coolest light bulbs have the highest temperature.

[@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.

[@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!!

[@Banana69999]

Daylight everywhere in my house, hate the old amber look

[@robmiller1808]

At 20 secs basically says no point asking him, OK.

[@Hi-levels]

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

[@PorterHarris]

Now add in there color rendering

[@whiteowl0227]

Have any recommended tunable lights?

[@Trippin366]

Get a smart bulb ☝️🧐

[@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!

[@charismatic9467]

It ain't my preference it ain't my cornea it ain't me getting older, 2700 is fuckin yellow. Yel-low. YELLOW yellow

[@DeliveredLumens]

My dude. You literally just stated a preference. It also matches mostly closely to incandescent.

[@charismatic9467]

@@DeliveredLumens My dude, 2700 being yellow is not a preference, it's a scientific fact. YEEEELLLLOOOOWWWWW

[@lisaariottiart]

They generally destroyed all lighting and in doing so destroyed peoples brains.

[@lisaariottiart]

They generally destroyed all lighting and in doing so destroyed peoples brains.

[@FreightRunna8]

Wow the example is his face