Color temperature is the measurement of how warm or cool the light from a source appears to the human eye. Color temperature is measured using a scale calls Kelvin. The Kelvin scale describes the visual appearances of the light source.
However, the Kelvin scale can be confusing for individuals as higher Kelvin numbers produces cooler lights while lower Kelvin numbers produce warmer lights. Low Kelvin numbers produce lights with amber tones that is similar to firelight and make individuals feel as if they are in an intimate space. High Kelvin numbers produce lights with blue tones similar to a snowy morning and create a crisp appearance in an area that is illuminate by such lights.
How to Choose the Right Light for Each Room
The Kelvin number of a light source must be matched with the activity that will take place within that area as the Kelvin number tells the brain what time of day it is. For bedrooms and dens, warm white light should be used. Warm white light is similar to the glow of incandescent bulbs and is a relaxing light perfect for after work hours.
High Kelvin light should not be used in bedrooms as it will make the brain believe that it is the middle of the day and will prevent the brain from feeling relax. In kitchens and bathrooms, neutral or soft white light is recommended. Neutral white light provide a balanced color output of light that does not distort colors excessively.
This type of light is perfect for environments where individuals need to see their surroundings clear. If the lights in the bathroom are too warm, detail like makeup errors may be missed. However, if the lights in the bathroom are too cool, the skin can appear palely.
In home offices, garages, and craft rooms, cool white or daylight lights is best. Cool white lights mimic the intensity of the sun at its peak. Cool white light also suppresses the production of melatonin in the body.
By suppressing melatonin, cool white light keeps an individual awake. Therefore, it is best used for areas of focus and productivity. Cool white light is not useful for areas where an individual need to unwind.
Using cool white lights in every area of the house is a mistake many individuals make. Using cool white lights will make an individual feel wired and anxious as it prevents the body from preparing for sleep. The Color Rendering Index or CRI is a scale that identifies the accuracy of the colors that are rendered in an area with specific light sources.
While Kelvin identifies the color of the light being used, the CRI identify the accuracy of the color of light that is reflected from the objects in that area. If the CRI of a bulb is low, the colors of the objects in that area will look muddy and incorrect. For instance, a red sofa may look brown in an area with low CRI.
Using bulbs with a high CRI is important in areas where the accurate color of objects need to be viewed such as in the kitchen or art studio. The human body rely on the presence of light to manage the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm identifies when the body should wake up and when it should sleep.
Using high Kelvin lights in the morning and amber-toned lights in the evening can help manage this biological process. Because the body has been biologically programmed to react to these lights, choosing the proper Kelvin temperature for each area in the house create an environment that is suitable for human biology. Choosing the proper Kelvin temperature not only benefits human biology but also the atmosphere of the house that individuals make there home.