In the world of lighting, the terms watts, lumens, and kelvin are often thrown around, leaving many people (including myself) confused about their significance and how they impact interior spaces and workshops. So what’s the difference between watts lumens vs kelvin?
Understanding these elements is crucial when picking out bulbs to create an environment that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
In this blog post, we will delve into the differences between technical terms like watts, kelvin, and lumens, and explore the best options for each type of interior space. Next time you’re wondering what light bulb to buy, you’ll know exactly what you need to illuminate your home and work spaces for the desired lighting effect.
Watts: Power Consumption
Watts are commonly used to measure power consumption, which indicates how much energy the light pulls from its source. Traditionally, people associated higher wattages with greater brightness. This is a common misconception, but this isn’t always the case.
Today, watts are not directly related to the level of brightness because of the shift to bulbs with different technologies. For example, the incandescent bulb is now replaced by LED bulbs. In simple terms, modern bulbs can produce more light with less wattage.
For example, a 60W incandesent light bulb might not be as bright as a 12W LED bulb. Even with less energy consumed, you may be dealing with a brighter bulb. Watts are simply the amount of energy it takes to power the light, not the actually amount of light it puts out. To determine the brighter light of the two, we have to think lumens.
Lumens: Measuring Brightness
So what’s the difference between watts and lumens? Lumens (lm) are the unit of measurement used to quantify the brightness of a light source. Unlike watts, lumens provide a direct indication of a bulb’s brightness, regardless of its energy consumption. Lumens is the measure of light output (which is really what we want to talk about instead of wattage).
The higher the lumens, the brighter the light output.
We don’t hear much about lumens, but in reality we really just care about the visible light which = lumens! So forget watts… think lumens for brightness!
We purchase paper by the sheet, because it’s a measure of the product based on what we use. Buying a bulb based on watts would be like buying paper based on the number of trees it took to make said paper. So silly, right?
In interior spaces, the right amount of lumens is critical to strike a balance between functionality and desired ambiance. In living areas, lower lumens may be preferable to create a relaxing environment, while task-oriented areas like workspaces and workshops necessitate higher lumens to ensure adequate visibility and safety.
Kelvin: Color Temperature
Kelvin (K) is used to measure the color of light, which describes the appearance of color temperature of a light source. The kelvin scale ranges from 2000K to 6500k, typically.
The lower Kelvin rating on the temperature scale produce warm light with a yellowish hue. On the other hand, higher Kelvin rating produce cooler, bluish light, resembling daylight.
When choosing lighting for interior spaces and workshops, understanding color temperature is vital. Warm lighting creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making it suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, and relaxing areas. On the other hand, higher kelvin temperatures (cooler lighting) enhances concentration and illuminates details, making it ideal for workshops and task-oriented spaces where you might want to be more productive or require more direct light for tasks.
The higher the kelvins, the cooler the light.
The video below shows the comparative color temperature for each kelvin bulb.
Applying the Knowledge to Interior Spaces
Lumen recommendations for living, dining and bedrooms:
The fast rule for relaxing living spaces is 10-20 lumens/ square feet.
Dimmable bulbs are a fantastic addition, allowing you to adjust the lighting as needed for various occasions.
Kelvin recommendations for living, dining and bedrooms:
To foster a warm and inviting atmosphere, opt for bulbs with a lower Kelvin value, around 2700K-3000K (warm white light). Remember, the lower the kelvin the warmer the light.
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How much light do you need in a kitchen?
Lumen recommendations for Kitchens and Bathrooms:
The rule of thumb for high task areas like kitchens and bathrooms is 35-50 lm / sqft. The total amount of light in working areas of the home with require a higher lumen number.
It’s a good idea to consider putting the main light source on a dimmer switch for even more versatility. This way you can have max brightness while cooking or putting on makeup, but then cozy up the ambiance if entertaining or drawing a bubble bath.
Kelvin recommendations for kitchens and bathrooms:
Task-oriented areas like kitchens and bathrooms benefit from a combination of warm and cool lighting. Aim for kelvin’s around 3000-4000 for the main lighting sources.
Cool light is less cozy and relaxing, but better for areas that require visual tasks. Opt for cooler tasking oriented lighting and supplement decorative lamps or picture lights with a lower kelvin bulb.
In our kitchen we have bright can lights on a dimmer. For added warmth, I added in lower kelvin lighting to cozy up the ambiance with scones on either side of the hood, a lamp by the window & in the picture light over our open shelves.
What number of lumens is needed in a workshop/garage?
Lumen recommendations in workshops:
75-200 lumens / sqft. I ended up with about 75 lm / sqft in my garage and am plenty happy! I honestly wouldn’t want it much brighter, personally.
Kelvin recommendations in workshops:
In workshops, a combination of cool and bright lighting is essential to ensure safety and productivity. LED fixtures with a color temperature of 4000-5000K and high lumens output (I have six 1200lm cans) are excellent choices.
Take Home difference between watts lumens vs kelvin:
- Forget wattage… think lumens when it comes to brightness
- Aim for 10-20 lm / sqft in living, dining and bedrooms
- 30-50 lm/sqft in kitchens and baths
- 75-200 lm/sqft for workshops
- the extra cost of a dimmer is worth the versatility!
- lower kelvins = warmer light = cozy spaces
- higher kelvins = cooler light = high-task areas
Understanding the difference between kelvin watts vs lumens is crucial for creating the right lighting atmosphere in interior spaces and workshops. Kelvin represents color temperature, influencing the mood and ambiance of a room, while lumens measure brightness directly.
By selecting the right bulb for your space you can create environments that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. Whether it’s a cozy living room or a bustling workshop, the right combination of kelvin and lumens can tailor the space for its intended use and ambiance.
Bulb buying guide
Best med-large lamp & overhead bulb: 800lm | 3000K | dimmable
Best workshop light: 8000lm | 6500K | non-dimmable
Best decorative lamp bulb for candlelight feel: 230lm | 2220K | dimmable
Most versatile bulb: 800lm | adjustable 2700-5000K | dimmable
Best smart bulb: 800lm max | full kelvin range | dimmable
Girl Behind the Blog
I’m Jess, the creator of Oak & Grain. A mid-west girl at heart who now resides in Raleigh, NC. I love finding old things and giving them new purpose by way of refinishing or incorporating unexpected, overlooked thrift store finds in the modern home. I work full-time in medicine and I love dipping into my creative side and in the process, keeping my sanity. Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see more behind the scenes action.
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