Warm White or Cool White?

When buying lighting, white is not just white.  Colour is measured in Kelvins (k) and we talk about lights having different 'colour temperatures'.  A tungsten filament bulb (incandescent or halogen) will usually have a colour temperature of between 2500k and 3500k, this light is actually quite yellowish, it is often referred to as warm white and is used in rooms where a homey welcoming atmosphere is required.  Warm white is usually chosen for rooms that have alot of wood furnishings, or for a more 'rustic' look.  Cool Whites are generally 5500k -7000k, they are also sometimes referred to as daylight white.  Cool Whites have more blue tones and are suited to more modern looking rooms with hard surfaces and stainless steel or chrome.  Cool whites are good for working areas such as offices, they are associated with concentration and help to reduce visual and mental fatigue.  In general cool white appears brighter than warm white. The warm white and cool white descriptions are only a guide to colour within a certain range, different bulbs or different batches of the same bulb may vary in colour within that range.

If you are replacing incandescent light bulbs in your living areas and bedrooms warm white is probably the way to go.  If you are considering changing to Cool White try a sample first as the light can appear quite stark when you are used to an incandescents yellowish glow.

So which white is right for you?

LED's do emit a different kind of light to incandescent bulbs, it is recommended that you install them and give yourself a day or two to get used to the different look of the room.  The first time you turn them on the room may feel quite different but you'll find after you've been away and then re-entered the room a couple of times you get used to the new look very quickly.