How to Choose the Right Color Temperature
What is Color Temperature?
The light coming out of your light bulbs is measured as CCT, or Correlated Color Temperature, in units of Kelvin. A lower CCT will correlate to a warmer (or more yellow) white light, and a higher CCT will indicate a cooler (or more blue) white light. For commercial and household lighting, the common range will be 2100K – 6500K.
At Cree Lighting, we use the following names for our CCTs:
| 2100K | Warm Light | cozy and amber |
| 2700K | Soft White l warm and inviting |
| 3000K | Warm White l relaxing and recharging |
| 3500K | Bright White l balanced and neutral |
| 4000K | Cool White l crisp and refreshing |
| 5000K | Daylight l vibrant and clarifying |
| 6500K | Cool Daylight l intense and precise |
Where Does Each Temperature Shine?
The CCT of your bulbs can greatly impact the tone of your room. While your tastes may vary, here is where we recommend placing each CCT for maximum effect:
2100K-3000K: Bedrooms, Reading Nooks, Dining Rooms
3000K-4000K: Living Rooms, Multi-Purpose Rooms, Bathrooms
4000K-5000K: Kitchens, Home Offices, Garages, Workshops
6500K: Commercial, Security, Hospital
Considerations
While the hues in these white color temperatures are subtle, they do have an effect on the way the rest of your room and decor come across. If your room is painted and decorated in cool tones, a cool light will do it justice. If your style is warmer and more relaxed, warmer light will complement. Neutral temperatures can shine almost anywhere.
Many rooms in our homes are used for many purposes throughout the day, and the color temperature of the light may need to be adaptable. That’s why Cree Lighting makes Switchable White products that contain multiple color temperature options in one bulb, so your light takes you from day to night. Switch on a cooler temperature during the day while you’re working, crafting, or cooking to keep you focused, and flip to a warmer temperature when it’s time to relax and wind down for the night.
