Watt, Lumen, Kelvin, what do these lighting indicators correspond to ?
Lighting is an essential element of any room, it influences the ambiance, functionality and comfort of a space. Its quality and proper calibration have a significant impact on the health and mood of the inhabitants. Your lighting choices are therefore important. Fortunately, there are simple principles and measurements to understand to determine the right amount of light. We will explore the key concepts of lighting, explaining terms such as Lux, Lumens and Kelvin degrees. You will quickly learn how to assess the ideal amount of light for each room in your house.
Some lighting concepts
Before diving into the calculations in detail, it is important to understand that Each room has specific lighting requirements, depending on its use and the atmosphere you want to create. For example, a kitchen and bathroom generally require more light than a living room or bedroom.
The style of the room's design also plays a big role in how much lighting is needed. Lighting will look different in a simple living room with light floors and white furniture than it does in a more cluttered living room with large furniture and dark floors.
The power of the lighting should also be adapted to the activities carried out in the room. For example, tasks requiring concentration, such as homework or meal preparation, require bright lighting, while moments of relaxation, such as watching a film, call for softer and more diffuse lighting.
NOW, Let's go into detail about the specific units of measurement used to quantify the amount of light.
What are Watts (W)?
Watts measure the electrical power generated by a light source, in other words its energy consumption. The higher the number of watts, the more electricity the bulb will consume.
In their glory days, watts were the only criterion indicated and understood by all on light bulb boxes. : this information has long remained the only one at our disposal to determine the type, rendering, intensity and quantity of lighting necessary for the proper illumination of a room.
Today this is no longer as true with low-energy light bulbs such as LED bulbs and compact fluorescent bulbs, Watts no longer truly reflect the luminous efficacy of a bulb. , they simply indicate its electricity consumption.
And who is this Kelvin (K) first of all? ?
In the world of Kelvin (K), the higher the degrees, the colder the temperature. ! He's like that, dear Kelvin (K), but you get used to it very quickly.
Especially if we understand that it is not someone but something, a unit of measurement expressed in degrees, used to assess the color temperature of light.
The higher the Kelvin value, the colder the light will be, with an increasingly blueish white. On the other hand, the lower the Kelvin value, the warmer the light will be, with an increasingly less yellow orange.
To help you find your way around, here are some points of reference. :
- A very warm light , like the soft orange glow of a fire at night or that of a candle, hovers around 1,500 K.
- A warm light more vivid has an orange-yellow tint which is around 2,700 K.
- A soft light , a more neutral white like that of a halogen lamp, evolves around 4,000 K.
- Finally, a cold light , closest to daylight, has a bluish tint and is around 6,500 K.
Nowadays, Most light sources on the market have a value between 2,700 and 3,000 kelvins. . This is the color temperature that our good old incandescent bulbs produced. Anchored in our visual cues and habits, this light is considered neutral, being neither too warm nor too cold.
To summarize, Kelvin degrees will help us choose the color temperature which will best suit our needs, our preferences, and above all the atmosphere we wish to create.
After power and color temperature, let's now move on to the light intensity , with lumens.
What are lumens?
Lumens are a unit of measurement that indicates the total amount of light emitted by a light source. Simply put, lumens measure how bright a bulb or light fixture is. The higher the lumen number, the more intense the light source produces.
To choose the right bulbs or light fixtures, it helps to know the recommended lumens for each type of space. Here are some approximate values to guide you :
- Living room And dining room : 1,500 to 3,000 lumens
- Kitchen : 3,000 to 6,000 lumens
- Adult bedroom : 1,500 to 4,000 lumens
- Children's room : 1,000 to 3,000 lumens
- Desk : 3,000 to 6,000 lumens
- Circulation areas (entrance, corridor): 500 to 1,000 lumens
- Garage and laundry room: 2,000 to 4,000 lumens
These values are provided as a guide only and, as we mentioned in the introduction, they may vary depending on the size of the room, the color of the walls or floor, the furniture and personal preferences.
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How to choose the power of your lighting depending on the room?
Choosing interior lighting fixtures according to their location is essential to create a pleasant atmosphere that is suitable for each room in your home. Whether it is ceiling lights, suspension lights , recessed spotlights or ceiling spotlights, wall lights , floor lamps or lamps, there is a wide variety of lighting fixtures that can meet all your desires and needs.
Indeed, Each room requires specific lighting depending on the activities that take place there. When choosing lighting for a room, it is important to consider the amount of light needed. The light intensity of a room depends on its use.
For example, For tasks that require attention, such as studying or cooking, powerful lighting is necessary.On the other hand, for relaxing or reading activities, softer and more diffuse lighting is preferable. In addition, the color of the light also plays an important role: a cold light is stimulating, while a warm light promotes rest.
We will see this in a future article.
The Hoopzï team.
