What Is Color Temperature & Does it Matter? | Teems Electric

Anytime we help customers dealing with any of the specialized and technical equipment and systems they trust Teems Electric for, we want them to feel comfortable and like they understand exactly what we’re talking about. That often means explaining confusing terms that seem like old hat to us but are foreign concepts to those who don’t spend all day every day talking about building systems.

One of those terms is color temperature, which most people first encounter in buying light fixtures or bulbs. Color temperature is measured in kelvins (K), which is equivalent to Fahrenheit as a measure of temperature.

When it’s measuring color, those over 5000 K are those that have bluish hues and are called “cool.” Meanwhile, those with lower color temperatures in the range of 2700–3000 K are considered “warm” and tend to have a yellowish hue.

Essentially, color temperature is a measure of heat flux radiated by a given color from light produced by an incandescent bulb, sometimes also called an Edison bulb for the inventor credited with its creation. Here are where terms you’ve likely seen on commercial light bulb packaging fall on the spectrum:

Daylight/natural light: As their name implies, these are meant to replicate the light of the sun in the middle of the day, producing a color temperature greater than 5000 K. Lights in this group produce the greatest color contrasts.

Bright white: Many CFLs produce bright white light, which is in the range of 4000 to 5000 K, after they reach full power.

Warm white: Typically in the range of 3000 to 4000 K, the light from these is slightly less yellow, but is still considered a gentle light.

Soft white: The warmest color temperature (2500 to 3000 K) typically offered, these cast a yellowish light that many people are comfortable with because they’re familiar with it from traditional incandescent lights.

Why Does It Matter?

In truth, for most people, color temperature is a matter of perception and preference, if they’re aware of it at all. For some, the bluish hues of lights with cooler lights are too harsh for use in spaces meant for relaxation, such as bedrooms and living rooms. For others, the warmer lights don’t produce enough color contrast and can even make it hard for them to differentiate between objects of similar colors.

However, for those who suffer from migraines that cause light sensitivity, lighting color temperature choices can make the difference between prolonging and worsening their suffering and not. For them, warm lights are the better choice, particularly for those areas they may retreat to when a migraine strikes. However, they may be best served by green lights, which aren’t commonly available.

If you need help planning the perfect lighting designs and color temperatures for your home or commercial facility, Teems Electric is your trusted partner.