Which bulb do I need next to the sofa or how many lamps above the dining table, in the kitchen.
Nothing is more important than light to create a pleasant atmosphere or to provide the right amount of light for practical use. Ask yourself for what purpose the lamps are needed. As there are light sources available with different light intensities and light colours. The light color (kelvin) has a major effect on the atmosphere, while the light intensity (lumen) determines whether there is enough light for practical use. For example, the desired atmosphere (light color) and practical light intensity for reading a book by a bedside lamp cannot be compared with that for preparing a dish in the kitchen.
It also often happens that the atmosphere and the type of use in a place can vary during the day. Take, for example, the dining table where, in addition to mood lighting at dinner, sufficient light is also desired when reading the newspaper in the morning. My advice for these places in the house is to create a lighting solution that allows you to switch between atmosphere and practical use. More information about the “Watts”, light color “Kelvin” and light intensity “Lumen” are described below
From watts to lumen
In the past, most people knew exactly how many watts they needed to get the desired amount of light. Due to the low energy consumption of LED lamps, the power in watts no longer says much. For example a 3-watt LED bulb can provide just as much light as an old-fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb. So now that the wattage means little more, the lumen is used more to read what the light intensity is. The lumen is a unit of luminous flux. That indicates the amount of light that is emitted.
You can compare the power with the amount of lumen via the table below. This way way you have an indication with which light source you can replace your old light bulb to get the same light effect.
Wattage of a light bulb Luminosity 15 watts 100 to 150 lumens 25 watts 200 to 300 lumens 40 watts 400 to 500 lumens 60 watts 700 to 800 lumens
How many lumens do you use per room?
How many lumens do you now need for lighting in the living room or for practical lighting in the hall? We have a handy overview listed below. This table mainly consists of the necessary lighting for practical use. With mood lighting, the amount of lumen is personal. If a lamp serves for practical use and also as mood lighting, choose dimmable lamps. Also read more about the choice of light color (kelvin) below
Lumen per room (practical use)
Room Amount of light Hall 100 to 300 lumens Kitchen 500 to 850 lumens Dining table 700 lumens Bedroom 300 lumens Workspace 500 lumens
Keep in mind that you need a higher light intensity with a higher ceiling. The overview assumes a space of 2.8 meters high.
How do I choose the right light color?
With sufficient Lumen, any light temperature can be used for almost any desired activity in the house. The light color therefore only has a lot of effect on the atmosphere. So to choose the right atmosphere for your lighting, the color of the light, also called Kelvin or color temperature, is a very important choice. The warmer the color of the light, the lower the color temperature is stated on the packaging. For example, the color of a sunset is about 2000 Kelvin, while normal daylight has a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin.
An atmospheric light is of course entirely personal. But I will mention a number of light temperatures as we usually apply them.
1800 to 2400 Kelvin We experience a color temperature between 1800 to 2400 Kelvin as an atmospheric light color. Also called “extra warm light”.
2700 to 3000 Kelvin We experience 2700 to 3000 Kelvin as a bright color temperature. It is still called “warm light”. But we apply this light color where an active atmosphere is desired. For example during work at home.
4000 Kelvin or higher We experience 4000 Kelvin or higher as bright light. Bright light makes us awake and active. Colors and contrasts are also more visible and true to nature. An ideal light temperature during work or an activity where color and contrast must be realistic.
Dim-to-warm There are also two types of lamps on the market that can be adjusted in color temperature on demand. When dimming a “dim-to-warm” lamp the color temperature will be shifted from bright white light to soft warm light. While some SMART lamps can be adjusted in both lumens and color temperature. So when dimming, the amount of lumen shifts as always. But in addition, the color temperature can also be set as desired.
Amount Kelvin Light Color 1800 to 24000 Kelvin Extra warm light 2700 to 3000 Kelvin Warm light 4000 Kelvin or higher Bright white light
Would you like advice or a tailor-made proposal?
Are you also looking for a tailor-made lighting project? We like to think along. Feel free to contact us or visit our studio on the Oudegracht in Utrecht. Designed and made in Utrecht.
Which bulb do I need?
Which bulb do I need next to the sofa or how many lamps above the dining table, in the kitchen.
Nothing is more important than light to create a pleasant atmosphere or to provide the right amount of light for practical use. Ask yourself for what purpose the lamps are needed. As there are light sources available with different light intensities and light colours. The light color (kelvin) has a major effect on the atmosphere, while the light intensity (lumen) determines whether there is enough light for practical use. For example, the desired atmosphere (light color) and practical light intensity for reading a book by a bedside lamp cannot be compared with that for preparing a dish in the kitchen.
It also often happens that the atmosphere and the type of use in a place can vary during the day. Take, for example, the dining table where, in addition to mood lighting at dinner, sufficient light is also desired when reading the newspaper in the morning. My advice for these places in the house is to create a lighting solution that allows you to switch between atmosphere and practical use. More information about the “Watts”, light color “Kelvin” and light intensity “Lumen” are described below
From watts to lumen
In the past, most people knew exactly how many watts they needed to get the desired amount of light. Due to the low energy consumption of LED lamps, the power in watts no longer says much. For example a 3-watt LED bulb can provide just as much light as an old-fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb. So now that the wattage means little more, the lumen is used more to read what the light intensity is. The lumen is a unit of luminous flux. That indicates the amount of light that is emitted.
You can compare the power with the amount of lumen via the table below. This way way you have an indication with which light source you can replace your old light bulb to get the same light effect.
Wattage of a light bulb Luminosity
15 watts 100 to 150 lumens
25 watts 200 to 300 lumens
40 watts 400 to 500 lumens
60 watts 700 to 800 lumens
How many lumens do you use per room?
How many lumens do you now need for lighting in the living room or for practical lighting in the hall? We have a handy overview listed below. This table mainly consists of the necessary lighting for practical use. With mood lighting, the amount of lumen is personal. If a lamp serves for practical use and also as mood lighting, choose dimmable lamps. Also read more about the choice of light color (kelvin) below
Lumen per room (practical use)
Room Amount of light
Hall 100 to 300 lumens
Kitchen 500 to 850 lumens
Dining table 700 lumens
Bedroom 300 lumens
Workspace 500 lumens
Keep in mind that you need a higher light intensity with a higher ceiling.
The overview assumes a space of 2.8 meters high.
How do I choose the right light color?
With sufficient Lumen, any light temperature can be used for almost any desired activity in the house. The light color therefore only has a lot of effect on the atmosphere. So to choose the right atmosphere for your lighting, the color of the light, also called Kelvin or color temperature, is a very important choice. The warmer the color of the light, the lower the color temperature is stated on the packaging. For example, the color of a sunset is about 2000 Kelvin, while normal daylight has a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin.
An atmospheric light is of course entirely personal. But I will mention a number of light temperatures as we usually apply them.
1800 to 2400 Kelvin
We experience a color temperature between 1800 to 2400 Kelvin as an atmospheric light color. Also called “extra warm light”.
2700 to 3000 Kelvin
We experience 2700 to 3000 Kelvin as a bright color temperature. It is still called “warm light”. But we apply this light color where an active atmosphere is desired. For example during work at home.
4000 Kelvin or higher
We experience 4000 Kelvin or higher as bright light. Bright light makes us awake and active. Colors and contrasts are also more visible and true to nature. An ideal light temperature during work or an activity where color and contrast must be realistic.
Dim-to-warm
There are also two types of lamps on the market that can be adjusted in color temperature on demand. When dimming a “dim-to-warm” lamp the color temperature will be shifted from bright white light to soft warm light. While some SMART lamps can be adjusted in both lumens and color temperature. So when dimming, the amount of lumen shifts as always. But in addition, the color temperature can also be set as desired.
Amount Kelvin Light Color
1800 to 24000 Kelvin Extra warm light
2700 to 3000 Kelvin Warm light
4000 Kelvin or higher Bright white light
Would you like advice or a tailor-made proposal?
Are you also looking for a tailor-made lighting project? We like to think along. Feel free to contact us or visit our studio on the Oudegracht in Utrecht.
Designed and made in Utrecht.