Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any home renovation or new build. The home lighting you choose to install will make or break a design.
Read on to find out why bulbs that produce soft white light are the right choice for your home.
Psychology and Science of Indoor Lighting
The science of light temperature tells us that warm light sources sit at the red, orange, and yellow end of the light spectrum, while cool light sources are at the blue end.
As Brisbane-based lighting installation experts Leolec Electrical Services note, “interior lighting is painting with light across task, accent, and ambient lighting palettes.”
Scientists and engineers measure light temperature in Kelvin(K) and they divide it into three categories: warm light (2700 to 3000K), cool or hard light (3000 to 5000K), and daylight or natural light (5000 to 6000K).
Scientists in Korea recently discovered that hard light helps you to learn, while a warm or yellow light (also known as “soft white light”) is better for relaxing.
The romantic hues that sunrises and sunsets give off usually fall within the warm light spectrum, so perhaps their findings are not so surprising!
Common Types of Lightbulbs
Today, there are five different types of light bulbs available for homeowners to purchase.
The five types are:
- Incandescent bulbs
- Fluorescent lamps
- Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
- Halogen lamps
- Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Not too long ago, most homes were lit by incandescent bulbs. While the light they emit might be nostalgic, these types of bulbs are not efficient.
Of these five, LED is the most commonly used in households today.
LEDs Shine Bright in Homes
LED bulbs are long-lasting, energy-efficient, and come in a wide variety of light shades and brightnesses. A staple product of the semiconductor industry, LEDs use electrically charged photons contained in a diode to create a source of light.
Recently, some types of LED lighting can cause eye damage, especially in young children and teens. And cool or hard light shades closer to the blue end of the spectrum can negatively affect circadian rhythms. To counteract these harmful effects, warm LEDs are recommended over other LED light temperatures.
That’s great news for fans of soft white light for the home!
Where to Use Soft White Light in the Home
Because soft light gives a room a cozy feeling, it’s ideal for use in the home. Take advantage of the benefits of this style of lighting to create the right moods for eating, playing, study, and sleep.
Designing a Sleep-Inducing Bedroom
Soft white light works well in the bedroom because it helps you to relax. It mimics the feeling of gently flickering candlelight or the warming hue of a dying fire. Choose light fixtures that can be dimmed to create a soothing environment ideal for sleep.
In the home, bedrooms are one of the best places to use smart bulbs, too. Perhaps you prefer a soft light for reading at night and a daylight shade when you first wake up? Smart bulbs allow you to instantly change the light temperatures via an app.
Warming up Large Spaces
Large spaces with high ceilings like entryways and mezzanine living rooms can feel cold and uninviting. Especially if they’re crafted from materials like marble, glass, or concrete.
Soft white light can brighten a person’s mood. By choosing bulbs with warm light temperatures, you can create an inviting atmosphere in these once chilly spaces. And who doesn’t want to feel elevated when they first step into their home?
Fit a huge feature chandelier with soft light bulbs in and hang it in the center of a high-ceilinged room. Line a modern entryway with invitingly warm yet discreet LED strip lights.
Illuminating Your Workspaces
Soft white light emulates the light you experience when outdoors. This effect is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it can also be of benefit to those working from home. People experience less eye strain from warm home lighting than they do from other temperatures so it’s ideal for use in workspaces.
Install it in the overhead fixtures in your home office to help you better focus on your screen and induce a sense of warmth and comfort when attending online meetings.
Use soft light in studio lighting to create the ideal working conditions for drawing, painting, photography. Need a light for detailed model work? Soft white light bulbs are perfect for use in magnifying glass lamps.
Highlighting Objects
When you want to emphasize a feature in the home, the direction the light is coming from matters just as much as the light temperature.
Fit soft white light bulbs into downward-facing pendant lights to emphasize a home bar or breakfast nook. Use warm-colored downlights in a display cabinet to highlight a prized collection of porcelain tableware or fine crystal glasses.
And while LEDs may be the most energy-efficient option, don’t discount attractive Edison light bulbs when it comes to making a statement.
These incandescent bulbs are often available with decorative filaments shaped into a range of creative designs. Use them to add some vintage charm to your favorite soft light lamp or wall fixtures.
Creating Welcoming Outdoor Spaces
Warm LED bulbs attract the fewest insects, making soft white light the obvious choice for outdoor dining rooms, BBQ areas, and recreation spaces.
This color temperature can also add a romantic air to balconies and porches. Use it in string lights, pathway lighting, and around the jacuzzi or swimming pool. Install soft light bulbs into motion-sensing fixtures to create safe yet unobtrusive outdoor security lighting.
New Lighting Materials on the Horizon
The dominance of LED bulbs could wane in the future.
Researchers at the University of Toledo recently discovered an even more efficient home lighting material to meet our soft light needs. But until then, LED bulbs remain the go-to for bathing a home in that soothing soft white light.
For more great ideas on how to create a welcoming atmosphere at home, browse our articles on Home Decor.