Warm white vs cool white: which bulb colour to choose

The same light fitting can feel cosy or clinical depending on one thing: the colour of the bulb. Here's how to choose.

What the numbers mean

Bulb colour is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower the number, the warmer and more golden the light.

• 2200K to 2400K, extra warm: candle-like and amber. Lovely in filament bulbs and on dimmers.
• 2700K, warm white: the classic cosy glow of an old-fashioned bulb. Our recommendation for most rooms.
• 3000K, soft white: slightly crisper, still friendly.
• 4000K, cool white: bright and neutral. Good for task areas.
• 5000K and above, daylight: bluish. Best kept for garages and workshops.

Room by room

• Living room, bedroom, dining room: 2700K, ideally dimmable.
• Hallway and stairs: 2700K to 3000K.
• Kitchen: 2700K pendants for atmosphere, with 3000K to 4000K under-cabinet lights for chopping.
• Bathroom: 3000K to 4000K around the mirror, warmer elsewhere.

Keep it consistent

Mixing warm and cool bulbs in the same room makes both look wrong. Pick one colour per room and stick to it.

All the bulbs we sell are warm white 2700K LED filament bulbs, chosen to match our lights and to use a fraction of the energy of old incandescent bulbs.