The increased popularity of LED lighting in homes over the last 15 years provided more possibilities for varying color temperatures. This introduced decisions over warm light vs cool light as part of home and office interior design. The color temperature of light is a measure of white light shading on a scale from very red on one end through to very blue, with natural white in the middle.
- Warm White vs Cool White: What’s the Difference?
- How to Choose between Cool White vs Warm White
- 3 Tips If You Can’t Decide between Warm White vs Cool White
- FAQs about Warm White vs Cool White
Warm White vs Cool White: What’s the Difference?
The difference between warm white and cool white lights is their appearance relating to their color relative to a reference source when heated to a particular temperature. This is known technically as “correlated color temperature” (CCT) or “chromaticity”, but is more commonly just called color temperature.
This is measured on a scale of degrees Kelvin, the same scale used to measure heat in an environment. However, the color temperature scale works opposite to the scale used to measure heat in the environment. Lights considered “warm” have values below 3200 K, and “cool” lights have values above 4000 K. Natural light ranges from 3200 – 4000 K.
When you are purchasing lights, different manufacturers may have different standards. Generally, warm white usually has a color temperature of around 3000 K, and cool white around 5000 K. It is recommended to check the product images to choose the suitable color you need.
How to Choose Between Cool White vs Warm White
There is no exact answer to where you use cool white or warm white; however, there are some rules that can be followed. The difference between warm white and cool white can be used to establish a given mood and should be based on room functionality and aspect.
Warm white vs cool white for room function
Room function is a significant factor in choosing warm white vs cool white lights. This is due to the effect that warm light and cool light have on our mood. Warm light has a relaxing effect and is therefore better suited to lounges, dining rooms, and hallways. Cool light is associated with daylight and activity, so is better suited to bathrooms, kitchens, and workspaces.
Warm white vs cool white for brightness
One big difference between warm white and cool white is the brightness emitted by the different shades of light. A warm light has lower illuminance than a cool light, so the overall brightness of a warm light is lower than that of a cool light. This is one reason why warm lights are used for relaxation, and cool lights are used for getting things done.
Warm white vs cool white for tasks
Research shows that most people prefer natural white light of about 4000 K for doing jobs such as reading, writing, and mathematics. The second choice is a very slight warm light of 3,500 K followed by a much cooler light of 5,000 K. The light color temperature least popular is a very warm light of 2,700 K.
Warm white vs cool white for light types
The type of each individual light in a room can also be a factor. A popular choice in living rooms is to use a cool light for the ambient light provided by the main ceiling light, and warm lights for accent lighting. Cool light can also be used for task lighting to aid in visibility.
Warm white vs cool white for coloring interior design elements
The color temperature of lights can also be used to establish the shade of light conveyed onto interior design elements through accent lighting. For example, you may wish to convey subtle lighting onto the books of a bookcase using warm lights. Conversely, you may wish to convey brighter cool light onto a picture to better represent its colors.
Warm white vs cool white based on location
Research has shown that personal preferences on the difference between warm white and cool white depend on people’s geographic location. People in northerly locations where temperatures are cooler tend to prefer living spaces with warmer light, whilst people in more southerly locations where it is warmer tend to prefer cooler light.
Warm white vs cool white based on the time of day
Another factor that can be used to determine whether to use warm white vs cool white is the time of day. In working environments, there is an increasing trend to use dynamic lighting to provide cooler light at the start of the day and warmer light towards the end of the day. This helps in circadian rhythms which aids in work performance and sleep.
Warm white vs cool white based on the amount of daylight
For rooms where activities take place such as kitchens, bathrooms, and studies, the light color temperatures should also be chosen with respect to the amount of daylight in the room. If the room receives little daylight, the room should be given more natural or cool light to ensure it is adequately bright.
3 Tips If You Can’t Decide between Warm White vs Cool White
If you are still hesitating to choose between warm white and cool white, check the 3 tips below. You may finally make your decision.
1. Choose natural white
If you can’t decide between warm light vs cool light, consider whether natural white light is an option. This is light within the range of between 3,200 and 4,000 K, and is a neutral light color. Research has shown that on average, a color temperature of 4,000 K is most preferable across different age ranges and genders.
2. Choose dimmable light to have both warm or cool white on one light
Manufacturers of light fittings now offer some ranges of light fittings which can change color temperature based on brightness. These lights operate on a dimmer switch, and users can change color temperature by increasing or decreasing the brightness. This is a good solution in multi-functional rooms such as living rooms.
3. Mix and match lights with different color temperatures in one room
A room does not have to be filled with a single color temperature. In fact, using a single color temperature for an entire room can often look odd. For most rooms in the house, choose a mixture of different light color temperatures based on the room’s function.
It is important to remember that a person’s preference for a given color temperature also depends on the interior of the room itself, including the room color scheme. Choosing a color temperature which will be comfortable to a person’s eye should also be done with respect to the colors and materials already in the room.
FAQs about Warm White vs Cool White
Check the questions that people usually ask about warm white and cool white to help you make your decision.
1. Which is better: warm white or cool white?
There is no better color temperature as such: rather, there are optimal solutions for specific situations. Warm white is better for relaxation and for rooms used towards the end of the day, and cool white is better for activity and for rooms used at the beginning of the day.
There is perhaps one area where cooler lighting is better than warmer lighting and this is energy-efficient. Cooler lights output more light than warmer lights for the same amount of energy going in. If you are basing your decision on running costs, it would be preferable to use cooler lights.
2. Should I use warm or cool white for a room?
You should use warm white in a room when trying to create a relaxing environment, and a cool white light when the room is to be used for activities. A mixture of warm and cool lights can be used in a room to produce an overall room color temperature, depending on what the room is to be used for.
3. What is brighter, cool white or warm white?
This was studied early on in lighting development where it was shown that cool white light is brighter than warm white light. In the case of LEDs, warmer white light is less bright because of the extra material which has to be added to an LED (phosphor) to turn its natural blueness to a warmer, yellow glow.
4. Is warm white or cool white better for eyes?
The best light for healthy eyes is a mixture of warm light from an artificial light source such as an LED and natural light coming in from the outdoors. This provides the best level of contrast, and helps to protect the retina.
5. Is warm white or cool white for the kitchen?
Warm white and cool white can both be used in the kitchen. However, most kitchens will want a mixture of both. The overall emphasis on a warm or cool feeling will depend on the style of your kitchen. Farmhouse or cottage-style kitchens would benefit from warm colors whilst more modern and sleek kitchens would benefit from an overall cooler look.
6. Is warm white or cool white for the outdoors?
As a rule, it is better to use warmer colors for the outdoors. This is because a cooler light can make features in your outdoor area appear unnatural. A nice way of blending outdoor lights is to use warm lights on large architectural features to give the overall color temperature and cool mini-spotlights to set off trees and plants.
7. Is warm white or cool white for the bathroom?
Most bathrooms benefit from cool white lighting to help keep the room feel clean and fresh. The use of cooler lighting also makes it easier to perform personal hygiene tasks.
