On the surface, choosing a new light fixture is all about appearance. What kind of fixture is it? What finish does it have? How big is it? What style is it? All these questions are good for aesthetic purposes. However, you don’t just want a fixture that looks pretty. You also want that fixture to perform sufficiently. To obtain quality functionality with your new light fixture and the bulb within, there are three very important details you must consider: kelvins, lumens, and watts. You have probably seen these words before and maybe have even wondered what they mean! Keep reading to find out more about each of these aspects and why they’re crucial to lighting your space well.

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Kelvins – the Color of the Light

Just as you carefully deliberate on the hue to paint your walls, you must also wisely choose the number of kelvins your lighting has. With just a change in the number of kelvins you can change the entire mood and look of a room. Kelvins are gauged on a scale ranging from 1,000 (candlelight) to 10,000 (a clear blue sky) with “warmer” lighting at 1,000 and “colder” lighting at 10,000. In the image above, the warmer lighting (on the right) makes the space feel warm and cozy, but also slightly orange. Whereas on the left, the lighting is much more cool and crisp, and gives the space a blue tint. So when you’re buying a fixture next time, take a look at the Kelvins and keep in mind that less Kelvins means it will give off an orange glow while more Kelvins will produce  more of a blue tint.

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Lumens – How Bright the Light is

Consider what you will be using the light for. Maybe it is a hall light for late night guidance, or perhaps it is a task light for cutting vegetables in your kitchen. Each of these endeavors require a different level of brightness in your lighting. The employment of your light helps decide the number of lumens you will need. Lumens are evaluated from 5 (keychain flashlight) to 3,000 (car headlight). A higher number of lumens means a brighter light. Most indoor lighting has anywhere from 2,000 -3,000 lumens. Light bulbs determine lumens in most light fixtures, so keep an eye out for how many lumens are in the bulbs that your fixture allows.

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Watts – How Much Energy the Light Uses

Watts are an important factor when you want energy efficiency and sustainability. (Check out our recent blog “How Can I Be More Sustainable/Green?” for more sustainability tips!) A higher number of watts means more power is being used. In the past, typical lighting was incandescent. This type of lighting had higher wattage which also meant a brighter light. However, with the advanced development of lighting such as fluorescent and LED lighting, this is no longer the norm. New and improved lighting standards are energy efficient and give brighter light (higher lumens) for a fraction of the energy! The transition from measuring brightness from wattage to lumens is a bit confusing.  Conveniently, newer bulb packaging includes a facts label listing kelvins, lumens, and watts making choosing the right light even easier!