In the world of interior design, I feel like light bulbs just aren’t talked about enough. And it’s a real shame because they matter so much! Light bulbs have a major impact on not only how you feel in your space at night, but also on how everything in your space looks at night, including your wall color!
Quick Story Time:
Years ago, okay it’s been eons, my twenty-something, eager newlywed self decided to paint our living room in a mustard-y shade of gold. Honestly the color wasn’t too far off of the leather sofa in our current home office (pictured below). I wouldn’t choose that color for our walls today, but this was the early 2000s and old gold was having a moment. Anyhow, I LOVED the color as soon as I rolled it on to the walls. And then as the sun set and I turned on a few lamps, I immediately regretted my decision. The color at night had a bit of sickly green cast. It looked like the color of vomit or baby poop. It was soooo not good. And I was so bummed because I really loved the color during the day. But this was a space we would be spending lots of time in at night, so if the color looked bad at night I would just have to pick another color and repaint.
So the very next day I marched back into the paint store and explained my paint color gone wrong saga to the kind gentleman behind the counter. And he immediately asked with a great big smile on his face, “What kind of light bulbs do you have in your lamps?”
And so began my love affair with 2700 kelvin!
You see it wasn’t the paint color that needed to be changed. It was the light bulb temperature!
Quick Light Bulb Tips:
- Light bulbs have 2 important measures – Lumens (brightness) and Kelvins (temperature). And while lumens matter, in my opinion, what matters most is the temperature!
- Pay attention to the Kelvin number! Lower numbers are warmer, more yellow, while higher numbers are cooler, more blue. And you want warm light!
- Regardless of how a light bulb is labeled (soft white, warm white, bright white, daylight), look for the kelvin number. Brands label differently, so what one brand calls warm white might be what another brand calls bright white. The kelvin number will never steer you wrong!
- While you should always look for the kelvin number, you can generally steer clear of any bulbs labeled “Daylight”. These are always the coolest of cool temperatures, and while you *might* want them in a garage or workshop, I can’t think of anywhere else in your home where you would want such cold lighting.
- 2700 kelvin is the sweet spot. It’s the chef’s kiss of light bulb temperatures. However, in utilitarian spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, you may want to inch up to 3000 kelvin.
My Favorite Light Bulbs:
- In most cases, I prefer a porcelain finish when bulbs are exposed (because while LEDs have a come a long way, the filaments still just aren’t great looking on display). These porcelain finish candelabra bulbs look great in chandeliers.
- These are my go-to bulbs for living spaces.
- The white filament on these bulbs makes them slightly less yellow, and I like using them when the lampshade is either colored or has a gold lining.
- The amber glass makes these light bulbs extra warm. In bedrooms with cooler colors on the walls, these bulbs bring in a really nice, cozy vibe.
- These gold-dipped bulbs are a fun option for light fixtures where the bulb is exposed!
- When you need more lumens (brightness) but still want warm lighting, these bulbs are great!
Lamp o’clock is probably my favorite time of day! Give me dark walls and 2700 kelvin, and I’m a happy lady!
This guide is a total game changer lighting truly does affect everything, and your advice makes it easy to get it right. I especially love how you broke it down by room and mood for maximum clarity.