What you will know after this guide
- Lumens and watts
- Colour temperature
- Colour rendering and flicker
- Three layers
Lumens and watts
Lumens describe light output; watts describe energy use. Compare efficiency, but first choose useful quantity and distribution. A bright bulb in the wrong fixture can glare without lighting well.
Colour temperature
Around 2700 K feels warm; 3000 K remains residential but crisper; 3500–4000 K suits some tasks and contemporary spaces. Avoid randomly mixing visible colour temperatures in one zone.
Colour rendering and flicker
High CRI helps food, skin, wood and paint look accurate. Also verify stability, flicker, cold start, noise and dimmer compatibility. An incompatible lamp-dimmer pair may flicker or fail to dim low.
Three layers
- Ambient: circulation and base level.
- Task: counter, reading, mirror, workshop.
- Accent: texture, art, depth and orientation.
Use separate controls and dimming where useful rather than overlighting the entire room.
Sensitive locations
Showers, tubs, outdoors, closets, insulation, airtight ceilings and wet areas require suitable fixtures and may require regulated installation. Verify location rating, insulation compatibility and local code.
