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| How to choose led light bulbs? |
It’s OK to ask yourself these questions. But one fundamental thing you should bear in mind is that you’re not shopping for any features or brands. What you're doing is actually designing the lighting for your room. So just ask yourself one simple question: Does the bulb improve lighting in my room?
As it goes, a workman must sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well. So before getting down to your lighting project, let’s have a quick glance of some basics on LED light bulbs first.
How much do you know about LED light bulbs?
- Wattage doesn't indicate brightness
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| Brightness is measured in lumens, not watts.
Since the brightness level of incandescent bulbs is measured by wattage, it could be quite confused when it comes to LED. And things get more complex when it says that a LED bulb is equivalent of a specific wattage incandescent bulb.
Forget those things about wattage! For LED light bulbs, it’s lumens rating that speaks for brightness. The higher the luminous flux, the brighter the bulb.
Color Temperature scale
With its misleading name, color temperature is in fact an indicator of light color.
Blue for high-color-temperature bulbs, yellow for low-color-temperature ones, and white for bulbs that fall in between.
 The CRI of Luminwiz LED recessed light reaches 90
As a score from 1 to 100, CRI rates a bulb’s ability to bring the color to life. The CRI of sunlight is 100, and anything over 80 is probably decent enough for your home.
Just as other household appliances, LED light bulbs will fail suddenly due to reasons like improper connection. When a LED light bulb boasts a lifetime of 25,000 hours, it actually means that it takes 25,000 hours for the bulb to fade down to 70 percent brightness in normal use.
The beam angle informs you the area covered by light. Bulbs with wider beams give a general light, while those with narrow beams give a directed light. This is important because different lighting purposes require different kinds of bulbs.
While many LED light bulbs are rated dimmable, some dim down better than others depending what switch you’re using. Make sure you get the LED light bulbs that are compatible with your dimmer before buying.
There’s no perfect bulb but perfect lighting for each room!
Now, with these basic knowledge in mind, am I well-equipped to choose a brightest and best LED light bulb? But wait! Don’t forget that fundamental rule!
Light is good but not always welcomed like when you’re watching a movie. So before selecting LED light bulbs for your home, think of the activities that take place in every room. Since each has a personality of its own, lighting in each room should be tailored accordingly.
Find it hard to get started? Read the following suggestions for picking the right LED light bulbs for each room in your house!
Living room is a place where all kinds of activities happen ranging from entertaining guests, watching TV to reading magazines, so layering lighting accommodates a mix of light sources is important.
1. For ambient lighting:
-Creating a relaxing atmosphere by avoiding LED light bulbs with blue & bright lights that make you focused and alert.
-Lights that bounce off the ceiling is better to avoid shadows. BR & PAR series are recommended with built-in hardware reflecting the light back upward.
2. For task lighting:
-Led light bulbs with a narrower light beam is a good choice to provide more focused light for reading.
-Keep task lights away from shiny surface like TV screen to prevent reflected glare.
Color temperature suggested: 2900-4100K
Total lumens suggested: 1,500-3,000 lm for ambient lighting; a minimum of 400 lm for task lighting
Since bedroom is a nest for resting, a relaxing and calming tone is welcomed.
 1. For ambient lighting:
-Ambient lighting is recommended to be provided by floor lamps, architectural lighting, or a pair of sconces beside a wall mirror.
-Ensure you get LED bulbs with yellow glow light and avoid blue one that disturbs your circadian rhythm.
2. For task lighting:
-If you’re a night reader, bulbs emitting soft-blue instead of cool white color that creates high contrast with the page is recommended.
-Position reading light higher than the bed to minimize shadows.
Color Temperature suggested: 2700-3000K
Total lumens suggested: 1,500 to 4,000 lm
Unlike bedroom, bathroom as an area for personal grooming requires bulbs emitting clear daylight.
1. Light both sides of the vanity mirror with wall-mounted fixtures instead of a ceiling-mounted one that casts shadows on your face.
2. Choose wet-rated bulb with daylight so that you won’t mess up your makeup or miss a spot shaving.
Total lumens suggested: 4,000 to 8,000 lm
As a setting with multiple functions, kitchen is where an array of lighting options should be considered. A light layering approach also improves a room’s versatility.
 1. For ambient lighting:
-A large centrally placed ceiling fixture with bulbs emitting bright white light is good for preparing foods.
2. For task illumination
-Overhead recessed LED light with high CRI above the countertop or the sink is important to provide accent lighting to your homework.
Total lumens suggested: 4,000 to 8,000 Lumens
Total color temperature suggested: 2700-4100K
The focal point of dining room lighting is often the table, and lighting in this context could be quite subtle because you obviously don’t want overly bright or dim light when eating.
1. Luminwiz recommends you to use LED bulbs with soft to neutral tones and dimming capability for the convenience of shifting mood from a romantic dinner to a family event.
2. Hang the fixture with light bulb featuring wider beam angle in the middle of the table so the food can be evenly lit up.
Total lumens suggested: 3,000 to 6,000 Lumens
Total color temperature suggested: 2900-4100K
With technological improvements on LED lights over the years, the days of $30 LED bulb are over. However, earning money is not a breeze after all. Put the above considerations in your mind before buying so you can maximize lighting in every room with the least money!
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