Color Temperature
Basically, the color temperature of a white light is the measure of the yellowish or bluish tint in it. Colors with high temperatures are bluish, while low color temperatures are yellowish. It's an interesting fact that the human eye adjusts for the color tints of light so that both warm and cool lights appear white. It is only when you see a warm and cool light side by side you notice the difference.
Why You Should Consider Color Temperature?
Color temperatures have the power to determine how color is rendered. The science of color temperatures goes beyond the blue and red colors. This, as a result, sets the mood and impact of the entire scene or setting.
Actually, the light we refer to as warm has a lower color temperature, whereas cooler lights have a higher color temperature. To make it even clearer, lights that appear yellower have lower Kelvin values, while higher Kelvin values are for whiter or bluer lights. So choosing a light temperature properly can render a gorgeous light color.
Which is Better for Outdoor Lighting, Warm White or Cool White?
The bluer, cool white lighting is great if you’re looking to highlight the accent pieces in your property at night. It gives a more natural look, such as the light coming from the moon. Warm white lights, on the other hand, don’t blend in with the natural moonlight, coming as a shock to the eyes of the subject. This works best when you want to draw attention or make the area well visible, which is highly useful for security.
What is The Best Color for Outdoor Light?
On the Kelvin scale, you can find a range of light colors with different temperatures. However, we’ve listed the most popular lighting options for you and where they are applied:
· 4000K Cool White
As the name suggests, lighting with a 4000K temperature is the coolest white you can get. Typically, security floodlights use lights with a minimum color temperature of 4000K. They are the best option if you wish to upgrade your security or motion sensor flood lights. They won’t be blindingly bright like commercial security lights but still bright enough to lighten up your outdoors.
· 3000K Natural White
Warm or natural light color with 3000K temperature is the right option for you if you're looking to highlight the greenery in your lawn. As a matter of fact, this is the light color temperature that is most preferred by professional landscape designers because this cooler hue highlights green colors in plantations.
· 2700K Warm White
The 2700K warm white light color is famously used to give the area a peaceful and even romantic feel. Therefore, you would see it a lot in wall sconces, usually for entry lighting. When it comes to outdoors, these lights help make your ambiance beautiful without being too harsh.
What Color Outdoor Lights Are Best to Avoid Bugs?
According to research, many insects that are attracted to light use the moonlight as a navigational tool, oftentimes to escape from a chasing predator. This also helps them steer clear of the unnatural lighting of the humans. You must have noticed that bug zappers use cooler shades to attract and zap them. Therefore, if you really need to avoid bugs in your area, you must use a warmer, yellower light instead of a bluer one.
What Color Lighting is Most Attractive?
Anything that has the perfect balance is the most attractive! In this case, the perfect balance between warm and cool lights is what makes your home glow stunningly. You can find this in the lights of 2700 to 3000 Kelvin; it offers safety and provides the kind of brightness that soothes you and beautifies the atmosphere.
Final Note
If you need the best permanent outdoor lighting that does everything for you, the best color temperatures are 2700K to 3000K. If you have these lights, you will not need another color. These will generally give you the benefits of both warm and cool lights. According to research, people tend to look the best when illuminated by light color temperatures of around 2700K.
FAQs
- What Color Light Is Best for Security?
Light with temperatures ranging from 6000K to 6500K offers a strongly lit-up outdoors. Its bluish-white tone is famously used in security, retail, and commercial areas.
- What Are The 3 LED Colors?
White light is usually made with LEDs from phosphor conversion. However, LED lights also come in red, green, and blue (also known as RGB) colors, which mix colors to make new hues.
- What Color LED Lights Are Best for Relaxing?
Red light and warm light is scientifically proven to be the most relaxing light because it helps you sleep. It triggers your brain to produce melatonin (the sleep hormone).