Dec 12, 2022 2:10:32 PM
When it comes to getting the most out of your outdoor light bulbs, you want to make sure that you are using the right color temperature. Color temperature describes the “light appearance” of a light bulb and is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K) on a scale of 1,000 to 10,000 K.
It all gets pretty technical but it’s a really important aspect of your Memphis outdoor lighting design.
In this article, we’ll explain what color temperature is all about and how to ensure your lighting design takes this into account.
Color temperature is all about the way that the light looks to the eye. You’ve probably noticed this on higher-end cars. The headlights on a BMW or Mercedes almost appear blue in color.
Bulbs with a higher color temperature do have more of a bluish-white appearance. There’s almost a yellow color to a lower color temperature.
That being said, there is typically an ideal range where you want your color temperature to fall.
For most homes in Memphis, TN (which tend to be brick), a bluish color just doesn’t look right. In fact, a higher color temperature can often be harsh on the eye. While headlights on a car need to cut through the night and make sure that your vehicle is seen, it’s completely different from lighting a home.
We have found that the best color temperature for outdoor lighting for most homes in Memphis, TN is 2,700 to 3,000 K.
Aesthetically speaking, this is what looks best. It’s gentle on the eye and also has a classy, warm look that never goes out of style.
Of course, it’s important to know that color temperature can change over time, particularly if your project uses poor-quality bulbs.
This is why it’s so important to have a high-quality LED outdoor light bulb.
A high-quality LED bulb will maintain its color rendering index (CRI), which is the ability of a light source to reveal its colors, for a longer period of time. It is a critical factor when it comes to getting the most value out of your outdoor lighting design.
While it’s true that this is technical stuff and it’s best left to a pro, it’s important for you to know enough about outdoor lighting so that you make a wise choice amongst outdoor lighting professionals.
We wish we could tell you that all pros know this stuff, but that’s simply not the case.
A lot of companies offer outdoor lighting as an add-on service to their business so it’s not truly a specialty.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of so-called lighting pros that wouldn’t even know what the color temperature is of the lights they’re installing. Even though it’s a really important factor, many don’t even take it into consideration.
That’s why you’ve likely driven by plenty of houses with glaring lights that hurt your eyes. No care was given to choosing the right color temperature for that design.
In addition, many “pros” also use cheap outdoor light bulbs that change over time. While the project might have looked great at first, the CRI degraded with time.
It all boils down to making sure that you’re working with an outdoor lighting professional that is considering every possible detail of your project. When you’re investing in something as important as outdoor lighting, no detail is too small.
At Mid South Outdoor Lighting & Audio, lighting is all that we do…and for that reason, we take it very seriously.
You can count on us to keep up with the latest technology so that we can deliver the best results. That means ensuring that we choose just the right color temperature for your outdoor light bulbs. It also means working with high-quality LED bulbs that will maintain their quality over time.
With just the right decisions made for your property, you’ll truly be able to enjoy it to the fullest.
Are you ready to create a beautiful property with the best lighting at any hour of the day? If so, let’s meet and discuss some bright ideas.
