Choosing the Right Light Bulbs

Home lighting design changes based upon our mood. In the early morning, we prefer less light because we’ve just woken up. At night, we require more light to prepare dinner, but may want minimal light when watching a movie. Lighting is thus tailored for relaxation and productivity. We rely on the light bulb as opposed to the type of fixture to control ambiance. What should you know about bulbs to light your rooms to their fullest potential?

Common Types of Bulbs

Bulbrite bulb Homeowners typically use four different types of bulbs: incandescent, compact fluorescent, halogen and light-emitting diodes.

Incandescent: These bulbs are lit by an electric current through a filament, which produces a warm glow.
CFL: Compact fluorescent light bulbs are lit by an electric current sent through a tube with argon and mercury vapor, which produces cool light.
Halogen: These bulbs are lit by thermal radiation from a hot tungsten filament, which produces a white light that resembles natural daylight.
LED: Light-emitting diode bulbs, three times more efficient than CFLs, produce blue light when a voltage is applied to negatively charged semiconductors.

There are many more types of light bulbs and subcategories within each variety, but these four are most commonly used in modern home construction.

Light Bulb Terminology

Among many others, these four terms are commonly associated with light bulbs. Therefore, they are important for homeowners to know in order to make informed lighting decisions:

Lumens: The brightness of the light bulb
The more luminous a bulb is, the brighter the light will be.
Wattage: The electricity consumed by the bulb
The higher the wattage, the less energy efficient the bulb is.
Efficacy: The number of lumens per watt
Higher efficacy leads to the production of more visible light.
Foot-candles: The amount of light that reaches an object
More foot-candles increase the intensity of light.

Light Bulbs by Room

The type of light you want in any room in your home, in terms of brightness, intensity and efficiency, will differ from one homeowner to the next. However, there are general rules you can follow based on the tasks that are performed in each of the following rooms.

Kitchen

This is the room where you likely want the most light. When chopping, sauteing and otherwise preparing food, having too little light can be dangerous. Anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 lumen LED bulbs will be bright enough to keep you alert and focused on tasks.

Bedroom

Unlike the kitchen, the bedroom is probably where you desire the least amount of light. This is the room where you unwind, relax and go to sleep at night. Anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 lumen LED bulbs are perfect for reading and resting.

Bathroom

The bathroom is another living space that requires adequate lighting. When we groom, we need to be able to see to avoid a nick while shaving or tweezing. Anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 lumen incandescent bulbs will provide proper illumination for your grooming tasks.

Living Room

The living, family or media room is a place where many of us gather to watch movies, play games or relax around the fireplace. For its many mellow purposes, the living room does not need to be very bright. Anywhere from 1,500 to 3,000 lumens of dimmable light will work.

Pair your carefully selected light bulbs with the perfect fixtures from Connecticut Lighting Centers. Visit our Hartford or Southington showroom today!

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