Using Warm White Light Lamps to Enrich Colour

What is warm white light?

Firstly, colour temperature of a light bulb is measured in kelvins; this is a base unit of measurement for temperature in the international System of Units (SI).

The higher the Kelvin rating, the cooler the light will be. Colour temperature refers to the tone of white light emitted. Most lamps on the market range between 2700K and 6500K. Warmer tones (<4200K) are typically less disruptive to wildlife than bluer tones. It’s this <4200K range that’s recommended for ecologically sensitive areas which is why Lumena are introducing warmer tones for some of the more bat friendly designs, such as Eccentrica Solar Bollard. These will be available in 2500K, with other models soon to follow suit. Amber corn bulbs are also available to use with our Pro-Bollard Lighting Range for the ultimate ”orange glow”. To read more on bat friendly designs and considerations head over to Bat Conservation Trust.

This table shows a breakdown of the Kelvin spectrum between 1800K – 8000K. As you can see from the colour temperature spectrum between 1800K – 3000K (Orange and Yellow) is where you will find that the warm tones create a soft yellow like hue which usually resembles the glow of an early morning sunrise or a traditional incandescent bulb.

Orange and yellow lighting tones are typically associated with relaxation and cosiness, and are commonly used in residential settings i.e. gardens.

Whereas, if you look at the latter end of the spectrum between 4200K – 6500K (White and Blue), this is where you’ll find that the white tones provide bright and clear illumination. Commonly used in areas which require high visibility and focus and associated with productivity in work environments. White or blue light tones create a modern and clean look, commonly a great choice for commercial settings. Cool and daylight white lamps can appear brighter to the naked eye, in fact the lumens output of warm white lamps of the same specifications generally have the same lumens output.

How do Warm White Lamps enrich colour?

As mentioned previously, warm light temperatures create a feeling of relaxation and cosiness, however, they also enhance décor. It brings out the richness of warm-coloured palettes and wood tones. Warm white lamps can be used in a way to create focal points and emphasise certain elements of a design. Alternatively, if used in a residential setting such as garden design, it can be installed in an ornamental way for visual appeal.

Warm white lighting is great for Crosslighting; this is where a beam of light travelling across the front of an object (i.e. bed of flowers, statues, fountains etc.) created by placing the luminaire to the side. Warm White lighting also creates texture, bringing out the fine details of foliage in your garden design.

Lumena Lights offer a vast range of warm light lamps and designs which enhance outdoor design and create an aesthetically pleasing environment in your garden and other outdoor living spaces.