The colour of white light is measured in Kelvin, written K. A low number is a warm, yellowish white. A high number is a cool, bluish white. The number describes the colour of the light, not how bright it is. Brightness is measured in lumens.
The four common values
| Value | Name | How it looks |
|---|---|---|
| 2700K | Warm white | Yellowish, close to an old incandescent bulb |
| 3000K | Warm white | Still warm, slightly whiter and crisper than 2700K |
| 4000K to 4500K | Neutral or natural white | White with no yellow or blue tint |
| 6000K | Cool white | Bluish white, close to daylight on an overcast day |
2700K vs 3000K
Both are warm white, and side by side the difference is small. 2700K is a little more yellow and cosy. 3000K is a little cleaner, and colours look slightly less tinted under it. In the same room, keep all lamps at the same value so that the light does not look patchy.
Which light colour for which room
- Bedroom and living room: warm white, 2700K to 3000K.
- Dining table: warm white, 2700K to 3000K.
- Kitchen worktop, bathroom mirror, desk: neutral white, around 4000K, where you need to see detail and true colours.
- Garage, utility room: cool white, 6000K.
These are common conventions. The right choice is the one that looks comfortable in your room.
What the options on a product page mean
- Warm white by default, cool or neutral white on request: the lamp is delivered in one colour, chosen when you order. This is the case for the White Silk Saucer Pendant and the Beige Silk Saucer Pendant.
- 3-colour or tricolour: the same lamp can switch between warm, neutral and cool white. The Brown Silk Saucer Pendant has an LED with three colour temperatures: warm 3000K, neutral 4500K and cool white 6000K.
- Dimmable: the brightness can be lowered. This is separate from the colour. The Spanish Marble Alabaster Wall Sconce is dimmable and offered in warm 3000K, natural 4000K, white 6000K or 3-colour.
The shade changes the colour too
A coloured or natural shade tints the light that passes through it. Cream fabric, beige silk, amber glass and translucent stone all make the light look warmer than the bulb alone.
Warm light is one of the rules of a calm interior: see our guide to Japandi lighting for the bedroom and living room. With coloured stained glass, a warm bulb keeps the colours rich: see Art Nouveau lamps.
Light colour is only one choice per room. For the lights themselves, see our bedroom lighting ideas and living room lighting ideas, both with real sizes.
For room-by-room advice, see our hallway and entryway lighting ideas and our guide to lighting for low ceilings.
Choosing the lamps themselves? See our guide to the types of floor lamps and our ideas for kids' room and nursery lighting, where warm white is the calm choice for bedtime.
Warm white also suits natural materials and warm metals: see our guides to boho lighting, with rattan, knitted fabric and paper, and to brass lamps and lights.
Warm white also keeps a silver room from feeling cold (see chrome and silver lamps) and makes coloured glass glow in a cottagecore room.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2700K or 3000K better for a bedroom?
Both are warm white and both suit a bedroom. 2700K is slightly more yellow, 3000K slightly whiter.
Is warm white or cool white brighter?
Neither. Kelvin is the colour of the light. Brightness is given in lumens.
What does 3-colour mean on a lamp?
The lamp can switch between warm, neutral and cool white.
See how light colour is listed on each lamp in our pendant lights collection.
