Choosing Lightbulbs

Defining various terms and sharing which bulbs we prefer

While it might feel boring, there are so many different terms used for lightbulbs, making it hard to understand which one is best for you and your space. Below we’re breaking down all the terminology and sharing our preferred lightbulb type.

LED vs Incandescent

There has been a move away from using incandescent bulbs, as LED bulbs are more efficient and better for the environment.

We almost always use LED bulbs because of their efficiency and because the temperature they emit is much lower (these bulbs will prevent your lampshades from burning/melting).

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Wattage & Lumens

Watts measure the amount of energy required to light the light bulb, whereas lumens measure the amount of light produced by the bulb. This formula we found via Rejuvenation will give you a better idea of exactly how many lumens you'll need for different rooms in your home.

Multiply the square footage of your space by the number provided below to determine the recommended lumens necessary to light each room in your home.

• Bathroom: 70-80

• Laundry: 70-80

• Kitchen: 60-70

• Bedroom: 10-20

• Living Room: 10-20

For example, if your bedroom is 200 square feet you’ll want your light to be between 2000 and 4000 lumens.

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Other things to consider:

• The shape of light bulb can affect not only how the overall fixture looks, but also how the light is dispersed in a room (some are more diffused while others are more focused).

• The color temperature of your lights can change the entire mood of a room, so it's important to pick the right color. Colors are based off of a scale measured in Kelvin where the lower the number is, the warmer the color of the bulb. We tend to stick with lower/warmer and stay away from the high/cool bulbs.

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Kelvin Lighting Scale

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• Always be sure to match the voltage of the light bulb you choose to the voltage of the fixture. The more precise you are with the voltage, the more efficient the bulb.

• Always double check the lightbulb base type that is needed for your specific fixture.

• Do you want your lights to be dimmable? This requires a certain type of lightbulb.

• Consider what type of lighting you’ll need for the type of room (task lighting vs ambient lighting).

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Still have questions? We’re here to help - feel free to leave a comment here and we’ll do our best to answer.