Here you can’t see enough, there it’s too bright… Choosing the right lighting power for each room isn’t always easy. The light output must adapt to the use of a room, but also to its size or the desired atmosphere. But how to identify the power of a bulb and assess the needs of a room? We tell you everything…
What is the light output of a bulb?
When you buy a light bulb, it includes some indications which may seem mysterious… Here is how to decipher the indications which refer to the power of the bulb.
Lux, Watt, Kelvin, Lumen : kesako ?
These three units of measurement show the different characteristics of your light bulb.
- Le Luxe measures illuminance (in lx), indicating the luminous flux on a surface.
- Le Watt specifies the energy consumption of the bulb, which gives an indication of the power. With LED bulbs, now the majority, there is no longer any relationship between energy consumed and lighting power. LEDs consume very little, whatever their level of lighting…
- Le Kelvin (K) is the thermodynamic temperature, indicating the color of light. The higher the temperature of the bulb, the colder the light. In Led, you choose between cold white (blue), white and warm white (red).
- Le Lumen is the main measure to consider when adapting the lighting in your rooms. The quantity of light emitted by a bulb is measured in lumens: the higher the quantity of lumens, the more the bulb illuminates effectively!
Lighting Beam Matters
We are talking here about the angle of diffusion of a light bulb, measured in degrees. The beam indicates the visual intensity of the luminous flux. The smaller the beam angle, the more intense and directional the light. The wider the angle, the more diffuse and soft the light. The angle of diffusion to choose will be different for the lighting of a work plan or for a general atmosphere.
3 types of lighting:
- lighting ambient is that of ceiling lights, often close to natural light.
- lighting useful targets a specific area. It is generally that of floor lamps and table lamps.
- The lighting of markup illuminates a small area in small light spots (eg a staircase).
What lighting for each room?
Each room has its use and your way of living there is not the same in one or the other. Overview of the lighting needs of each room…
The kitchen: aim for efficiency
The kitchen is a work space. You don’t want to open your eyes wide to prepare a salad or minced poultry. It is a room to be lighted generously, with a lighting of 300 lx. Choose a 4000 to 6000 K Led bulb for your kitchen for global lighting. This corresponds to a Led bulb of 35 watts minimum, with a luminous flux of 3100 lm and an illumination of 250 lx. The most suitable color is white.
We can also appreciate lighting in LED strips arranged to illuminate certain work spaces in particular. This additional contribution is to be chosen in warm white from 500 to 800 lumens per square meter, with a power of only 3 watts.
Living room and dining room: favor the atmosphere
A living room or a dining room are pleasant and warm living rooms. Adapt the lighting to the size of the room. The ideal is a lighting of 300 lx, which can be distributed in several light points. Prefer a rather warm white bulb of 2000 to 3000 K. Your living room or dining room requires a bulb of around 100 lumens per square meter, for a warm and bright atmosphere without being dazzling. In low consumption, a bulb of 20 watts or 300 lx corresponds to the needs.
The bathroom: back to nature
We appreciate that the light in a bathroom is close to daylight. Opt for a bulb with a temperature of 5000 K, and 11 to 20 W. You can add small light spots near a mirror or the shower to add an effective and intimate light note.
The marital bedroom: in relaxation mode
As the adult bedroom is mostly occupied at the end of the day, prefer warm lighting, a sunset atmosphere. This requires a bulb with a temperature of 2500 to 3000 K, 100 to 200 lumens. Close to the sleeping area, the LED is preferable to compact fluorescent bulbs, which emit radiation.
The children’s room: comfort and safety
Children spend a lot of time in a bedroom, as much for sleeping as for playing or working. Choose a cold bulb for them, with a temperature of 5000 to 6500 K. 5 watt LEDs correspond to your needs. We avoid compact fluorescent bulbs, again because of electromagnetic radiation.
The office: work in the clear
To work well, aim for a desk bulb of about 15W of power. 2700 to 4000 K is enough to see well without ruining your eyes.
Stairs and hallways
For passageways, use a bulb of at least 100 lx. This is neither too weak nor too powerful lighting. On the stairs, you can add beacon lighting at the level of the steps, sufficient to circulate safely at night without turning on the ambient light. Narrow corridors can be lit with an 11 W compact fluorescent bulb or a 6 W LED.
And the garage?
In general, 4000 moon lighting will be fine for your garage. You will adapt the power according to the natural lighting it has (window) and the way you use it. If you spend a lot of time tinkering with it on your workbenches, light it up like a desk.
To optimize your choice of bulb, consider the type of luminaire where you insert your bulb. Some absorb part of the brightness of the bulb, which reduces its effectiveness!