Switching To Energy-Saving Bulbs: How Many Of Your Lights Are Actually LEDs?
Funny you mention the color temp thing—I’ve had clients swear off LEDs after one bad experience with that cold, blue-ish vibe. It’s wild how much the right (or wrong) light can change a room’s feel. Have you experimented with dimmable LEDs at all? Sometimes just being able to dial down the brightness makes a huge difference in coziness, especially in bedrooms or living rooms. Or do you think it’s more about the actual color itself?
SWITCHING TO ENERGY-SAVING BULBS: HOW MANY OF YOUR LIGHTS ARE ACTUALLY LEDS?
I hear you on the color temp thing—had a client once who swapped every bulb in their house for those super “daylight” LEDs and then called me back a week later, saying their living room felt like a hospital waiting area. But honestly, I think it’s less about dimming and more about picking the right color temp from the start. Dimmable is great for flexibility, sure, but if you’re stuck with that icy blue light, turning it down just makes it a dimmer version of “meh.”
What I’ve found works best is sticking to warm white (2700K-ish) for most living spaces. Kitchens and bathrooms can handle a bit cooler, but even there, too much blue and people start complaining. Funny thing is, some folks actually like that crisp look—reminds them of modern hotels or galleries. Guess it really comes down to personal taste, but I’d say don’t underestimate how much the actual color matters over just brightness.
if you’re stuck with that icy blue light, turning it down just makes it a dimmer version of “meh.”
Totally get this. I’ve walked into homes where the lighting felt more like a dentist’s office than a cozy living room. Warm white is my go-to for most spaces too—makes such a difference in how the room feels, especially at night. Ever tried mixing color temps in one space? Sometimes I’ll do accent lights in a slightly cooler temp and the main ones warm, just to see if it adds some depth. Curious if anyone else has played around with that or if it’s just me experimenting too much...
Mixing color temps isn’t overkill at all—it’s actually a trick I use in client projects when a room feels flat. A cooler accent can highlight art or shelving, while the main warm lights keep things inviting. It’s all about layering, honestly. Sometimes I’ll even swap bulbs around just to see what vibe works best... trial and error is half the fun.
Mixing color temps isn’t overkill at all—it’s actually a trick I use in client projects when a room feels flat. A cooler accent can highlight art or shelving, while the main warm lights keep things inviting. It’s all about layering, honestly.
I get what you mean about layering, but I’ve found it’s a bit of a balancing act, especially with LEDs. When we moved in, I swapped almost every bulb for LEDs—partly for the energy savings, but also because I wanted to experiment with color temps. Ended up with a weird mix at first: kitchen was super cool white, living room was almost orange. My partner hated it.
Now I try to keep the main areas (like living/dining) around 2700K-3000K, then use a 4000K or so for accent spots. It’s subtle, but it does make the art pop without making the whole place feel like a hospital. The trial and error part is real... I’ve got a drawer full of “wrong” bulbs now.
Curious if anyone else has run into issues with dimmers and LEDs? Some of mine buzz or flicker, which is super annoying.
