With lower upfront costs and improved quality there is every reason to take advantage of the energy savings from LED lighting. Many building codes now mandate it for new construction. Technology has advanced through the development of industrial applications, which are more stringent than residential use.
Using LED lighting does not limit your style options at all. Edison style bulbs are now common in LED versions.
Higher quality LED fixtures and bulbs show you the information you need for selecting the right solution right on the box. This is color temperature, efficacy, and CRI.
Color temperature is simply the color of the lighting. Most people prefer the warm glow of an incandescent bulb for indoor lighting, which is slightly reddish yellow. In numbers that means around 2700-3500°K. Today’s LED lighting can easily mimic this color, though it was a challenge in the past. Temperatures in the 5000-6500°K mimic daylight, with 6500°K being the color of midday sunlight. The higher numbers appear bluish indoors at night.
Efficacy ratings specify the number of lumens per watt. Keep 100 lumens/watt in mind when shopping for lighting. Not all fixtures can reach that, especially if they have decorative metal or diffusers blocking some of the light. But you should think twice before choosing a light fixture that reaches only 50-60, which is no more efficient than fluorescent lighting.
CRI is for color rendering index. A 100 rating (which doesn’t actually exist) is a perfect score, meaning it will render colors exactly as sunlight will. A CRI above 85 is considered a good rating. Some of the older fluorescent lighting could only achieve a CRI of 50-70.
Higher numbers are always better with efficacy and CRI.
Closet Lighting
Closet lighting is more important than you might think. Reducing shadows and using a type that gives a truer rendering of the color of your clothes are big advantages.
A common way to light a walk-in closet is to place a round fixture in the center. The result is a shadow right in front of you wherever you stand in the closet. There are better options. You can:
Use a linear fixture, like 4-ft LED fixture,
Opt for more than one light fixture, and/or
Use track lighting.
Whichever option you choose, consider daylight color temperature with a high CRI. For living spaces most people prefer warm lighting. But you may want your closet lighting to mimic sunlight, which is starker (5000-6500°K) so that you can see how your clothes are going to look outside. A high CRI, say above 85, is also needed for good color rendering.
Habitation Home Design can cover your details to create a truly custom home designed around you!