How to Use Cool White Lights

The right lighting can make or break the ambience of a room. And hence, it becomes imperative that you choose the right kind of lighting for your requirement. If you want to relax and spend some leisurely time, then go for warm white lighting; but if want to get some work done, then cool white lighting is your thing.

One of the best things about a cool white light is that it is easier to see in, and hence used in areas that are heavily task-oriented. This is because this light has a Kelvin value of 5000 - 6200 and contains more blue light that looks brighter to the eye. It also has a higher lumen output than equivalent warm white lights, offering clean and crisp illumination to areas where high energy and alertness are required. Interestingly, cooler colour temperature is known to stimulate focus by suppressing melatonin (a sleep hormone). A research carried out by the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm even found that cool white lights can make areas look more spacious. You will find this kind of lighting prevalent in warehouses, hospitals, shopping centres, jewellery cabinets, hair salons and other corporate or industrial settings.

But if you think that cool white is suitable only for industrial and corporate setting, then you couldn’t be more wrong. Cool white lighting is perfect for your homes too, you just need to know where and how to use it. This kind of lighting can be used for your kitchen, garage, cupboard, bathroom, home office and any other room that requires the best light for you to see everything. You can even use this mode of lighting in a photo / art gallery or your hallway to better accentuate your collectibles. Use it as accent lighting, task lighting and more depending on the purpose. The cool white light comes in both CFL and LED, though LED definitely takes the cake in matters of longevity and energy efficiency.