By Jacob Holmes, Lighting Consultant, Raylinc Lighting
Jacob Holmes starts offices at 4000K, breakout spaces at 3000K to 3500K, and homes at 3000K to 2700K. Outdoors, more projects are moving warmer to protect wildlife. “Arguments can be made for everything,” he says, so treat these as starting points.
| Space | Colour temperature | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Offices | 4000K | The traditional choice for work areas |
| Office breakout spaces | 3000K to 3500K | A warmer, more relaxed feel |
| Homes | 3000K to 2700K | Warm light for living spaces |
| Outdoor areas | Often 4000K, now trending lower | Dark sky concerns are pushing to 1800K or PC amber near wildlife |
The outdoor shift is about animals and their migration. Lower colour temperatures are the more environmentally conscious choice.
Colour temperature is only one factor. “There’s a lot of variables,” Jacob says:
Colour rendering, measured as CRI, often gets less attention than it deserves. Architects and interior designers spend a lot of time choosing tile, stone and joinery. Then an economical downlight “just washes it all out,” Jacob says.
The fleck in the stone disappears. “The carpet might actually be brown, but it looks green now.”
Jacob says a low CRI can make a huge impact on a space, and can devalue a brand’s image.
4000K is the traditional choice for work areas, with warmer 3000K to 3500K light in breakout spaces.
Jacob’s starting point for residential spaces is 3000K, going down to 2700K for a warmer feel.
It dulls finishes and shifts colours. Detail in stone and timber disappears, and a brown carpet can look green.
Jacob Holmes is a lighting consultant at Raylinc Lighting, working with engineers, architects and builders on commercial fit outs.
Contact the Raylinc team to choose colour temperature and CRI for your next fit out.