Ideas & Advice

Color Temperature & CRI: What Really Matters

1) CCT (Kelvin) in plain terms Colour temperature describes how warm or cool white light appears. Lower K looks amber; higher K looks cooler. Keep adjacent open-plan zones within one step (e.g., 2700K next to 3000K) for a cohesive look. 2) CRI & R9—why you’ll notice the difference CRI (0–100) tracks colour fidelity; R9 targets deep reds that affect complexions, natural timber and food. CRI 90+ with decent R9 is an excellent residential baseline; step up to CRI 95+ for art, makeup or photography corners. 3) Room-by-room picks Sitting/Family Room: 2700–3000K, CRI 90+. Warm-dim excels for evening scenes. Dining Room: 2700K for flattering, restaurant-like tone; use dimmers. Bedroom: 2700K to wind down; add a 3000–3500K task lamp at dressing areas if needed. Kitchen: Ambient 3000K; task over island/under-cabinet 3000–3500K (some cooks prefer 4000K). Keep CRI 90+ and good R9 for natural food colour. Home Office/Study: 3500–4000K to stay alert; choose flicker-free drivers. Bathrooms: 3000–3500K, CRI 90+ with good R9 for natural skin tones at the mirror. Respect zones & IP ratings.  Hallways/Landings: 2700–3000K for a welcoming, unified feel. Utility/Closets: 3000–4000K for accurate garment colours and stain spotting. Garage/Workshop: 4000K for tool clarity. Outdoors: 2700–3000K reads warm and upmarket on façades and gardens. 4) Dimming & controls Use LED-compatible trailing-edge dimmers where possible; always match the dimmer to the driver and check the manufacturer’s compatibility list. Bathrooms/outdoors must meet the relevant zone/IP requirements, and any notifiable electrical work should be carried out or certified by a registered electrician under Part P / BS 7671.  5) Buying checklist for the UK CCT clearly labelled (2700K / 3000K / 3500K / 4000K) CRI 90+ (look for R9 if published) Dimmable & dimmer type confirmed (trailing-edge/leading-edge) Lumens appropriate for the space (don’t judge by watts) Beam angle if you need task/accent lighting IP rating and zone suitability for bathrooms/outdoors Marking: appropriate UKCA/CE marking per current GOV.UK guidance Cap type correct for your fitting (E27/E14, B22/B15, GU10, G9) Supply: rated for 230 V, 50 Hz (GB mains).