If you have recently had to purchase light bulbs for your home you know how overwhelming it can be to know what type of light bulb is the best option for you. There is an entire row at the hardware store dedicated to light bulbs. How on earth are you supposed to know what you want? Peterkin Electric wants to help you know what light bulbs are the best options for the different rooms in your house. We are going to break down your options so that you can go to the store with confidence next time you need to replace your light bulbs.

Light Bulb Types Chart

First let’s talk about the different kinds of bulbs available. There are five types of bulbs that you can choose from: incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL), and light-emitting diode (LED). Let’s talk briefly about each of these options.
• Incandescent: Incandescent lights bulbs are the ones that have been around for the longest. For many years they were the most commonly used light bulbs. They are the least expensive choice for light bulbs. They have a warm, inviting quality and are very complimentary to all different skin tones. They typically last between 700 – 1,000 hours. They are not as energy efficient as the other options.
• Halogen: Halogen bulbs are a variation of incandescent lights. They give the closest light to natural daylight. Colors will appear sharper under halogen lights. They are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs but are still more expensive than some other options.
• Fluorescent: The light that comes from halogen bulbs is flat, cold light, often bluish and harsh. These are sold with warm, cool, and special color tones. They produce more light than incandescent lights. Fluorescent bulbs light up large areas very well.
• Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL): CFL bulbs consume a quarter of the energy of incandescent bulbs and they last 10 times longer. They can be used anywhere that you would normally use an incandescent bulb.
• Light-emitting diode (LED): LED lighting technology is long-lasting and extremely energy-efficient. They fit standard light sockets. They have lower wattage than incandescent bulbs but emit the same output. They are able to produce the same amount of light with less energy. They are supposed to last 20 years or more.

Lumens Per Watt

Once you know what kind of bulb you want to use you will need to know about a few more things before you can make your decision. First let’s talk about lumens. Lumens are the amount of light emitted from a light bulb. The more lumens in a light bulb the brighter the light will be. How many lumens you will want really depends on what your personal preference and where you are putting the bulb. The other term you will need to know is watts. Watts is the amount of energy a light uses. The fewer watts that the light bulb uses the lower your electricity bill will be. CFLs and LEDs are great because they have a lower wattage than incandescent bulbs while still emitting the same amount of light.

Kinds of Lights Used in Interiors

You will also need to know what kind of light you like in your house. Light is measured on the Kelvin temperature scale. The lower the Kelvin number is the more yellow your light will be; the higher the Kelvin number the whiter or bluer the light will be. Soft white has a Kelvin rating between 2700-3000. They give off a yellowish light. They are great for bedrooms, living rooms, and dens. Warm white light has a Kelvin rating between 3000-4000. Warm white light gives off yellowish to whitish light. They are awesome in kitchens, workspaces, and bathrooms. Bright white light has a Kelvin rating between 4000-5000. It gives off light in the white and blue range. Bright white is best for kitchens and bathrooms. The last type of light color is daylight. Daylight has a Kelvin rating between 5000-6500. Daylight is perfect for reading.

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Now that you are familiar with the different kinds of light bulb options are hopefully reading those light bulb packages will be easier. If you still are not sure what light bulbs to purchase feel free to give Peterkin Electric a call and we can answer any questions you may have. Contact us today!