Color temperature is measured in Kelvin; as Kelvin temperature increases, it transitions from a warmer light to a white or blueish light. A Kelvin temperature of 6500K or higher will produce a blue light similar to that of an overcast sky. Color temperatures of 3500K or lower tend to be warmer, similar to that of candle light. If you are looking for a more natural-white light, choosing a Kelvin temperature between 4100K and 5500K will be closer to the natural daylight you are looking for.

Certain color temperatures are often associated with different settings or moods. High Kelvin temperatures, like those of cool fluorescent lighting (4000K-5000K), are associated with offices or hospitals and can be seen as cold, clean, or harsh. Lower Kelvin temperatures, like that of a warm incandescent lamp (2700K), are thought to be more intimate and personal.

This is just one of the many questions that we consider when specifying products for contractors and end users.