Do you know the difference between soft white vs warm white light? To be honest, a lot of people don’t know or care about Kelvin ratings or color temperatures. That, however, can be costly, and problematic for many households.
Choosing the wrong bulb may result in a color temperature that causes havoc in the home. You want to find a bulb that balances the home perfectly. It’s about getting good visibility but the right ambiance. Of course, it can be difficult to determine if soft white or warm white lights are best. In many ways, both can be useful in the home but they have different roles.
Here, you will learn the differences between soft white and warm white lights. You’ll also learn how to choose the right bulb for your home.
Part 1: What Are Soft White Light and Warm White Bulbs?
Soft white light bulbs are the type of bulb that emits a warm, yellowish glow that closely resembles traditional incandescent lighting. They typically fall within the range of 2700K to 3000K, and they’re ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere, making it suitable for bedrooms, living rooms, and other relaxing spaces.
However, warm white bulbs produce a slightly brighter light than soft white (between 3000-3500K color temperature) with a hint of blue mixed in. These types of bulbs are more inviting, which makes them suitable for areas where you want a bit more clarity without sacrificing warmth, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Understanding The Difference Between Kelvins vs. Watt in Bulbs
Kelvins determine the color temperature of a light bulb. It does not have any link to the actual temperature (heat) of the bulb, but rather the type of color it produces. When a bulb has a kelvin rating between 2000k to 2600k, it produces warm white light, and when it has a kelvin rating between 2700k to 3000k, it produces soft white light. The higher a light bulb’s rating on a kelvin rating scale, the brighter the light it produces.
Watt, on the other hand, is used to measure how much energy a light bulb uses. The higher the wattage, the more energy it will ultimately use. But keep in mind that the watt energy consumed by a bulb varies depending on the type of lightbulb. For example, LED light bulbs are energy efficient. So, they tend to use less energy.
Part 3: Soft White vs. Warm White Bulb: Where Can You Use Them?
Choosing the right lighting can turn a dull room into a vibrant and cozy space. However, regular users would find it difficult if a warm white light or soft white light would work better for one room can be tricky. After all, a lot of people confuse soft white and warm white lights for being the same thing.
So, if you’re wondering where you can use a soft white bulb and a warm white bulb, here is the breakdown;
Warm White Bulb |
Soft White Bulb |
Kitchen |
Living room |
Bathrooms |
Dining room |
Hallways |
Bedroom |
Part 4: Importance of Choosing the Right Color Temperature for Your Space
Some people believe that color temperature doesn’t seem to be that important, but that’s far from the truth. Color temperature can improve the functionality of a room and enhance the look.
Here is more detail as to why choosing the right color temperature is so important today.
Effects on Productivity
Let’s be honest, a poorly lit room will slow down productivity. When a space is too bright, workers can’t concentrate. It’s the same when a room is too dim.
That’s why it’s so important to choose the right color temperature for every room and space. It does make a difference in commercial and residential properties.
It Sets your Mood
When the color temperature is wrong, it can impact you in many ways. For instance, a room that’s too brightly lit can make you feel awful. The warm light, however, can set the right tone and make you happier.
Good Comfort and Visibility
Color temperature is crucial when you want good visibility and to feel at ease. For instance, soft white bulbs can be an ideal choice for bedrooms as it’s warm white with a yellow tint. It is comforting and cozy and ensures good visibility.
Improves your Space Aesthetics
Whether you want to choose a soft white or warm white bulb, it’s crucial to pick the best for each space. The right color temperature will help to enhance your room’s look.
Bonus: Top 2 Best LED Lights on The Market Now!
The right lighting can make all the difference when it comes to illuminating your home or workspace. So, if you’re looking for the best LED lights in the market right now, we recommend checking out eufy smart LED lights. Below are two popular eufy smart LED lights that are worth trying.
1. eufy Outdoor String Lights
If you’re looking for an outdoor string light that you can use to make your home stand out, the eufy Outdoor String Light is the LED light you need.
Just like eufy Floor Lamp, this outdoor light also supports AI-generated lighting, app and voice control. To make it more suitable for outdoor decoration, this light can sync with music and be hung in 3 different ways in the patio, deck, porch and yard.
What may surprise you, this light can work with security cameras to display different lights welcoming friends or scaring off intruders.
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Key Features:
- It has a lifespan of over 50,000 hours.
- It boasts an IP65 rating for water and dust protection, with an IP67-rated adapter, enabling it to deliver top-notch performance in any temperature ranging from -4°F to 140°F.
- Its triple-led design illuminates outdoor space efficiently.
- It can integrate with eufy camera to emit welcoming, warning, and personalized messages.
2. eufy Indoor Floor Lamp
The eufy Indoor Floor Lamp combines cool white, warm, and RGB LEDs to offer up to 1700 lumens of brightness that can enhance the ambience of any room, including living rooms, bed rooms, and gaming dens.
What sets this LED light apart is its integration with advanced AI technology. This allows you to personalize your lighting experience, enabling you to generate and customize different lighting displayed to suit any occasion
Also, the eufy Indoor Floor Lamp works perfectly with the eufy Life App, providing you access to more than 80 lighting themes that can be used to create custom patterns and colors. And it supports seamless voice control via with Alexa and Google Assistant.
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Key Features:
- It is designed with 12 independent control chips that make color transitions smooth and unique.
- Boasts a unique hexagonal design that is paired with skin friendly silicone light strips.
- It is builtwith RGBWW technology.
- Its AI technology enables it to easily adapt to your lifestyle and give you the best lighting experience.
Conclusion
Soft white lights can be more suited for dining rooms and kitchens whereas warm white lights are good for bedrooms. While the differences between soft and warm white lights don’t seem all that important, they do make a huge impact on the home. Choosing a light bulb for the home can depend on a variety of things, such as the type of ambiance or mood you want to create, the function of the room, and what works best for the space.
It’s easy to say one type of bulb is best, but it depends on the home and space. Sometimes, the use of both soft and warm white lights can be best.
FAQs
Should You Use Soft White or Warm White Bulb in The Kitchen?
Warm white bulbs can be the ideal choice for kitchens and bathrooms as they’re more suited for everyday use.
Is Warm White or Soft White Better for Your Eye?
Typically, warm white tends to be slightly better for the eyes. Of course, it all depends on the type of environment you want to create and what you feel is best for you.
Does Soft White Look Yellow?
Soft white bulbs typically have a light spectrum in 2700K which often casts a yellow but warm glow. 2700K vs 3000K light don’t have much difference, so choosing between the two depends on the room you want to illuminate.
Is 4000k White or Yellow?
4000K is a natural white color temperature, although it can have a slight yellow overtone. 4000K is typically a favored choice for offices and heavy-traffic areas of the home.