Since two people have already asked, I believe the ELI5 explanation of color temperature is that it's about the color a lighbulb filament would be if it were heated to that temperature. The temperature is in Kelvin, so subtract 273 to get degrees C, or multiply by 9/5 and subtract 459 to get deg F.
This makes sense if you consider that as you heat something up, it goes from dull red, to bright red, orange, yellow, white, and if you keep going it eventually gets kind of blue-ish although most material things disintegrate before that point. The reason color temperatures of around 5500 K to 6500 K look white is that that's about how hot the sun is, and that's what we're evolved to see as neutral.
My friend likes 8000K+ bulbs all around his dwelling. That shit just gives me headaches and I honestly have no idea how anyone could feel relaxed in a living room lightened with this light temperature range.
I like the 2000K - 3000K area for indoor lighting.
Sorry this is long, but I'm a lighting designer so this is my life:
I went to visit my fiance's grandma for the first time and realized that her home was a mish-mosh of different color temperatures ranging from 6000K to 2200K from different sources (LED, incandescent, halogen, etc.) As a holiday gift to her, we bought probably 50 LED 3000K bulbs and a few warmer ones (for places where she relaxes like her TV room) and went through the house and replaced every single one.
For several months after whenever we'd visit she would give me a big hug and tell me how much better the house feels, that she can see again, that she feels more relaxed, and the her guests would comment thinking she had re-done something or cleaned thoroughly when really it was just the updated lighting. She has also seen a dip in her energy spending because of the switch to LED. It's one of the simplest and most favorite gifts I have ever given someone.
A lot of people don't realize how lighting affects their every day life and mood. The contrast between 2700K and 5000K is huge. Companies are marketing 5000K as "clean and bright" when in reality I find it way too blue. It has a tendency to make people tense without even realizing that is the cause, *especially* if there are more amber lights nearby, the contrast is jarring.
TL;DR: If you're able, visit your elderly relatives and fix their lighting for them, it will improve their quality of life.
Also, if you're tech savvy, invest in some tunable white LEDs and put them on a Circadian Rhythm so they follow the rhythm of the sun: they start amber, peak in the 4000K range midday, and then go back to amber at night. A lot of smart home things (Google Home, Alexa) have this function and typically the bulbs themselves come with a free app that will do this. I have it in my home and it really helps with both productivity and relaxation for a $50 to $100 investment.
bitter_cynical_angry on February 4th, 2020 at 18:54 UTC »
Since two people have already asked, I believe the ELI5 explanation of color temperature is that it's about the color a lighbulb filament would be if it were heated to that temperature. The temperature is in Kelvin, so subtract 273 to get degrees C, or multiply by 9/5 and subtract 459 to get deg F.
This makes sense if you consider that as you heat something up, it goes from dull red, to bright red, orange, yellow, white, and if you keep going it eventually gets kind of blue-ish although most material things disintegrate before that point. The reason color temperatures of around 5500 K to 6500 K look white is that that's about how hot the sun is, and that's what we're evolved to see as neutral.
Anyone feel free to correct or add as needed.
phyLoGG on February 4th, 2020 at 19:20 UTC »
My friend likes 8000K+ bulbs all around his dwelling. That shit just gives me headaches and I honestly have no idea how anyone could feel relaxed in a living room lightened with this light temperature range.
I like the 2000K - 3000K area for indoor lighting.
ronbilius on February 4th, 2020 at 21:03 UTC »
Sorry this is long, but I'm a lighting designer so this is my life:
I went to visit my fiance's grandma for the first time and realized that her home was a mish-mosh of different color temperatures ranging from 6000K to 2200K from different sources (LED, incandescent, halogen, etc.) As a holiday gift to her, we bought probably 50 LED 3000K bulbs and a few warmer ones (for places where she relaxes like her TV room) and went through the house and replaced every single one.
For several months after whenever we'd visit she would give me a big hug and tell me how much better the house feels, that she can see again, that she feels more relaxed, and the her guests would comment thinking she had re-done something or cleaned thoroughly when really it was just the updated lighting. She has also seen a dip in her energy spending because of the switch to LED. It's one of the simplest and most favorite gifts I have ever given someone.
A lot of people don't realize how lighting affects their every day life and mood. The contrast between 2700K and 5000K is huge. Companies are marketing 5000K as "clean and bright" when in reality I find it way too blue. It has a tendency to make people tense without even realizing that is the cause, *especially* if there are more amber lights nearby, the contrast is jarring.
TL;DR: If you're able, visit your elderly relatives and fix their lighting for them, it will improve their quality of life.
Also, if you're tech savvy, invest in some tunable white LEDs and put them on a Circadian Rhythm so they follow the rhythm of the sun: they start amber, peak in the 4000K range midday, and then go back to amber at night. A lot of smart home things (Google Home, Alexa) have this function and typically the bulbs themselves come with a free app that will do this. I have it in my home and it really helps with both productivity and relaxation for a $50 to $100 investment.