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Are you confused about what kind of lightbulbs you should get for your home? It can be overwhelming to learn the many different terms associated with modern lighting solutions. However, it does not have to be. You need to know what you need to know. In this case, you have to learn what’s the difference between 4000k vs 5000k lights.
Put briefly, 4000k lights are not as “cool” compared to 5000k lights. Both lights are at the point in the Kelvin scale (1000k to 10,000k) where lights start becoming more white than yellow.
Read on to learn more about the differences between 4000k vs 5000k lights so you can determine which one to use in your home.
Also, take a look at one of the best 4000k and 5000k lights on the market:
Before diving into further details about 4000k vs 5000k lighting, you need to learn how to measure color temperature first. This means you should know about the Kelvin scale.
Color Temperature
Color temperature is a method of describing the warmness or coolness of a light source. You can measure it in Kelvin units (1000k to 10,000k). Warmer color tones are on the lower end of the spectrum. The cooler, whiter tones, on the other hand, are at the higher end.
You may wonder why lighting experts use a measurement of heat (Kelvin) to measure color temperature. The reason is its correlation to the appearance of a black body radiator when its temperature rises. This is in degrees Kelvin or absolute temperature.
Imagine a piece of metal heated until it glows; 1000k is when the metal starts glowing orange. When it reaches 10,000k, the metal is already bluish-white hot. This is quite ironic because the color temperature starts from warm to cool.
4000k Vs 5000k Lights – What Are the Differences?
Unless you use a photometer, the naked eye can barely immediately see the differences between LED 4000k vs 5000k lights. They are too close to each other in the Kelvin scale for the human eye to discern significantly. However, if you observe them long enough, you will start seeing what makes them different:
4000k Lights Are More White Than Yellow
Based on the Kelvin scale, 4000k lights are when the light starts becoming more white than yellow. This means that even though 4000k lights look perfectly white, they have a yellow tinge. This makes 4000k lights easier on the eyes, so it is common in office and retail spaces.
5000k Lights Have Almost No Visible Yellow Light
On the other hand, 5000k lights are at the point where there is almost no visible yellow light. This is the point where light becomes neutral or almost a perfect white light. This type of light is best for when you want to see the actual colors of objects. It is the reason why you can often see these lights in showrooms and art galleries.
What most people get wrong about a light’s color temperature is that it also corresponds to brightness. The temperature of a light source is how it appears. Meanwhile, brightness is the amount of illumination it can provide.
If you get a 4000k and a 5000k lightbulb, both having 100 lumens, they can light up the same area equally. So, saying that a 5000k bulb is brighter than a 4000k is not accurate. It might only seem that way because the latter has a warmer color.
If you need to light a bigger area, you will need a bulb that has enough lumens. You can find how many lumens a particular light bulb emits right on the label. It is also possible to find the color temperature and other pertinent information there.
When choosing what color of light to use for a room in your home, consider the theory of circadian lighting. This theory states that the kind and amount of light that people receive can affect how their brain works.
According to this theory, the brain is most active and alert during the middle of the day. During this time, the sunlight’s color starts shifting to the middle of the spectrum, or the pure white color. And this is almost the same color as the 4000k lights.
This is why you can see neutral lights often used in places where people need focus and alertness. These places include offices. However, spending an entire day bathed in completely white light can also prove to be overstimulating.
That said, lights in environments where people spend almost the entire day should tilt slightly towards the warmer side. It is the reason why many prefer the 4000k as the color temperature.
Here are some of the more common places where 4000k lights are beneficial:
1. Office Spaces
Using 4000k lights in offices will allow the employees to stay alert the entire workday. This makes them more productive. However, 4000k lights are also a bit on the warm side so the employees can feel relaxed. This may lead to work-related stress. Moreover, too much exposure to blue light can cause a person to become fatigued and irritable.
2. Retail Establishments
Retail stores need to create an environment that is somewhat cozy and inviting. This is so they can encourage more people to go inside the establishment. However, the light should also be more on the neutral side. That way, the customers can see the products better.
If the lights are too warm, customers might not see the products as clearly as they need to. If the light is a bit too warm, the images you see may seem blurry. On the other hand, if the light is too cold, the whole place would seem uninviting.
3. Garages
If you like working on projects in your garage or workshop, you need clean and crisp lighting. This will help you concentrate on your task. It will also help avoid accidents. This is especially important if you like working on woodworking projects. A clear light will allow you to see even the tiniest details.
If you have decided to get yourself a 4000k light or two, I recommend getting Sunco Lighting solutions:
These lighting solutions are among the best indoor 4000k bulbs that you can buy right now. These are dimmable, have a wide beam angle, and have a long service lifespan.
Again, 4000k vs 5000k lights – what’s the difference? Compared to 5000k lights, 4000k lights are less cool or less white. However, both are at the Kelvin scale (1000k to 10,000k) point, wherein both lights are more white than yellow.
Where Should You Use 5000k Bulbs?
Lights having 5000k color temperature are those that have almost the same clarity as actual sunlight. You can see these lights being commonly used in professional workspaces. These are the places where color correctness and image sharpness are of utmost importance.
You might think that there are only a few applications of this kind of light. However, you would be surprised at how many places use 5000k lighting. From sports stadiums to warehouses, all of them use 5000k light:
1. Warehouses
If a place needs the people inside to be at their most focused, it is a warehouse. Aside from requiring proper lighting, warehouses also need to have crisp white light to ensure proper visibility. If you are driving a forklift through narrow pathways, you need to see where you are going clearly.
In addition, OSHA regulations require the use of at least 5000k lights for warehouses. This is necessary for keeping the employees alert and ready to respond to any emergency.
2. Sports Stadiums
Sports stadiums need high-definition broadcasting. This is why they replaced all their lightings with highly efficient but very bright 5000k LED lighting. This way, HD cameras can pick up even the subtlest details and movements. This will also prevent viewers from missing even a nanosecond of action.
3. Healthcare Institutions
Other places that need bright white light are healthcare institutions like hospitals, clinics, and dental clinics. The settings here, including those in operating rooms and examination rooms, need to be a lot cleaner and sanitized. In addition, doctors will need a clear and crisp light source to see what they’re doing clearly.
4. Galleries and Showrooms
If you have been to a car showroom or art gallery, you will discover that they are using 5000k lighting. This kind of light accentuates every detail of an object so that the people viewing it can appreciate it better.
5. Television Studios and Theaters
Just like with sports stadiums, television studios also use different colored lights. However, they mostly use 5000k lights, so their high-definition cameras can capture as much detail and movement as they can.
Stage theaters also use 5000k lights so that the audience can see the actors on stage much more clearly. This means that even those who are sitting in the back rows can see everything.
If you think you need 5000k lights, check out the Energetic Daylight 5000k LED Bulbs from Amazon:
You can use them either for your home or your workplace. These are extremely bright, the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent. However, they are also 85% more energy-efficient because they only use 8.5 watts.
What Lights Do You Need at Home?
Are you wondering which rooms in your home will benefit the most from 5000k vs 4000k lights? Here are some suggestions:
4000k Lights
Because 4000k lights are a bit warm, they are ideal for the rooms where you want to relax. It is not too much, though, that you might fall asleep. One of the places that can benefit the most from 4000k lights is the living room.
This way, if you will be having guests over, you can entertain them properly without making them drowsy. This is also the ideal color lighting for hallways, stairwells, and porch lighting.
5000k Lights
The room that will benefit the most from 5000k lights is the kitchen. This color temperature will allow you to see what you are cooking. You can also figure out if your ingredients are still good to use. In addition, the pure white light will keep you alert and observant. This means you are less likely to slice your hand open.
This light is also ideal if you have a workshop or like tinkering in your garage. With a bright and clear light, you will not be missing quite as many small pieces as you did before. 5000k lights are also ideal for security lights, especially if you have security cameras installed.
The main difference between 4000k and 5000k lights is their color temperatures. 4000k lights are a bit warmer compared to 5000k. However, this difference is not that evident to the untrained eye. You will only notice it after a while. The 4000k and 5000k lights are at the point of the Kelvin scale where lights start getting more white than yellow.
Although 4000k and 5000k lights seem similar, you can use them in different settings. Even the rooms in your home will benefit from using one light color over the other. Now that you know how color temperature works figure out what color lights your home needs. Get them as soon as you can, so you can start enjoying their benefits.
