Software
Houzz Logo Print
smnlwr

Can I mix light bulb “color”?

11 months ago

Kitchen cabinets are white. Recessed lights are bright white. Do I need to keep island pendant lights and kitchen table fixture bulbs all “daylight” color or can I mix a warmer tone in these fixtures?

Comments (11)

  • PRO
    11 months ago

    Well I would never use ‘daylight’ bulbs in a residential space, but mixing color temperature is even worse so I guess everything needs to be daylight. I pray you have dimmers.

  • 11 months ago
    last modified: 11 months ago

    Usually you want all fixtures in a space to be the same color. Same as a lamp flanking each side of a couch, you don't want a 2700K next to a 4000K.

    Sounds like you want a "softer" color, and maybe your recessed are fixed color integral LEDs that are too "white" with white cabinets making the space feel too "cool/bluish." Check to see if those recessed are selectable CCT.

  • 11 months ago

    Define "bright white"?

    The color of lighting is rated in Kelvins. What Kelvins do you have?

    I like 3500K which is a good mid-point between warm/yellow and cool/blue.

  • 11 months ago
    last modified: 11 months ago

    it just 'feels' better when they are the same from room to room.

    But if you have a room that needs bright light, like a laundry room. do what you have to do.

    Are you certain you can't adjust the daylight recessed?

  • 11 months ago

    Ceck your lights to see if the led can be replaced.

  • 11 months ago

    I mix them and like it! Generally I do prefer a warmer kelvin in my nighttime-use lamps and pendants. I'm pretty picky about lights and lighting, and having a bit of difference between brighter/cooler overheads vs lamp-level lights is not an issue to me.

  • 11 months ago

    If you put a cooler light bulb in a table lamp which has a warm colored shade, the light will appear warmer than the same light bulb in an overhead clear fixture, so you might have to try a few different light bulbs to get a complementary look for all the different lights.

  • PRO
    11 months ago
    last modified: 11 months ago

    It looks terrible when you mix the color light in a room.

    I especially hate it when the same color bulbs are not used in lamps in the same room.



  • PRO
    11 months ago

    I like all one color and for me LED 4000K is it but as warm as I would ever go is 3500K and IMO best when all the same

  • 11 months ago

    I do not mind some layed lighting temperature changes.


    All the lighting on the same level should be the same, but the ceiling lights and under counter lights can be whiter task oriented lighting while the lighting over the island and dining room table could be warmer using 3000 and 4000 or 4000 and 5000k lights. I wouldn't mix the 3000 and 5000 in the same space.


    You can always try different temperatures in the pendants and return the bulbs you decide you don't want.