: >
: >: HD sells multi packs in a variety of color variations. You need to concern
: >: yourself with the "equivalent" light output when choosing, and get ones
: >: that
: >: are as close to what you are used to with incandescent lamps. you may want
: >: to get a sample of each color variation to see which one is most pleasant
: >: to
: >: you
: >
: >Thanks. I know about matching the light output. But I was under the
: >impression that different "packaging colors" or "temperatures" are more
: >suitable for different application.
: >
: >Here are my needs:
: >
: >Front lobby (white walls)
:
: If there are any incandescents, use 2700K. If the only/main light
: source is CFLs, 3500K has a good chance of looking better as long as you
: have enough light to amke things look "nice and bright".
:
: >Stairs (light walls, not much sunlight)
: >Hallway (light walls, no sunlight)
:
: If you want the light to look nice and warm, use 2700K.
:
: If you only want to maximize energy efficiency, use 5500K and use a
: wattage one step less than you otherwise would. But be prepared for the
: illumination to appear "stark" or "dreary" although adequate for seeing
: everything.
:
: >Ceiling lights in living room, dining room, bedrooms, office (windows,
: >white walls, carpeted, medium-good sunlight)
:
: If there will also be significant incandescent lighting present, use
: 2700K.
:
: Otherwise, use 3500K provided you are producing enough light to make
: things appear nice and bright.
:
: >Various desk and floor lamps
:
: Desk lamps that achieve lighting in the work area to a very bright
: extent at least that typical in offices, classrooms and brighter retail
: display areas are likely to do well with 5500K - although that color can
: clash with other lighting in the area.
:
: 3500K has little chance of going wrong with desk lamps.
:
: Floor lamps should use either 3500K or 2700K. If the lighting level is
: higher and there is not much incandescent or 2700K light in the area to
: clash with, 3500K has a good chance of looking better. Otherwise use
: 2700K.
:
: >Bathrooms (white walls, no other light)
:
: If the lighting level is nice and bright, my favorite is definitely
: 3500K. If the lighting level is more like that of a living room with one
: or two floor lamps or a couple table lamps, use 2700K.
:
: >Basement, storage, laundry (white walls, grey floor, messy)
:
: 5500K if you don't mind a stark to drearyish appearance. Otherwise go
: lower - 3500K if the lighting level is "nice and bright", 2700K if the
: lighting level is only moderate or low.
:
: >Outside porch (dark paint)
:
: Hard to make look nice and well-illuminated with any color. My
: experiecne suggests 5500K as better for more stimulation of night vision
: to see more. But if you want "warm glow" instead, get a "bug light" -
: there are now CFL "bug lights" - just don't expect a lot of illumination
: effectiveness over a wide area at night.
:
: >Garage (rough brick walls, very messy!)
:
: If the lighting level will be on the low side, I expect 5500K to be
: "least-worst" despite being stark and likely "dreary".
: If you want any cheer, use enough wattage to get a half-decent amount of
: light and either 3500 or 2700 K. I would go with 3500K or probably
: slightly better still a mixture of 5500's and 2700's if the garage is
: unlikely to look good in any light but you want something "warmer" than
: 5500K.
Thanks for a great tutorial, just what I was looking for!