Warm or cool light: which colour temperature for your desk?

Lamp descriptions often mention “3,000 K” or “6,000 K”. This number, the colour temperature, describes the shade of the light. It makes a big difference to the feel of a desk.

Understanding kelvins

• 2,700 to 3,000 K – warm white: a yellow-orange light, close to a classic bulb. Soft and cosy.
• 3,500 to 4,500 K – neutral white: neither yellow nor blue, a balanced light for the daytime.
• 5,000 to 6,500 K – cool white: a crisp white light, close to daylight on a clear day.

Which light for which moment?

During the day, to focus

Neutral to cool light gives a feeling of clarity, handy for reading, writing or precise tasks.

At the end of the day

Many people prefer warmer, softer light in the evening, more pleasant and relaxing for the room.

For atmosphere

A small warm-white lamp in a corner softens the overall lighting and avoids a harsh contrast between the screen and a dark room.

The advantage of adjustable lamps

A lamp with adjustable colour adapts to the whole day. The Halo light bar goes from 2,900 to 6,000 K, the Relais lamp offers 5 shades from 3,000 to 6,000 K. With the E27-socket Compas lamp, the bulb you choose sets the shade.

What about the colour rendering index (CRI)?

CRI, rated from 0 to 100, shows whether colours look natural under the lamp. The higher it is, the more faithful the colours of your documents, photos or drawings. Above 90, rendering is very good.

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