Choosing light bulbs used to mean picking a wattage. With LEDs, wattage tells you very little about brightness. Lumens do. This guide explains how many lumens each room needs, how to pick the right color temperature, and how to choose bulbs that look good and save energy.
Lumens vs. Watts
Lumens measure brightness. Watts measure how much energy a bulb uses. An LED gives the same light as an old incandescent bulb using a fraction of the watts, so shop by lumens.
| Old incandescent | Approx. lumens | Typical LED wattage |
|---|---|---|
| 40W | 450 | 4–6W |
| 60W | 800 | 8–10W |
| 75W | 1,100 | 11–13W |
| 100W | 1,600 | 15–18W |
How Many Lumens Does Each Room Need?
A simple way to estimate: multiply the room’s square footage by the foot-candles recommended for that space. For example, a 150 sq ft kitchen at 30–40 foot-candles needs roughly 4,500–6,000 lumens in total, spread across overhead and under-cabinet lights.
| Room | Foot-candles (general guide) | Lumens for a 150 sq ft room |
|---|---|---|
| Living room / family room | 10–20 | 1,500–3,000 |
| Bedroom | 10–20 | 1,500–3,000 |
| Dining room | 30–40 | 4,500–6,000 |
| Kitchen (general) | 30–40 | 4,500–6,000 |
| Bathroom vanity | 70–80 | Bright task light at the mirror |
| Home office | 30–50 | 4,500–7,500 |
Reading light
For reading, you want focused light on the page, not just a bright room. A task lamp of roughly 450–800 lumens, positioned to the side and slightly behind you, avoids glare and shadows. Older eyes generally need more light, so go brighter or add a second source if reading feels tiring.
Choosing Color Temperature
| Color temperature | Looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 2700K | Warm, soft white | Bedrooms, living rooms, dining |
| 3000K | Warm white | Kitchens, bathrooms, general use |
| 3500K–4000K | Neutral / cool white | Home offices, garages, laundry |
| 5000K+ | Daylight | Workshops, task areas, security lighting |
Try to keep the same color temperature within a room so fixtures don’t look mismatched.
Room-by-Room Tips
- Kitchen: combine overhead lighting with under-cabinet task lights so you’re not working in your own shadow.
- Dining room: a dimmable fixture over the table lets you go from bright to relaxed.
- Living room: layer ceiling lights with lamps and accent lights instead of relying on one bright fixture.
- Bathroom: light the face from the sides of the mirror, not just overhead, to avoid shadows.
- Bedroom: warm, dimmable light, plus reading lamps at the bed.
Other Things to Check on the Label
- CRI (color rendering index): 80+ is good; 90+ makes colors and skin tones look most natural.
- Dimmable: not all LEDs are. Make sure bulbs and dimmer switches are compatible to avoid flicker or buzzing.
- Enclosed fixture rated: needed for some closed ceiling fixtures so bulbs don’t overheat.
- Bulb shape and base: match the fixture (A19, BR30, candelabra, etc.).
When a Bulb Isn’t the Problem
If new bulbs still flicker, burn out quickly, or a lamp works intermittently, the problem may be the fixture, switch, dimmer, or wiring. See our guide to electrical warning signs, and don’t attempt wiring repairs on hardwired fixtures yourself.
Need Help With Lighting?
Brothers Lighting & Electrical installs and upgrades lighting across the Houston area, including LED upgrades. Contact us for help planning your lighting.