Every room in a house has a particular purpose and atmosphere around it. From a calm and relaxing atmosphere that encourages you to sleep to one that discourages you from getting rest, the room’s purpose determines the atmosphere. The primary purpose of a bedroom is to be a place of rest, and it’s vital to pay attention to the lighting. The color of the light bulb you choose may encourage or discourage you from falling asleep easily.
Types of Light Bulbs
These days, light bulbs are not as energy-drinking as older ones and are mostly of two types: halogen incandescent bulbs and energy-efficient LED.
Halogen Incandescent Light Bulbs
These bulbs are similar to traditional incandescent bulbs, but they differ from the traditional incandescent bulbs by incorporating gas in the bulb. This slightly increases the energy efficiency of halogen incandescent bulbs. Although they are not as energy-efficient as LEDs, they can be a good option if you’re on a strict budget and want to save some money.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
These are the most energy-efficient and durable light bulbs, and they function differently from other bulbs. They have a pretty long lifespan and do not emit much heat. LEDs are great bulbs for any setting, and smart LED bulbs even let you control the bulb from across the room using your connected mobile device or voice-activated home assistant. Some lamps have a three-way switch that allows you to adjust the lighting. You can use a compatible LED bulb with such lamps to adjust the lighting to different brightness levels.
Color Temperature
We can’t talk about the colors of light bulbs without mentioning color temperature. The color temperature is a measure used to describe a light source’s whiteness or visual appearance. Artificial lighting comes in different shades of white, and they are the light’s color temperature.
The color temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin and ranges from 2000 to 6500 Kelvin. The higher the color temperature, the cooler the light, and the lower the color temperature, the warmer the light. Light with different color temperatures include:
- Warm/soft white light. These provide a warm and cozy feel to the room and help you relax. They are best for bedrooms and living rooms and have a temperature of 2700K to 3000K.
- Bright white/cool white. They are great options for workspaces and allow you to work comfortably. These bulbs give the room a more energetic feel and are best for bathrooms, kitchens, and garages. The color temperature is between 3000K to 5000K.
- Daylight. They have a more bluish tone, and they maximize contrast for colors, making them ideal for reading, working on intricate projects, and applying makeup. The color temperature is between 5000K to 6500K.
With an understanding of the different color temperatures, you can choose the right bulbs for a room, depending on what you’ll be doing in that space. You’ll want soft white bulbs in your living room and bedroom and may choose daylight bulbs for your study room.
Choosing a Light Bulb Color for Your Bedroom
The natural sleep and wake cycle of the body is the circadian rhythm. It lets you know when to become active and when to relax and go to sleep. The wavelengths of blue light play a vital role in the circadian rhythm.
You get a lot of natural blue light waves from the sun, and your body uses that to release specific hormones and decrease others. These hormones ensure your body is awake, active, and productive. When the sun sets, there is an increase in your body’s melatonin levels.
However, bulbs emitting blue light can negatively influence your sleep cycle. Using such bulbs in your bedroom may cause imbalances in mental health and insomnia. The best light bulbs for your bedroom are bulbs that block blue light, creating an ideal environment for a great night’s rest.
The color spectrum wavelength moves from red to violet. The wavelengths on the right side are more intense, and they include blue light waves. Computers, smartphones, and most LED bulbs emit blue light.
On the left side of the spectrum are less intense wavelengths, so amber and red bulbs are excellent at creating a relaxed environment for you to sleep. These colors are similar to the setting sun’s color, which helps to trigger a biological response of a calm, relaxed state.
Be careful not to buy fake or cheap colored bulbs. Although they may appear to look red or orange, they have considerable blue light levels emitting from them. The cheap colored light bulbs use a colored shell to make regular LED bulbs look like a different color.
Risks of being Exposed to Artificial Blue Light
Some of the risks associated with exposure to artificial blue light include:
- Restlessness
- Circadian rhythm interruption
- Difficulty sleeping
- Damage to the photoreceptors
- Skin damage
Tips to Create the Best Lighting for Your Bedroom
You can create the best lighting in your bedroom, making your room comfortable and stylish. Here are some tips you can use:
- Create focal points. Select your light’s focal points, like an overhead lighting source with an amber light bulb. Don’t have too many lights that can be used simultaneously, as the other LED light in your room can clash with your overhead lighting. A situation like this can be racing to your eyes. You may choose a suitable lampshade that directs the light and creates a focal point for the overhead light.
- Ensure your color scheme and color temperature match. Red bulbs offer higher protection but lesser visibility. So, for a bedroom dominated by a dark color, an amber bulb that is a blue light blocker would be a great choice. Bedrooms dominated by neutral or brighter colors may use an amber or red bulb.
- Ensure your light bulbs aren’t blue light-emitting ones. You should avoid having blue-light emitting bulbs and bright white light in your bedroom. Such bulbs may result in insomnia, disturbed sleep, or health complications. Your lighting should create a snug and cozy atmosphere conducive to sleeping.
Conclusion
Choosing the right bulb for your bedroom is vital because the wrong one may negatively affect your sleep and overall wellbeing. LED bulbs are energy-efficient and last longer, so they are an excellent choice for your home. However, it’s important you choose a blue light blocking bulb for your bedroom.
Evaluate the color scheme of your bedroom while choosing a blue light-blocking bulb. If you don’t have a red or amber bulb, you may use a pink one or another color that navigates towards red. But ensure the light bulb you’re using is one that will block blue light. We hope every night is a snug and cozy one for you.
