LED Selection Guide

The Kelvin Scale: Warm vs Cool White

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). Lower numbers mean warmer, cosier light; higher numbers mean cooler, brighter light.

• Warm White (2700K–3000K): Best for living rooms, bedrooms, and cosy spaces. Mimics old incandescent bulbs – soft, amber tones.
• Cool White (4000K–5000K): Best for kitchens, bathrooms, and task areas. Crisp and neutral — brighter than warm white and good for food prep and grooming.
• Daylight / Cool Daylight (~6000K): A very cool, bluish-white light sometimes labelled “daylight” on packaging. Can feel stark in living spaces; it suits workshops, garages, laundry rooms, display or task areas where maximum clarity matters. In lounges and bedrooms it often feels too clinical — many people prefer 2700K–4000K at home.

Tip: Keep the same colour temperature throughout a room for consistent ambience (mixing 2700K lamps with 6000K in one fitting rarely looks right).

Wattage vs Lumens: The Conversion Table

Old bulbs were rated in watts; LEDs are much more efficient. Use lumens (lm) to judge brightness. Here's a simple guide:

Example: A 6W LED typically replaces an old 60W bulb (around 800 lm).

Dimmer Warning

If you have dimmer switches, always check for the “Dimmable” label on the bulb. Non-dimmable LEDs on dimmers can flicker, buzz, or fail prematurely. For dimmer circuits, use bulbs marked dimmable and pair them with a dimmer that is designed for LEDs.

Leading edge vs trailing edge: Traditional dimmers were often leading edge (the classic triac type designed around tungsten and halogen loads). Many modern dimmable LEDs work better with trailing edge dimmers, which tend to give smoother low-level dimming and fewer buzz or flicker issues. Some dimmers can be set to either mode or are auto-configuring. If an LED flickers at low brightness or buzzes, the wrong dimmer type or an under-loaded circuit is a common cause — a qualified electrician can confirm load limits and swap the module or dimmer to match your lamps.