Light Bulbs 101 - The Basics.
If you have ever gazed upon the light bulb aisle at Home Depot and felt a bead of sweat start to form on your forehead, this blog post is for you. I have had clients ask me, “how do I know which light bulb to get?” or “what colour (warmth) bulb is right for my home?” I’m sure you probably have similar questions and hopefully after reading through this blog post, you will be a little better prepared to take that daunting trip down the aisle, the light bulb aisle, that is.
There are 4 sections below:
Light Bulb Types
Light Bulb Base Sizes
Light Colour (warmth)
Wattage Vs. Lumens
Light Bulb Types
First of all, I really hope that I don’t scare you off by using terms such as incandescent and LED. Don’t worry, I am going to break it all down for you.
There are 5 main categories of bulbs that are commonly found on the market today, which I will explain below. These categories are:
LED (light emitting diode)
Incandescent
Halogen
CFL (compact fluorescent light)
Edison Bulbs
Within those 5 categories there are several different bulb sizes/types as well. The size of the light bulb base, the part the screws into the light fixture, varies in size depending on what application it is being used for. Keep reading below for more info on sizes.
LED Bulbs
These are by far the most popular bulb today and for good reason; they have a very long life-span, are low energy and come in a wide variety of shapes and colours for numerous applications. LED bulbs are a fairly new technology and are quickly replacing most other previously commonly used household bulbs. Unlike incandescent bulbs that can get quite hot, LEDs emit very little heat. Some LED bulbs are not dimmer compatible, so you have to read the description carefully. LED bulbs are typically the most expensive option, but pay off in the long run. They are also the most environmentally friendly option and are the only bulbs I recommend to my clients.
LED bulb shown.
Incandescent Bulbs
These are the OG light bulbs - I’m talking Thomas Edison, first light bulb ever, type of bulb. These bulbs are surprisingly still widely used, possibly due to the fact that they are an inexpensive option. Although they work great and produce that nice ‘evening glow’ type of light, they have a short lifespan and can produce a lot of heat.
Incandescent bulb shown.
Halogen Bulbs
Although these bulbs are still sold in some stores, they are being phased out and I do not recommend purchasing them. They have a dated technology that uses halogen gas to produce light and are being replaced worldwide by LED bulbs due to their negative environmental impact. Also, they have a fairly short life span and can get very hot to the touch.
Halogen bulb shown.
CFL Bulbs
Next on the list are CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs, and to be honest, I am not even sure you can still purchase these bulbs in store. These bulbs were popular in the mid 2000’s, but are now widely being replaced with LED bulbs. I do not recommend these bulbs for many reasons, but am including them on this list so that you know what they are in case you come across them.
CFL bulb shown.
Edison Bulbs
Last but not least, we have Edison bulbs. These technically are not a “type” of bulb, but are super popular so I have included them in this list. These bulbs are more of a style than a type, and can come in LED or incandescent. These bulbs are used a lot in industrial type settings where the bulb is exposed in the light fixture. These bulbs are almost always see-through so that you can see the filaments inside, but can come with clear or amber coloured glass. As you probably already know this, I recommend the LED version of these bulbs, BUT (and this is a huge but) the incandescent version of these bulbs are typically nicer in appearance. As a warning, if you decide to go with the incandescent Edison bulbs, they can produce a lot of heat, which is especially noticeable when installed in large quantities or in a fixture that hangs low overhead.
Incandescent Edison bulb.
LED Edison bulb.
2. Light Bulb Base Sizes
Standard/medium (E26/E27) - this is the most commonly used type of bulb that is typically used in most household light fixtures and lamps.
E26/E27 base shown.
Candelabra (E12) - this is a smaller bulb with a small base. It is commonly used in ceiling light fixtures such as chandeliers and are commonly pointed or “candle” shaped.
Candelabra (E12) base shown.
There are many, many more shapes and sizes, but these two listed above are the most popular.
3. Light Colour (warmth)
This is kinda tricky to explain, so I am just going to drop a graphic below that will demonstrate the different bulb colours. The bulb colour, or warmth, is measured in Kelvin (K) and the lower the number, the warmer the light will be. Typically, I always recommend going with 3500K or lower in your home. The bulbs in my living room are all 2700K, while the recessed lights in my kitchen are 3000K. The colour of your bulbs is important because it can drastically affect colours, especially paint colours in your home. The bulbs in each area of your home should also all be the same or very similar in colour.
4. Wattage Vs. Lumens
Back in the day, bulbs were measured by wattage, or the amount of power they consume. Since the emergence of LED bulbs, a new system is being used which actually measures the amount of light emitted from the bulb (lumens). Don’t worry about having to do some tricky mathematical equation because almost all LED bulbs will show their lumen rating along with the equivalent wattage rating. This is because most light fixtures will still have a maximum wattage listed on the label.
I hope this brief blog post has provided you with enough information to help you on your next light bulb shopping excursion. Please leave a comment below with any questions. And as always…