Lumens = Brightness
The more lumens, the brighter the bulb. A typical home bulb produces about 800 lumens, which is the equivalent of 60 watts. So how many lumens do you need for each room? That’ll depend on how big your room is, what color your walls are, and, obviously, intensity of lighting you prefer. Kitchens are typically brighter and include a mix of ambient light and task lighting. Bedrooms and living rooms are typically less bright.
Here’s a general rule of thumb to get you started.
Kitchens: 5,000-10,000 total lumens
Bathrooms: 4,000-8,000 total lumens
Bedrooms: 2,000-4,000 total lumens
Living rooms: 1,500-3,000 lumens
Dining rooms: 3,000-6,000 lumens
Home offices: 3,000-6,000 lumens
Kelvins = Appearance
Beyond brightness, you also want to consider the color temperature of the light. Flouorescent (CFL) lighting was not great in the past because they produced a very blue, cool light. But CFL’s have come a long way, you can now find them in warmer, yellower tones. The package should tell you the color temperature of the light, from warm to cool, measured in Kelvins. The higher the Kelvins, the cooler the light.
Soft White/Warm White (2700 Kelvin): Best for bedrooms and living rooms; providing a traditional warm, cozy feel.
Bright White/Cool White (4100 Kelvin): Best in kitchens, bathrooms or garages; giving a whiter, more energetic feel.
Daylight (5000-6000 Kelvin): Best in bathrooms, kitchens and basements; good for reading, intricate projects, or applying makeup—provides the greatest contrast among colors
NOTE : Dimmers are a great option if you want to vary the intensity of your lighting.
