News/Blog

Whether you are going for a luxe look, warm feel or daylight-style clarity, the right lighting can make all the difference, especially through the winter.

We explore how colour temperature and brightness can show your family home in the best light.

Dennis Family Homes Colour Showroom Manager, Tamara de Graaff says it is best to have one colour temperature throughout your home.

“Mixing warm and cool lights can make the warm light look very yellow and disrupt the harmony of a room or section of a home,” Tamara said.

“In winter, especially when it’s pouring with rain outside, having a mix of lamps and light fittings can make your home feel cosy and welcoming, just remember to keep the colour temperature consistent.”

Colour temperature and lumens

Light is measured with two units, Kelvins (K) and lumens (lm), and it is necessary to consider both when planning your home’s lighting.

Lucci Designs Senior Residential Lighting Designer, Taylor Martin, points out that Kelvins measure temperature of colour, which are the different tones of white light that the bulb produces.

“At around 2000K the light appears warm, at the other end of the scale, it appears blue, which is up to 10000K,” Taylor said.

“Due to physical temperature and sunlight amount, we’ve noticed that cooler environments, such as Victoria, prefer the warmer light as it warms up the home, whereas tropical area tend to lean towards cool lighting.”

Lumens (lm) measure the total amount of visible light emitted – higher lumens equal brighter light.

“It’s worth remembering that there is no correlation between the two units of measurement, lumens or Kelvins,” Taylor says. “When selecting globes, both units should be considered independently.”

Lumens throughout the home

Understanding how bright specific areas should be will ensure your home has a warm, inviting feel but also is a bright and functional space.

Changing brightness by either switching globes or through dimmer switches will allow for complete control of brightness; where changing colour temperature of the light or fitting to warm white in the winter months will help increase the feeling of warmth in the space.

1. Brighten Common Areas: Use higher lumen bulbs or fittings, 1400+, in living rooms and kitchens to create a welcoming, well-lit environment during shorter Winter days.
2. Study or nook: Opt for lower lumen, 450-800, globes in reading nooks to foster a warm and relaxing atmosphere.
3. Bedrooms: 1400+ lumens will adequately light the room.

Choose your default Kelvins

When building with Dennis Family Homes your lighting consultant will ask you for a default lighting colour temperature, either warm, cool or daylight.

Warm: 3000K, warm white appearance that is cosy, calm and relaxing.

Best suited for ambient lighting, general areas of the home, exterior lighting & pendants.

Cool: 4000K, cool white appearance that is bright and vibrant.

Best suited for task lighting, and general areas of the home.

Daylight: 5000K, which has a crisp and invigorating appearance.

Best suited for task lighting and security lighting.

For Whatever Home Means to You

Dennis Family Homes believe in bringing your unique vision of home to life, whether it’s with the perfect lighting or a bespoke design tailored to your family’s lifestyle.

Since our inception in 1982, founder Bert Dennis focused on making home ownership accessible to as many families as possible, driven by his belief that “Every Family Should Be Able to Afford a Place to Call Home.”

In today’s evolving world, “home” means more than just a roof over your head. It embodies values, ideals, personalities, and dreams.

Whether it’s a busy household, a peaceful sanctuary or anything in between, Dennis Family Homes works with families of all shapes and sizes to create a space that truly feels like home, reflecting your unique needs and aspirations.

Contact the Dennis Family Homes team today to start building your dream home.

Browse our home designs!