Lighting guide
How to choose lighting: work out lumens for any room, compare 2700K to 6500K colour temperature, and size pendants and chandeliers.
2,400lm
- Floor area 16 m²
- Per fitting 2,400 lm
- About 24 W of LED in total (at a typical 100 lm per watt)
- Chandelier or pendant diameter 64 cm
- Colour temperature 3000K
A starting point, not a lighting plan. Dark walls and high ceilings need more light; dimmers let you use less.
Lights with a matching stated output
See colour temperature, not just read it.
Drag the slider to light the same room from 2700K to 6500K.
Lumens: how much light a room needs
Watts tell you how much power a light uses. Lumens tell you how much light it gives. To light a room well, multiply its floor area by the light level the room needs (measured in lux). The calculator above does it for you.
| Room | Typical target | Example: 4 × 4 m room |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | 150 lux | 2,400 lm |
| Bedroom | 100–150 lux | 1,600–2,400 lm |
| Dining room | 200 lux | 3,200 lm |
| Kitchen | 300 lux (500 on worktops) | 4,800 lm |
| Bathroom | 300 lux (500 at the mirror) | 4,800 lm |
| Home office | 500 lux | 8,000 lm |
| Passage / entrance | 100 lux | 1,600 lm |
| Garden path | 20–50 lux | — |
Layer it: one ambient source (pendant or ceiling light), task light where you work or read, and accent light for texture. Dimmers let one room do all three.
Colour temperature: warm to daylight
- 2700K — warm. Candle-like and relaxing. Living rooms, bedrooms, restaurants.
- 3000K — warm white. Soft but clear. Dining rooms, kitchens, general living.
- 4000K — cool white. Crisp and focused. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, offices.
- 5000–6500K — daylight. Bright and blue-ish. Workshops, security and task lighting.
Keep one colour temperature per room so lights do not fight each other. Selectable (CCT) fittings let you choose after installation.
Sizing pendants and chandeliers
- Chandelier diameter: add the room’s length and width in metres and multiply by 8 — a 4 × 5 m room suits a fitting about 72 cm across.
- Over a dining table: choose a pendant about half to two-thirds the table’s width, hung 75–85 cm above the tabletop.
- In walkways: keep the bottom of the fitting at least 2.1 m above the floor.
- Over an island: two or three pendants, spaced about 70–80 cm apart and 15 cm in from each end.
IP ratings: where a light can go
| Rating | Protected against | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| IP20 | Fingers, not water | Dry indoor rooms |
| IP44 | Splashes | Bathrooms (away from the shower), covered patios |
| IP54 | Dust and splashes | Sheltered outdoor walls |
| IP65 | Dust and water jets | Exposed outdoor walls, gardens |
| IP67 / IP68 | Immersion | In-ground and pond lights |
Power cuts: solar or rechargeable?
Solar lights charge from the sun and switch on at dusk — ideal for walls, paths and security, with no wiring. Rechargeable lights charge from the mains or USB and run from a battery when the power goes — ideal for tables, desks and bedside. Check each product’s stated battery capacity and run time before you buy, and ask us if a figure is missing.
All electrical installations must be done by a qualified electrician.