Integrators are always looking for new ways to create the perfect living experience. By far, however, the surest way to positively impact a homeowner’s perception of their home is by finding the right lighting, and to do that, you need to find the right color temperature to use in your lighting.

But why is color temperature so important, and how can mixing color temperatures create dynamic scenes that add drama and excitement to a landscape? With 20 years of experience in working with outdoor lighting across the country, the pros at Lighting BOSS are here to help set the record straight and set integrators on the path for being far more competitive in their lighting practice with all the tools, tips, assistance anyone could ever need on finding the right color temperature and beyond.

Understanding Color Temperature

Color temperature (or CCT) is a parameter describing the color of a visible light source measured in degrees Kelvin. Most mainstream lighting fixtures will have color temperatures ranging from 1700K to 6000K with the lower temperatures representing warmer, redder tones while higher temperatures are represented by colder, bluer hues.

“Our perception of the color of light is influenced by the Kelvin spectrum,” states Ryan Jaso, Founder of Lighting BOSS. “For instance, warmer light with a lower Kelvin temperature tends to create a cozier or more intimate atmosphere. Cooler light, meanwhile, tends to appear more energizing or refreshing, but in the end, these are subjective interpretations.

“How light is perceived ultimately depends on the individual and how they intend to use a space, as well as the color of the subject that you are intending to light.”

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Not All Color Temperatures are Created Equal

Jaso is quick to note, however, that not all lighting fixtures represent color equally.

“There’s a reason why you’ll see some stuff on Amazon and it costs five dollars whereas in a pro supply store it might be a little bit more expensive. You get what you pay for, and a lot of the cheap, lower quality fixtures won’t be able to represent the color of lighting to the degree that you want it to, so it’s important to keep an eye on the CRI.”

Whereas color temperature measures the color of the light, CRI or Color Rendering Index, measures a fixture’s ability to accurately represent color in the way that natural sunlight would. The closer to 100 that a fixture gets, the better it is at representing colors as they would appear on a sunny day (or moonlit night).

Ideally, integrators want to stick to lights with CRIs above 90, though anything above 85 will do, and a quick way of finding these types of bulbs is to simply buy anything that’s approved for use in the state of California. Everything with that rating will automatically be above 90 CRI. However, if that’s not possible, any lighting that’s Energy Star Certified fits the criteria for high CRI as well.

How Can Mixing Temperatures Be Beneficial for a Home’s Landscaping?

While there is nothing wrong with using static lighting in a project, integrators should seek to step outside of the comfort zone of traditional lighting practices every now and then. By finding the right combination of color temperature for lighting a space, integrators can create a variety of different experiences for the client, and thereby help improve the client experience while differentiating themselves in their lighting practice.

“When you look outside, every unique feature that’s out there from statues to pergolas to kitchens to fountains, even the rocks can be lit up and turned into a beautiful focal point of the property with the right mixing of color temperature to create more dynamic lighting,” notes Jaso.

Integrators can create dynamic lighting environments that inject moments of eye-catching drama like they’ve been pulled right out of a movie, or they can create accentuated natural set-ups that evoke a hand-crafted aesthetic.

How Do You Find the Right Color Temperature?

“You’re never going to go wrong using 3000K and 2700K fixtures,” Jaso says. However, the truth is that there is no singular solution that works with every environment. What lighting temperature you want to use will depend heavily on the subject and space being lit.

Jaso also noted that integrators can play around with pure colors as well, however, these should be used cautiously. Like with color temperatures, mismatched colored lights have the potential to create less than desirable results.

One example Jaso gives is that using a red light on a tree, for instance, will make the green leaves look brown and diseased. Not a good look for the property.

However, as another example, say a client has a blue spruce tree that sits right outside their door along a walkway. Inside, and along the walkway, you can use 3000K to keep the overarching environment warm and inviting. You can then highlight the spruce with a cooler 4000K color temperature to help bring out the blue while also striking a contrast to the surrounding area.

If you’re still unsure about finding the right color temperature, Jaso also says you can follow a more natural lighting layout.

Say a different client has a sizeable property with trees, a bench, and a small pond. Around the trees, warmer color temperatures can be used to emulate the setting sun while over the pond and bench, cooler downlights placed in the trees can be used to simulate the effect of moonlight trickling down from overhead.

Tools to Help You Experiment with Mixing Different Color Temperatures

While there are no specific tools that will dictate which color temperatures work best in a space, Jaso does mention that there is one special implement that will help people at any point in their lighting journey.

“The one lighting line I will always recommend when you’re getting started, hell even if you’re a pro, is the Lumien PRO line. It’s where I like to start people because it’s so easy to use. With the use of an infrared remote, you can dial in your lighting designs on the spot from 2700K-5700K.

“I haven’t found a better teaching tool than the Lumiem Pro Line, which is exactly why we carry it in Lighting BOSS‘s product catalog to this day.”

When it comes to mixing color temperatures, Jaso always advises that people get started with experimenting in their own home.

“From there you can move to friends and family because they’re going to have different features, different vegetation, different architecture than you do,” Jaso continues. “But, there’s never anything wrong with doing a little experimenting while you’re out in the field.”

Be sure to check out our webinar on color temperature where Ryan and his co-host Raymond Josephian of Illumicare Group, Ltd. go into greater detail.

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