Suitable lumens for a living room - LED bulbs.

JustAnotherSaver

We're debating getting a new light unit for the living room as our room is approx 7mtr -x- 3.5 mtr & it's only got 3 E14bulbs in the centre of the room which point upwards.

Was looking at either:
1) http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/lighting/indoor-lighting/ceiling_lights/Chorley-Semi-Flush-Ceiling-Light-10867695 Which we think looks better in person than on that page
2) http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/lighting/indoor-lighting/ceiling_lights/Venus-5-Light-Semi-Flush-Downlight-9788966 which we didn't see in store.

Anyway, the wife doesn't like the cool crisp white light of LEDs so this would need to be warm lighting.

Just unsure what sort of LED bulb would be suitable for the living room & it can get a bit costly going for the trial & error approach.

http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-bulbs/e14-led-bulbs.html

210-410 lumens
120-240 angle
I notice it doesn't give their kelvin rating


So from those with experience, what's suitable for the living room?

2013yearofthehouse

We used to have something similar to your "1" fitting with 3 x 800 lumen light bulbs in, but found it too bright (the lights are only really used for watching TV in the evening) and an uneven light distribution (3 lit areas, with darker patches in between). We got a new fitting, similar to your "2" fitting and fitted 5 x 200 lumen light bulbs, which is a much better brightness for our use and gives even light distribution all the way round the room. The new 5 bulb light fitting had a maximum capacity of "40w equivalent" bulbs, but we opted for the "20w equivalent" - so glad we did as 2000-2350 lumens would have been way too bright. We have some rooms with a single pendant fitted with a 800 lumen light bulb in, so we knew roughly what a total of 1000 lumens would be like. We went for 2700k which looks a warm white to me. Obviously all of this is somewhat personal preference.

Edit: have just noticed the 14/02 review on the link for fitting "2" agrees with me regarding the 20w/40w equivalent brightness

JustAnotherSaver

Well i've bought 3 of http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-bulbs/e14-led-bulbs/4-watt-e14-led-golf-ball-shape-bulb.html for now as our current holder is 3 bulbs. If it's no good then it's not a total waste because that new holder takes the same bulbs.

I'm not overly keen on the idea of 3 bulbs in a room that size. I think 5 would spread the light much better (providing they can be manipulated so that one bulb isn't bouncing off the mirror that will be on the chimney breast).



Next problem would be getting it fitted (replacing old light unit for the new). Have read that if you're unsure then even watching the YouTube videos, you should really get someone in to do it. More expense.

Biggles

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

I notice it doesn't give their kelvin rating

It doesn't but it does make you select 'cool white' or 'warm white' before buying. The latter is what you need for a living room.

Depending on the type of light fitting and size of room, you probably need a total of 1,000-1,500lm, ie around the brightness of a 100w bulb.

JustAnotherSaver

Biggles wrote: »

It doesn't but it does make you select 'cool white' or 'warm white' before buying. The latter is what you need for a living room.

Depending on the type of light fitting and size of room, you probably need a total of 1,000-1,500lm, ie around the brightness of a 100w bulb.

Yeah i selected warm white. I did this for another bulb i bought though & while it's not street-light white, it is quite bright.

Still, if no good for the living room i'll find somewhere for them. Or just send them back.

elstimpo

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

We're debating getting a new light unit for the living room as our room is approx 7mtr -x- 3.5 mtr & it's only got 3 E14bulbs in the centre of the room which point upwards.

Was looking at either:
1) http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/lighting/indoor-lighting/ceiling_lights/Chorley-Semi-Flush-Ceiling-Light-10867695 Which we think looks better in person than on that page
2) http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/lighting/indoor-lighting/ceiling_lights/Venus-5-Light-Semi-Flush-Downlight-9788966 which we didn't see in store.

Anyway, the wife doesn't like the cool crisp white light of LEDs so this would need to be warm lighting.

Just unsure what sort of LED bulb would be suitable for the living room & it can get a bit costly going for the trial & error approach.

http://www.ledhut.co.uk/led-bulbs/e14-led-bulbs.html

210-410 lumens
120-240 angle
I notice it doesn't give their kelvin rating


So from those with experience, what's suitable for the living room?

Make sure you are getting a colour temperature of between 2500k to 2800k. Warm White can differ from product to product and company to company. I personally find 2700k is the perfect colour temperature for a living room, but its a very personal thing.

Hintza

I would never use the centre/ceiling light to light a room, it will always be harsh. Table/Standard lights with nice shades.

JustAnotherSaver

Hintza wrote: »

I would never use the centre/ceiling light to light a room, it will always be harsh. Table/Standard lights with nice shades.

Ah you're more like my mum then.

I'll be reading the paper with the light on & she'll come in, turn the light off (ceiling light - centre of room) & put a stupid bloody lamp on because it "looks nicer" and is a "nice soft light".

So then i'm unable to read because it's too dark!! & i'm left wondering what the point is in a ceiling light if it's not going to get used.

Ectophile

Hintza wrote: »

I would never use the centre/ceiling light to light a room, it will always be harsh. Table/Standard lights with nice shades.

There's a time for mood lighting, but I've yet to see anything that comes close to the efficiency of a single light bulb hanging down from the middle of the ceiling. One single light can illuminate the whole room.

If it looks harsh, buy a different lamp shade.