What are the lumens and what are they for?

1 What is a lumen?

A lumen is the unit of measure that describes the total amount of visible light that emits a light source. In other words, lumens measure the luminosity perceived by the human eye. Unlike the watts, which measure the power consumed by a bulb, the lumens focus on the amount of light that really occurs.

Do we see an example? Imagine you are in a room and turn on a bulb. If you have a bulb that emits, for example, 800 lumens, it means that this bulb provides a specific amount of visible light in that room.

The more lumens a bulb has, the brighter the light it produces will. So, the lumens give you a quantitative measure of the luminosity that you can expect from a light source.

2 Lumens vs. watts

Historically, the power of a bulb was measured in watts, but this measure does not necessarily reflect the amount of light emitted. With the introduction of the most efficient technology bulbs, such as LEDs, it became crucial to understand the lumens. While the watts indicate energy consumption, the lumens indicate real luminosity.

Lux vs. Lumen

As we have been telling, a lumen is the unit of measure that describes the total amount of visible light that emits a light source, regardless of the address. In other words, the lumens measure the total luminosity produced by a light source.

On the other hand, a Lux (LX) is the unit of measure of illuminance, which quantifies the amount of light that affects a specific area. Lux is related to lumens but takes into account the surface on which these lumens are distributed. A lux is equal to a lumen per square meter.

Then, while the lumens measure the total amount of light emitted by a source, Lux quantify the amount of that light that reaches a particular surface.

For example, if you have a bulb that emits 800 lumens and that light is distributed evenly in an area of ​​4 square meters, illuminance in that area would be 200 lux (800 lm ÷ 4 m² = 200 lx).

3 How many lumens do you need? Watt conversion to lumens

Determining how many lumens you need for a specific space implies understanding the function and size of the area. As we told above, as lighting technologies have evolved, the relationship between watts and lumens has changed.

In general, LED bulbs provide more lumens per watt compared to traditional bulbs.

4 Necessary lumens per room and square meter

In Greenice more than anyone we know that each room has different lighting requirements. For example, a living room may require softer and more environmental lighting, while a kitchen may need a brighter and more focused lighting. In addition, the amount of lumens needed per square meter varies according to the function of the space.

What kind of lumens do each space of a house require?

The amount of lumens necessary for each space in a house can vary according to the size of the room and its specific function. Here are some general recommendations, but keep in mind that these are approximate values ​​and may vary according to personal preferences and specific lighting design:

Remember that it is possible to combine different sources of light (environmental lighting, tasks and accents) to create the desired environment in each space.