We well know that lighting is a crucial aspect in any environment, whether at home, office or any other space. To understand and choose the right light, it is essential to understand what lumens are and their role in lighting.
By understanding lumens and how they relate to lighting, you can make informed decisions when choosing light bulbs and designing the lighting in your home or office. After reading this guide, you will see that knowing what a lumen is not only optimizes energy efficiency, but also contributes to creating comfortable and functional environments.
1 What is a lumen?
A lumen is the unit of measurement that describes the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source. In other words, lumens measure the brightness perceived by the human eye. Unlike watts, which measure the power consumed by a bulb, lumens focus on the amount of light that is actually produced.
Do we see an example? Imagine you are in a room and you turn on a light bulb. If you have a bulb that emits, for example, 800 lumens, it means that that bulb provides a specific amount of visible light in that room.
The more lumens a bulb has, the brighter the light it produces. So, lumens give you a quantitative measure of the brightness you can expect from a light source.
2 Lumens vs. watts
Historically, the power of a light bulb was measured in watts, but this measurement does not necessarily reflect the amount of light emitted. With the introduction of more efficient technology bulbs, such as LEDs, it became crucial to understand lumens. While watts indicate power consumption, lumens indicate actual brightness.
Lux vs. Lumen
As we have been saying, a lumen is the unit of measurement that describes the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source, regardless of direction. In other words, lumens measure the total luminosity produced by a light source.
Instead, a lux (lx) is the unit of measurement for illuminance, which quantifies the amount of light that falls on a specific area. Lux is related to lumens but takes into account the surface over which those lumens are distributed. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter.
So while lumens measure the total amount of light emitted by a source, lux quantify the amount of that light reaching a particular surface.
For example, if you have a bulb that emits 800 lumens and that light is distributed evenly over an area of 4 square meters, the illuminance in that area would be 200 lux (800 lm ÷ 4 m² = 200 lx).
3 How many lumens do you need? Converting watts to lumens
Determining how many lumens you need for a specific space involves understanding the function and size of the area. As we mentioned 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 Lumens required per room and square meter
At GreenIce more than anyone we know that each room has different lighting requirements. For example, a living room may require softer, more ambient lighting, while a kitchen may need brighter, more focused lighting. Additionally, the number of lumens needed per square meter varies depending on the function of the space.
What type of lumens does each space in a house require?
The number of lumens needed for each space in a home can vary depending on 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 depending on personal preferences and specific lighting design:
Kitchen:
● General: 5,000 to 10,000 lumens
● Work areas (countertops, sink): 700 to 1,200 lumens
Living room:
● General: 1,500 to 3,000 lumens
● Task lighting (reading): 400 to 800 lumens
Bedroom:
● General: 2,000 to 4,000 lumens
● Bedside reading lighting: 400 to 600 lumens
Bathroom:
● Mirror/vanity: 1,700 to 2,500 lumens
● General lighting: 3,000 to 6,000 lumens
Dining room:
● General: 3,000 to 6,000 lumens
Corridors and foyers:
● General: 2,000 to 4,000 lumens
Remember that it is possible to combine different light sources (ambient lighting, tasks and accents) to create the desired atmosphere in each space.
