One trip down the lighting isle of any big box store and you see the perplexed looks on prospective buyer faces. It is just TOO much confusing data to choose a light bulb anymore. LED colors have come a long way from the early blue "Am I in the morgue?" look. It gets better and better as each new generation of lamps emerges. Sadly, you can't tell by the label conclusively what you will get. You have to put one in your fixture to see what it does and how YOU like it. Yes, LED saves huge amounts on electricity because, simply, they are lower wattage. They last far longer than traditional bulbs and the prices are falling, however, the payback time on the electricity savings takes a while. Over the life of the lamp, you will save on the total cost of light. LEDs are not light bulbs. They have components called drivers that can sometimes go bad so remember, it's not always the lamp itself. Not all LEDs are created equal. Not all LEDs work will all dimmers. Some, despite claims, don't work on dimmers at all. So Caveat emptor. Know the brand and check with the manufacturer if you aren't sure. You may decide on an integrated fixture. Not a bad idea, however when it goes out, you replace the whole fixture. Remember that LED is NOT the only or best lighting solution in many cases. There are few LEDs that can rival the crisp, elegant look of halogen lighting. Under cabinet lighting is perfect for LEDs but get the color temp between 2700K and 3000K, which is what most humans prefer. For garages and closets, LED is a GREAT choice. Personally, I put dimmers on EVERY switch, in the walk-in closets, in case you want your robe in the middle of the night, in bathrooms, and especially in living areas. If you stay with incandescent, dim them way down and they will suck less energy and last a lot longer than their rated life. Be careful dimming fluorescents. They often buzz when dimmed. If you are looking for MR-16 LEDs, choose Soraa. You will pay a handsome price, but you will get the most magnificent LED light available. The inventor of that lamp won a Nobel Prize for it. Since almost all LEDs are made in China under various labels, be careful. There are quality differences. If you go cheap, you will give up features and might not get the color you are looking for. Even name brand companies have had massive recalls. There's almost too much to know just to just run out and buy a light bulb anymore. If you have a lighting showroom nearby, drop in and eyeball different lighting vignettes. They should be able to advise you on color options.

Hi Diana, for a contemporary residential project we would opt for a warm white 3k colour temperature throughout, giving a softer more homely feel. The "brightness" of the areas in question will depend on the output of the LED luminaire (rather than the colour temperature) measured in "lumens" . There a plenty of options eg 8watts, 10w, 12w, 16w etc, so if you are unsure select a luminaire with a slightly higher output which has the ability to dim giving you control and flexibility of your environment.

Check with your retailer if they have a return policy on lamps. Try it with warm, and if you don't like it return them for cool. Only you can be the judge as you can see how they interact with the other lights, colours and surfaces at night. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

The process can be initiated with booking a free appointment and assessment of the property. All the products installed, whether it’s a residential or commercial property, are approved under the VEU scheme. The process takes only a few hours. It depends on the number of lights you have that need updation. You can choose the time which is suitable for you. It also could be a Sunday or a holiday.