1. Install LEDs where you’ll use them most

LED bulbs are still expensive and so, unless you have the budget to replace all the bulbs in your home at once, you’ll have to replace bulbs as they burn out. In the long run, your investment will pay you back in energy savings.

2. Shop for lumens, not watts

Watts are a measure of how much energy the bulb draws, not its brightness.

3. Get the light color you want

If you were turned off by the harsh white quality of light from older LEDs you’ll be glad to know there are more options now. LED bulbs offer a range of colors, from a warmer yellow-white, akin to the color of incandescent bulbs, to a whiter white or blueish white.

• Yellow light: 2700-3000K.
• White: 3500-4100K.
• Blue: 5000-6500K.

4. Match the bulb shape to your fixture

You’ll find spiral bulbs, different types of globes, spotlights, floodlights and some shaped like candle flames.

5. Choose the right bulb for dimmers

Buy a dimmer switch rated for both CFL and LED bulbs. Two reputable manufacturers of CFL/LED dimmers are Leviton and Lutron; both provide lists of bulbs they’ve verified will work with their dimmers.

Choosing The Best LED Light Bulb For Your Room

LED Lighting for Bedroom Use
Are you a nighttime reader? If you have a bedside reading lamp or plan on buying one, soft blue or neutral tones are better for reading specific fixtures, since the cool-white color creates a high contrast with the page.

Suggested Total Brightness Level – 1,500 to 4,000 Lumens
Suggested Color Temperature: 2700-3000K

LED Lighting for Home Office Use
When lighting a home office, make sure that the lights are maximizing our ability to be productive in the space provided. Make sure to choose place for lighting that won’t create unwanted glares on your computer screen. You may want to consider LED Desk Lamps which offer task lighting and the ability to switch color temperature on demand.

Suggested Total Brightness Level – 3,000 to 6,000 Lumens
Suggested Color Temperature: 3000-5000K

LED Lighting for Living Room Use
It is important to have a mix of light sources in the living room in order to adapt to whatever the occasion may be. Adjustable spotlight lamps can be pointed at the walls to illuminate artwork, family photos, or simply to reduce glare on the TV. Positioning spotlight lamps at walls or ceilings is also a great way to eliminate unwanted shadows. New LED 3-Way lamps can be used in all three way table lamps you may have in your living room.

Suggested Total Brightness Level – 1,500 to 3,000 Lumens
Suggested Color Temperature: 2200-3000K

LED Lighting for Kitchen Use
If you also have a table in your kitchen, a dimmable overhead fixture with a warmer color temperature can create a nice ambiance to balance out the brighter blue lights over the kitchen counters. Kitchens also can take advantage of recessed overhead lighting which can benefit from LED BR Bulbs or Recessed Retrofit Kits.

Suggested Total Brightness Level – 4,000 to 8,000 Lumens
Suggested Color Temperature: 2700-5000K

LED Lighting for Bathroom Use
Most people get ready by looking in the bathroom mirror. Lighting that comes from around the mirror rather than on the ceiling works best. Using bright lights provides maximum visibility. Use larger globe style bulbs to illuminate common fixtures places above and or around the mirror.

Suggested Total Brightness Level – 4,000 to 8,000 Lumens
Suggested Color Temperature: 3000-5000K