Choosing the right colour temperature for your lighting is a key factor in making the desired atmosphere and environment you are looking for in any space. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin which will be represented by the letter K often with a number in the thousands next to it such as 3000K.  

There will generally be three options available to you when looking for a white light.  These will be 2700-3000K (Warm White), 4000K (Cool White) and 6000-6500K (Daylight).  Warm White is normally used for bedrooms, living rooms and dining areas.  Cool White is used within kitchens and bathroom spaces and Daylight will generally be used in display areas and work areas that require this shade of light to help someone focus on the task at hand (graphic design for example.)  

Colour Temperature Recommendations by Room

Living Rooms and Bedrooms (Relaxation)

These spaces benefit from warmer, lower Kelvin temperatures as this helps people to wind down.  This is believed to be because this light is much warmer than outdoor light during the day when people are usually at their most active.  We would recommend going for 3000K for a living room. 

Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Offices (Task & Energy)

We would heavily recommend choosing a Cool White 4000K light for a kitchen and bathroom as these areas require brighter, more stimulating light to help with visibility.  Choosing 4000K over 6000K for these rooms is a good in between for increasing visibility but not being too clinical for at home day to day use.

We would recommend a Daylight 6000K-6500K light for offices or a room dedicated to work as the brightness of this colour temperature will greatly aid in visibility for the room.  It is also believed to help keep a person focused as the aim of this light is to mimic midday outdoor light.

Is 3000K too yellow?

A light being "too yellow" will be subjective to the person looking at it, but as a rule 3000K Warm White is considered to be not overly yellow whereas 2700K will start to bring us into a more noticeable yellow-ish light.  3000K bulbs are designed to mimic incandescent or halogen bulbs whereas 2700K bulbs are closer to candlelight.   

Key Considerations for Selection

1. Functionality: If the room is one where concentrated tasks such as reading, cooking or working is being done opt for 3500K to 4000K. If the room is for relaxation such as sleeping or resting go with a 2700K to 3000K light.
2. Wall Colour: Warmer temperatures like 2700K to 3000K will enhance warm-toned colours (reds, yellows, oranges). Cooler temperatures like 4000K or more will make cool-toned colours (blues, whites, greens) appear crisper.
3. Dimmers and Tunable Lighting: For maximum flexibility on the brightness of your light you may want to consider installing dimmer switches or even choosing a CCT (colour changeable) light bulb which will allow you to choose your preferred Kelvin temperature.