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LED Lights Buying Guide

When you're shopping for LED lights, the number of options can be overwhelming. There are so many brands, types of lights, uses and areas of the home where you can place them.

LED Lights Buying Guide

The best thing to do is read this guide and follow our advice on what to look for when purchasing LEDs. This guide will provide some insight into how LED lighting works and which ones are the best choices for your specific needs.

The Benefits of LED Lighting

LED lights have been a popular choice for home lighting for years now, and for good reason. LED lights offer a number of benefits that other types of lighting simply do not provide. Here are a few of the benefits you can expect by upgrading your home with LED lighting:

  • LED lights last much longer than other types of light bulbs. This is because LEDs don't use a filament in order to produce light. This means that the lifespan is typically about 20,000 hours.
  • The amount of energy used by LEDs is much less than other types of lights because they are more efficient and can be dimmed when necessary.
  • LEDs are environmentally friendly since they don't contain mercury, lead, or any hazardous materials that could harm the planet and you.
  • LEDs emit less heat than other light bulbs, which is great for safety.
  • LEDs are easy to install because there is no need for a special type of fixture or ballast. This makes them great for commercial and home use since anyone can easily and safely install them.
  • LED lights are typically brighter than other types of light bulbs. This is because they produce a much wider spectrum of light.
  • LEDs are more durable than other types of bulbs because they contain fewer components and have no glass.
  • LED lights save you money because they can last a very long time, which means you could get more than five years of service from one LED light bulb.
  • LEDs can even be used to grow plants. It's been proven that the spectrum of light emitted by LEDs is perfect for plant growth.

LED Lights Vs. Incandescent Lights

One of the main differences between LED lights and incandescent light bulbs is that LEDs last a lot longer. The lifespan of an LED bulb can be as long as 20,000 hours, while other bulbs only last up to 2000 hours on average. However, LEDs may not always provide you with enough illumination in some situations because they are not as bright. When it comes to cost, LED lights can be up to 85% more efficient than other light bulbs and they won't require any ballast or special fixtures in order for them to work properly.

LED Lights Vs. Fluorescent Lighting

When you're comparing LEDs with fluorescent lamps, one of the big differences is that LED lights are more environmentally friendly and contain no mercury. Fluorescent lamps may be cheaper up-front, but they will require much more maintenance than LEDs, since fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced a lot sooner. Fluorescent bulbs also emit a spectrum of light that can disrupt your circadian rhythm with high levels of blue light, while LED lights don't have this problem.

LED Lights Vs. CFLs

CFL bulbs are comparable to LEDs in many ways, but one of the main differences is that CFL lights cannot be dimmed and they contain mercury - which can be dangerous if it comes into contact with skin or eyes. LED light bulbs also produce a much wider spectrum of color than CFLs do; so they are more versatile.

Types Of LED Lights

There are different types of LED lights that you can purchase. The type will depend on what your specific needs are, but there is an LED light for everyone. Here are a few to consider:

LED Flood Lights

LED floodlights are perfect for outdoor lighting and provide very wide coverage. These lights are great for security, emergency responders, construction sites, or any other time you need to make something stand out with bright light.

LED Spot Lights

Spotlights create intense beams of light that can illuminate one particular area. They're perfect when you want to highlight an object in your living room or patio.

LED Strip Lights

Strip lights are perfect for accent lighting, creating a mood in your home, or highlighting something like the fireplace mantel during casual get-togethers with friends and family. These light strips can be cut to size and come with an adhesive backing that will make them easy to install on any surface you might need!

LED Under Cabinet Lights

If you're looking for a great alternative to standard overhead lighting, these under cabinet lights are perfect. They attach easily with adhesive and can be used in kitchens or any other room where there is no natural light.

LED String Lights

These lights are great for adding a little ambiance to any room of your home. String Lights come with individual twinkle bulbs that can be set to different colors and turned on or off independently.

LED Pool Lights

If you have an outdoor pool, these LED pool lights will make the experience even more enjoyable! They provide just enough light, so you can enjoy the water from dusk until dawn.

LED Nightlights

Nightlights are perfect for a number of different reasons, including safety. They're also great when you need to get up in the middle of the night and don't want to turn on your overhead lights or disturb anyone else who might be sleeping. LED nightlights use very little energy and are very durable.

LED Downlights

Downlights are perfect for any room that needs to be lit up from the floor. They can also help create a soothing ambiance in your home or office by being dimmed just enough so you don't feel like you're under some kind of spotlight!

LED Cove Lights

Cove lights provide dramatic lighting and are perfect as accent lighting, over a fireplace mantel, or to highlight some other architectural detail in your home.

LED Recessed Lights

These lights are great for illuminating large areas like living rooms and hallways while still being flush with the ceiling so you don't have any weird shadows.

LED Solar Lights

LED solar lights are ideal for those who want lighting without the hassle of looking for an outlet. These lights use natural, sustainable energy from the sun to power them and can be placed anywhere outside that needs a little bit more light!

As you can see, there are many types of LEDs to choose from. Now that we've gone over the benefits and what type of lighting is available, let's take a look at some specific features and styles you might want to consider when purchasing LEDs for your home.

Styles of LED Lights

When thinking about the style of light in your home, you're usually thinking about the color and brightness of the light. LED lights come in a variety of colors and brightness levels to suit all your needs.

The brightness of LED Lights

In general, LED lights are much brighter than traditional lightbulbs. That's because the LEDs can produce more lumens per watt of power consumed. With traditional lights, brightness is measured in terms of wattage.

However, with LEDs, brightness is measured in terms of lumens. This is a more consistent measurement for the brightness of LEDs as it is a measure of how much light they emit, regardless of how much energy is used.

A dim light will be around 300 lumens, while a bright light will be around 3000. An average LED lightbulb is a little over 800 lumens, which is a lot brighter than the average incandescent lightbulb, which's only around 60-100 lumens.

LED Colors

There are many different colors available for LED lights, so depending on your needs and preferences, you can decide which ones to purchase. The most common color options are:

Red: Red lights have a very warm tone that's perfect for rooms in need of some serious help with their ambiance.

Blue: Blue lights are the most common color for party lighting and really set a festive mood. They're also great for rooms that need to be more subdued in order to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

Yellow: These lights can make any room feel cozy and inviting by providing just enough light.

White: White lights are perfect for any room that needs a little more light but doesn't want to be overly bright. They're also great if your favorite color is white or you have furniture in the space with white colors.

Green: Green lights can create an atmosphere of healing and tranquility, which makes them ideal for bedrooms as they can help you to sleep better.

Purple: Purple lights are great for rooms that want a little something extra without being too in your face with their color. They come off as mysterious or dark and create an atmosphere of intrigue!

Multicolor: These lights can change or be set to display multiple colors, which is great for a party, holiday lighting, or creating a special effect in the home.

Color Temperature

Different types of LED lights have different color temperatures and can give your home a unique ambiance whether you're looking for warm or cool light to suit the mood.

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K), and refers to how "warm" or "cool" a given color looks. Cooler colors like blue have higher color temperatures, while warmer colors like red have lower color temperatures. Some say that the best light for reading is around 3000K, which has just enough blue in it to make things pop, but not so much that you can't fall asleep at night.

Color Rendering Index (CRI)

The CRI is a measure of how true-to-life colors appear when viewed under the light that you're looking for. It ranges from 0-100, and the closer it is to 100, the more accurate colors will be in general with this type of lighting. When selecting an LED light, it's important to find one that has a high CRI rating.

Features of LED Lights

Dimmability

Nearly 90 percent of all LED lights on the market are dimmable. If you're in need of something for accent lighting or mood lighting purposes, then a dimmable bulb is perfect for your home. They tend to be on the pricier side, but in general, they last for a longer period of time than traditional light bulbs.

Smart Bulbs

Smart bulbs are a newer type of LED light that can connect to your WiFi network. They're perfect if you want to create mood lighting or have them work with other smart devices in the home such as Amazon's Alexa, Apple Homekit-enabled appliances, Google Assistant, and more.

LED bulbs are also easy to use in smart outlets or smart light fixtures for a more customized lighting experience.

Factors to Consider When Buying LED Lights

What's Your Budget?

While LED lights may cost slightly more than traditional bulbs, they pay for themselves over time since they are efficient and long-lasting. Make sure to factor in the life of the bulb when calculating the expense so you know how much value it will provide.

How Brightly Do You Want To Illuminate Your Room?

LED lights are available in a variety of brightness ratings, so make sure that you're choosing one with the desired level of light. A traditional living room bulb is typically around 60-100 watts, while in lumens, that would be 700-1000 lumens. If you have many bulbs in one room, this will also affect the brightness.

Do You Prefer Cool Or Warm Lighting?

Warm lighting is a great choice for bedrooms since it helps you to sleep better. Cooler lighting, on the other hand, is perfect for kitchens or workspaces since it can help keep your energy levels up throughout the day. A balanced light in between the two temperatures is great for a living room.

Do You Want Dimmable Lighting Or Not?

Dimmable lights are a great idea if you want to work with different levels of light or control the mood in a room. If there is a room in your home with multiple lights and you regularly turn some off while leaving others on, this is a sign that you need a dimmable light. This way, you can adjust the brightness on a single bulb rather than all of the lamps in your home.

Final Thoughts

When you're shopping for LEDs, the best thing to do is review this guide on what to look for when purchasing them. We hope that by following these tips, you will find the perfect LED light bulbs for your home needs. Remember: there's an LED light out there for everyone no matter what their budget or style is, and LuxeDecor carries all of them!

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