What Is The Best LED Light Color For Studying: 5 Features

If you’re an avid user of LED lights, it is normal for you to use your lights for decorative and aesthetic purposes. But did you know that you can also use your LED lights for studying and other productive activities?

This may come as a complete shock to someone who isn’t familiar with LED lights, but research has shown that LED light colors with certain color temperatures can assist the human brain with focusing and attention.

So if LED lights do help increase productivity, what is the best LED light color for studying? Let’s dive deep and find out.

Why is the Right LED Color Important for Studying?

There are a few reasons why it is very important that you know what is the best LED light color for studying. The reasons are:

1. The right light color light can help you better distinguish the things you’re studying. For example, a light color that is similar to the color of the letters or graphics in your book will make it difficult for you to concentrate on them.

2. Certain colors help your brain generate certain hormones within your brain that can increase your focus and productivity. It is important that you keep those colors in the surroundings of your study area.

3. The wrong light color may cause you to become drowsy and relaxed, which is definitely not how you want to be when studying.

4. In addition to focusing, it is also important to be able to study for long periods of time without tiring yourself. Lights that are too bright may fatigue your eyes very quickly.

5. In addition to the color, the way the light is spread out over your studying area is also very important. A light that is too focused may cause eye strain, whereas a light that is too ambient can divert your concentration away.

Let’s Dive Into Color Temperature

Before going into the details, let’s talk about the Kelvin Color Temperature scale. The scale is used to explain how different light temperatures appear visually.

Ranging from 1,000K to 10,000K, the lower end of the scale includes hues of the warmest colors. These colors come to include red, orange, and yellow.

Color-Temperature-Scale-Image — Color Temperature Scale

As you progress up the scale, the undertones become cooler and bluer. The higher end of the spectrum will have bright white colors with blueish undertones.

In order to truly find out what is the best LED light color for studying is, you need to know exactly how these colors affect our brain.

2700K – 3000K

A 2700K color temperature means that at 2700 Kelvin temperature, a traditional incandescent bulb would have that exact color. Although 2700K and 3000K light temperatures are very similar, there is a subtle difference visually.

Extensive research shows that light waves of warmer temperatures enable the brain to release a blend of hormones that help the human body relax. Therefore these temperatures should only be used for areas where you need a calm and cozy environment.

So, although 2700K and 3000K are ideal LED light colors for sleep, we would NOT recommend them for studying. These color temperatures will not help you with your productivity.

3000K – 4000K

Compared to the likes of 2700K these above color temperatures are cooler, meaning that at this range the lights start losing their warm orange undertones and have a more subtle yellow hue.

Even though 3000K whites are cooler compared to 2700K, they should still not be an option when considering what is the best LED light color for studying. Temperatures like 3000K are suitable for living room lighting where you want to relax and wind down after a busy day.

Although 4000K lights still have warmer hues, some people prefer this temperature for productivity as they want some warmth in the illuminated areas.

4000K – 5000K

Once you have crossed the 4000K mark, the lights start losing the slight undertones and almost have a pure white color. This is why the 5000K color temperature is known as neutral white.

Just like warm temperatures help you relax and calm down, cooler color temperatures like 5000K and above help you stay focused and productive. This is why you see neutral white and daylight colors in office and factory spaces.

For domestic use, cool white lights are appropriate for areas where you need to stay alert and concentrated. Areas like the workspace and kitchen are perfect for using 5000K LED lights.

How to Setup Perfect Lighting for Your Study

Now that you know how the color temperature scale works and exactly how your brain reacts to color temperatures, it should come as no surprise that the answer to what is the best LED light color for studying is 5000K or slightly above temperatures.

Neutral white or daylight color temperatures makes your brain understand that you need to be in a productive and attentive mindset while under these lights, thus causing it to release hormones that increase your concentration levels.

While choosing the right color temperature is good and all, it is not the only aspect of lighting that you need to worry about while studying. You also need to be careful about the lighting position, intensity, ambiance, etc.

Although large fluorescent room lights are adequate, we recommend going for a table lamp with a cool white bulb while the surroundings of the study area are dark.

Having a table lamp allows you to control how far away the lamp is, thus you can modify the intensity of the light to your liking. Bring the lights closer if you’re reading small letters, and place them further away if you’re looking at a large area like a screen.

Moving the lamp also allows you to control the ambiance of the light. For higher ambiance, place the lamp further away and vice versa. If you have RGB lighting strips installed, use them at low brightness to provide ambient lighting.

Finally, having darker surrounding areas help you drown out the distractions that are present around your study area.

If you truly want the most versatile lighting option while studying, we recommend using a table lamp with a smart LED bulb. This way, you’ll be able to control the intensity, brightness, and even the color temperature using your smartphone.

Frequently Asked Question

Can I use 4000K LED light bulbs for studying?

Although we recommend settling for white lights with cooler temperatures, you can still use a 4000K temperature light if you want some warmth in your study area. Although you may be a little less productive, the added comfort may actually be beneficial for long periods of studying.

Are cool white temperatures harmful for my eyes?

Prolonged exposure to blue light can be damaging to your eyes and can cause long-term issues. However, this can be avoided if you just use these lights properly and give your eyes adequate rest.
For this, consider using the 20-20-20 rule that is recommended for screen users. After 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at a spot at least 20 feet away from you.

Final Words

That’s all on our guide on what is the best LED light color for studying. Although there are scientific studies suggesting that lights with a concentrated nature and cooler color temperatures are the most suitable option for studying, you may find more success with a different lighting setup.

So we recommend using this article as a guide instead of a rule and experimenting with the lighting in your studying area to find out the optimum solution for you.

What Is the Best LED Light Color for Studying