The Best LED Light Bulbs
“We love LEDs,” says Brendan Ravenhill of LA lighting company Ravenhill Studio. “They’re better for the environment. They’re sturdier than their incandescent counterparts and will outlive most of your apartments. But the quality of the light cast by LEDs can be less than satisfying if you don’t shop carefully.”
Hearing this—and ever on the lookout for an LED that casts a kinder light—we reached out to Brendan and his team fore guidance. The LA studio turns out to be extremely knowledgable on the subject: they’ve just unveiled their own line of dim-to-warm LED lightbulbs. Making bulbs, they tell us, came in response to frustration over what’s out there and a desire to pair their designs with the best.
Yes, the Ravenhill team can’t help but be a bit partial to their own products, but as longstanding fans of their lighting, we wanted to hear their advice. And when we couldn’t keep it all straight, they patiently delivered a cheat sheet: no need to take notes—you’ll find all the key facts at the end.
Remodelista: Where to begin when bulb shopping?
Ravenhill Studio: There are three things to consider:
1. Brightness (Lumens): Are you looking for output or something that sets the mood? If brightness is your priority, shop for high Lumens (e,g, 500 and up), but unless your house is a science lab, you’ll still want some warmth, too, so don’t go no cooler than 3000 Kelvins. Look for descriptions on the bulb box like “warm white” and avoid descriptions like “soft white” or “daylight.”
2. Warmth (Kelvins): If you’re lighting up a part of your space that’s primarily for living (as opposed to working), shop for lower Lumens (between 450-800), 2700 Kelvins, and stick with “warm white.” This will ensure your fixture emits ample brightness without being cold. The light will also be more flattering and comfortable.
3. Dimming: If your fixture will be used in a spot where you occasionally want to lower the light to shift the mood, we recommend a dimmer switch and a “dim to warm” or DTW bulb.
