Colour temperature is the single biggest decision in any lighting specification, and it is the one most buyers make based on guesswork. Too cool and a room feels like an office. Too warm and a retail space looks like it is hiding something. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). A lower number means warmer, more amber-toned light. A higher number means cooler, bluer-toned light.
2700K to 3000K: warm white
Best for bedrooms, living rooms, restaurant dining spaces, and bars. Flatters skin tones and creates the amber warmth associated with evening light. Boardsy’s LED Cube Light Box runs at this temperature range for hospitality table use.
3000K to 3500K: soft white to neutral
Retail environments where product accuracy matters but warmth is still valued. Also works well for hotel lobbies and reception areas.
3500K to 4000K: neutral to cool white
Offices, healthcare environments, and commercial kitchens. Supports alertness and colour accuracy for task work without the clinical coldness of daylight temperatures.
4000K to 5000K: cool white
Photography and print assessment environments where colour rendering accuracy is critical. Also used in display lighting where maximum brightness and contrast are the priority.
5000K to 6500K: daylight
Studio photography, medical imaging, and jewellery assessment. Accurate colour rendering at the cost of visual warmth.
For RGB units specifically, the key distinction is whether the unit is RGB only or RGBW or RGBWW. RGB-only units cannot produce a genuine warm white because they have no dedicated white diode. Boardsy’s Custom Circle LED Lamp and Marlboro LED Floor Lamp are available in RGBW specification for clients who need both colour capability and accurate warm white performance.