When it comes to indoor lighting, there are 4 main types you can have: ambient, task, accent, and mood. No matter which ones you choose, you'll notice that the bulbs usually say CRI, followed by a number.
You might have an inkling that this is some sort of rating for the light bulbs. But what does it mean, and what rating should you be aiming for?
Read on to find out the answer to the question "what does CRI mean" and more.
What Does CRI Mean in Lighting?
CRI stands for colour rendering index. This is a scale that was developed to measure how colours look under artificial light, as opposed to natural sunlight.
The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 meaning the light doesn't show colours matching sunlight. At the opposite end of the scale, a 100 means under the artificial light, the hue looks exactly how it would under sunlight. Very few lights will have a CRI of 100, but with technology as it is today, many are close.
In general, the higher the CRI, the better the light.
What's Considered a High or Low CRI?
In general, a CRI of over 90 is considered high. On the other hand, a CRI of under 80 is considered either mid-range or low, depending on the specific CRI.
For residential properties, we recommend our customers choose a CRI of 90 as a minimum. This is essential in areas where task lighting is required, such as kitchens.
For commercial properties, it varies depending on the purpose:
- As with residential, we recommend a minimum of 90%. This is good for offices and general commercial spaces.
- For premium retail, beauty salons, showrooms and restaurants, a higher CRI of 95 is recommended
- For fashion-related businesses which are displaying items, galleries, museums, medical and photo studios, it needs to be higher still, around CRI97.
What Is CRI LED Lighting?
When it comes to your electricity bill, did you know that 10% of the average household budget goes towards lighting? This is why the government is urging households to switch to LED lights, as they're much more energy-efficient. In fact, they use 75% less energy than halogen bulbs, plus they last up to 10 times longer.
Today, high CRI LED lighting is accepted as the norm for both indoor and outdoor lighting.
The Benefits of Having a High CRI vs a Low CRI in Lighting
As we just mentioned, high CRI LED lighting is much better than low CRI. Why? We'll give you several reasons why it is.
Check out the image below that shows a scale of low to high CRI
Makes everyday tasks easier
Have you ever rummaged through your drawers, pulled out what appeared to be matching socks, but found out later in the day, they were actually black and dark blue?
This probably isn't your eyesight but rather the lighting in the room, and specifically the CRI of those lights. Low CRI bulbs make it harder to differentiate between different colours and shades, especially if they're very similar to one another. Similarly spotting marks on clothing or other items is much easier with higher CRI lights which is why they're very useful in laundry rooms.
A more natural look
If you've had fluorescent lighting before, then you'll know how unnatural it can look in a room. Not only that, but it can be tough on your eyes and make it hard to create a nice ambience.
High CRI LED lights can provide the same brightness, if not more, without having that artificial, almost blazing appearance. It'll give your room a more relaxed look without compromising on the overall lighting.
If you're using this lighting to display items you want to sell or show off, it's essential to get the right lighting and CRI is a crucial factor within this.
The cost is lower than you might think
If you have a tight budget, then you might think that going with low CRI bulbs will save you some money. However, high CRI light bulbs cost very little more than equivalent lower CRI bulbs.
If you’re running a business and need to display products, the additional investment in higher CRI lights will pay off over time. In your home, it won’t be a financial gain but, from our experience, it will allow you to enjoy your space that bit more. In areas where you need task lighting, we highly recommend opting for the higher CRI option if you’re on the fence.
If you need a second opinion, please get in touch. Our lighting designer is happy to help answer quick questions like this to make sure you choose the right product for you.
Better for photography
Whether you're snapping pictures of friends and family at home, or taking pictures of your latest culinary creation for your blog, good lighting will save you time.
Ultimately, you will want the picture to convey the actual colours of the things in the photos, instead of distorting them. A higher CRI will help make your images more "true to colour", saving you multiple retakes and valuable editing time. You'll be surprised how much of a difference this can make and, now that you know about it, you'll probably notice it more!
Choose the Right Type of Lighting for Your Home
The key takeaway here is that a higher CRI is usually better than a lower one. The next time you need to replace or buy new lights, we recommend keeping this in mind to help you utilise and enjoy your space.
We hope this article has helped to answer your questions. If you need further guidance, please get in touch.
Alternatively, you can order everything you need online with us.