Lamping refers to the type of light bulb and socket used in a light fixture. It is important to consider the type of lamping used, as it can affect the brightness, color temperature, and energy efficiency of the fixture.

  

Our Tala bulbs emit a soft, warm glow similar to that of an incandescent bulb, with the efficiency and life-span advantages of LED. 

There are various types of bulbs available in the market, such as incandescent, LED, fluorescent, and halogen. Although we include bulbs with our fixtures and have replacement bulbs available in our shop, it is helpful to understand a few key terms and differences if you are ever sourcing bulbs on your own. 

Lumens

Lumens, also referred to as the brightness or light output, is a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source per unit of time. Simply put, 100-watt incandescent light bulb produces about 1500 - 1700 lumens. 

Watts

The measure of how much energy (electricity) a light bulb consumes to produce a specific level of brightness. Watts and lumens are important factors when deciding if you have enough light for your space. 

Watt Equivalence

If a 60-watt incandescent bulb produces 800 lumens, and a 10-watt LED bulb does the same, the 10-watt LED may be labeled as "60-watt equivalent". 

Calculating Lumens by Room

Different rooms require different lamping based on general recommendations and how you will use the area. This is calculated by multiplying the number of Foot-Candles (unit of measure to define one lumen per square foot) by the total square footage of the room you want to illuminate. The foot-candle factors below represent the main light source for the area specified (not including decorative or accent lighting). 

Living Room 10-20 

Kitchen General 30-40

Kitchen Sink 70-80

Dining Room 30-40

Bedroom 10-20

Hallway 5-10

Bathroom 70-80

For example, to determine the number of lumens recommended for a 250 square foot living room, multiply the square footage by 10-20 lumens. 

 10-20 lumens x 250 square feet = 2500-5000 lumens

 Keep in mind, these are suggestions for typical conditions. If your room is painted a dark color, you are installing a shaded light fixture, or if you want the room to be especially bright, you may add 10-20% to the recommended numbers above. We also recommend installing dimmers so the light can be adjusted from day to night. 

Temperature 

Temperature (or color of light) is measured on the Kelvin scale. The temperature of light effects the overall ambiance and mood of an interior space. Here is a scale to help determine the temperature you might prefer.