Color Swatch LabGear · CSL–G05
Lighting and bulbs for testing paint color
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The same paint can look yellow under a warm bulb and gray under a cool one. Two numbers explain most of it. Kelvin (K) describes how warm or cool the light is, and CRI (color rendering index) describes how faithfully a bulb shows colors compared with natural light. For the full explanation, read how lighting changes paint color.
The goal of this page is practical: gather a few bulbs, put them in a lamp, and look at the same sample under each. You are not looking for the "right" bulb; you are checking that the color holds up under the light you will use at night, in the morning and at midday.
High-CRI bulbs to start with
Who it is for: anyone choosing a paint color for a room with artificial light.
Bulbs with a CRI of 90 or higher show colors more accurately than low-CRI bulbs. The package should state the CRI.
- A19 LED bulb, 2700K soft white, 90+ CRI, 810 lumensshow colors more faithfully than low-CRI bulbs. (View on Amazon)
- GE Reveal color-enhancing 2850K A19 LED bulbs (8-pack)bulbs marketed for color-enhancing light. (View on Amazon)
- Philips Hue White Ambiance A19 smart bulbs (2-pack, Hue Hub required)switch between warm and cool temperatures with one bulb. (View on Amazon)
Bulbs by color temperature
Who it is for: people who want to see how a sample shifts from warm to cool.
Buy one bulb of each temperature and swap them in a lamp. Look at the same sample under each.
- A19 LED bulbs, 2700K soft white, 60W equivalent (6-pack)test a color under warm evening light. (View on Amazon)
- Energetic A19 LED bulbs, 3000K warm white (24-pack)a middle warm-white temperature. (View on Amazon)
- TJOY A19 LED bulbs, 4000K cool white (6-pack)a neutral-white temperature. (View on Amazon)
- Energetic A19 LED bulbs, 5000K daylight (24-pack)test a color under cool, daylight-style light. (View on Amazon)
Lamps and fixtures for testing
Who it is for: dark corners, hallways and rooms without good ceiling lights.
A clamp or floor lamp lets you aim a bulb at a sample from the angle the room will use.
- Clamp lamps with 5.5 in. aluminum reflector (2-pack)shines a test bulb on a sample at an angle. (View on Amazon)
- Wio-Mio LED floor lamp with stepless dimminga movable light for testing colors in dark corners. (View on Amazon)
- WiFi smart plug that works with Alexa and Google Hometurn test lamps on and off on a schedule. (View on Amazon)
- LED-compatible dimmer switchlets you check a color at different light levels. (Search on Amazon)
Measuring and comparing light
Who it is for: people who like numbers, or who are deciding between two rooms.
A lux meter shows how bright a space really is, and a neutral gray card gives you a reference to hold beside a sample.
- Dr.meter LED light meter, 0 to 200,000 luxmeasures how bright a room really is. (View on Amazon)
- 18% neutral gray cards for white balancea neutral reference to hold next to a sample. (View on Amazon)
- White foam board, 20 x 30 in., 3/16 in. thick (12-pack)large boards for mounting painted samples. (View on Amazon)
FAQ
- What CRI should I look for?
- 90 or higher is a good target for judging paint color. Many bulbs sit around 80, which is usable but less faithful.
- What Kelvin matches daylight?
- About 5000 to 6500K is described as daylight. Warm indoor light is around 2700K and neutral white is around 3500 to 4000K.
- Should I test paint under daylight bulbs?
- Test under the bulbs you will actually live with, and add a daylight check for a view of how the color reads in natural light.
- Do smart bulbs help?
- Tunable bulbs let you check a sample at several color temperatures without swapping bulbs, which can be convenient. Make sure the one you buy lists its CRI.
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