Warm white, daylight white, bright white LEDs for kitchen?

[TheElementsSong]

We're having to replace all of our kitchen downlights (currently GU5.3 halogens) because Reasons. Our electrician wants to know, obviously, which colour LEDs - as per thread title - we would like, so he can get them ordered.

In most other rooms in the house, it's obvious (to me) what colour is best, e.g. warm white lights in all living areas for cosiness, bright white lights in the bathroom for seeing the full horror of wrinkle and facial hair. But the kitchen is a funny one for me, so I was wondering what other people have.

I would think warm white lights are too cosy-looking for doing kitchen chores, whilst bright white lights are too cold-looking, but how about daylight white - is that also cold-looking (kitchen is north-facing and physically a very cold room)? I just can't visualise it.

[wowfudge]

We have warm white - it's nice and bright and light with the lights on without being too stark or cold.

[randomthoughts]

I love the daylight white ones we have. Our pendants are warm white and the contrast is really effective.

[whiskyowl]

Warm white. BIL has cool white and even in their south-facing kitchen, they look cold. Not helped by white worktops, though.

[TheElementsSong]

Two votes for warm white, one for daylight white so far. I admit I generally prefer the look of warm white elsewhere in the house, so am already biased .

random do the daylight white lights look cold if you haven't got the pendants on?

[RosieOnTheRooftop]

I'd go for warm white everywhere. We accidentally got bright white for our hallway, they made it feel like a particularly soulless supermarket.

[randomthoughts]

I don’t think they do, we’ve got alabaster units and blanco city worktops so very pale, but I’m not a huge fan of yellow generally so daylight works well for me. Tbh it’s only a few £s if you want to change them, so whatever you choose it isn’t forever!

[TheElementsSong]

Tbh it’s only a few £s if you want to change them, so whatever you choose it isn’t forever!

Electrician has recommended all-in-one units which he himself has in his own home, and says they last for donkey's years. He did say once he has installed the guts of it, actually swapping out the units is child's play, but I would feel bad about wasting perfectly functional light fittings because I didn't like the colour of the light. So if possible I want to choose the right ones to begin with.

I am now veering slightly towards daylight white after your description of them...

(I have seen all these lights in shops before, but it's really hard to judge from a row of samples how they will look in an actual home).

[OutToGetYou]

Warm white - I've just done mine and they are warm white.

Beware him telling you they last "donkey's years", I've recently moved and two were out, two others partially out (they come in thirds, and squinting at them you could see each had 1/3 missing) and it's obvious two others have been replaced as they are slightly different.
My electrician (who swapped them out for me yesterday) said they are poor quality and the soldering has gone on them.

So, buy good quality ones! I can't comment on the new ones, they seem OK and were £10 ish each. But others were c£25 each (I have quite a few and I'm not made of money).

Oh, I have warm white everywhere else too.

[Molokai]

I also suggest warm white.

[TheElementsSong]

OK, just got off the phone to electrician and I have gone for (drumroll).... warm white!

He says they are going to be crazy bright (compared to the old halogens) whichever colour I went for, so I will be able to clearly see the dried Weetabix bits in my sink and the burnt crud on my oven door.

Thanks everyone!

[Madbengalmum]

I would check out the most up to date version which features all of your colours in one light. You can change the light on the fitting to your taste. Just had them fitted, they are called solo.

[TheElementsSong]

That sounds even better bengal - I'll ring him back.

[Madbengalmum]

They are pretty good and there is a switch on the fitting to change the colour. They are fairly new and were recommended by our contractors who are very in the know with the new products, also dimmable if that makes a difference to you.

[Madbengalmum]

Also a big plus was that you can change the surround colour too. White, brushed metal or shiny metal ,think of the fun you could have!!!

[ShotsFired]

I have a small dark n facing kitchen and I went for daylight.

The change was amazing and for weeks I kept going I there just to marvel at how bright it was. I was actually going to say DON'T get warm white as I found it looked kind of grubby in a strange way. the light was too warm for the gloomy room (god this sounds crazy)

[jigster01]

Warm white here too ...all in the ceiling ,the 3x pendants and under cabinet all the same ..dont think it would like right if they were different

[TheElementsSong]

Right, we are having the fancy every-colour-changing lights with the magnetic removable surrounds. Result!

[OutToGetYou]

I like the look of those, if I didn't have about 20 I would change them to those. Though, I have to admit I tend to think the more fancy a gizmo, the more likely it is to break!

[FrogFairy]

Please would any of you be kind enough to link to these lights?

Just about to start planning my new kitchen so need to learn about everything.

[TheElementsSong]

Sorry Frog I don't have a link, all based on conversations with my electrician.

[IceFall]

Right, we are having the fancy every-colour-changing lights with the magnetic removable surrounds. Result!

Fun!

I got cold light, didn't like the warm light in my very dark kitchen. I like the bright clinical feel.

[OutToGetYou]

I just Googled Solo LED lights and found the supplier.

[godricshollow]

Hafele Loox do this as well. It only really matters if you have other lights in the area and want the same light temperature say for pendants, ceiling and counter spotlights.

[prettypaws]

I went for warm white under the counters, in the cooker hood and in the pendant fitting, all for a cosy feeling in the evening. Then the actual spotlights i did daylight bulbs and a remote colour changing spotlight for bright and functional in the day.