What do the terms lux and lumens mean?

The importance of the terms lux and lumen

Lux and lumens are both units of measurement that play an important role in the lighting of rooms and buildings. While the lumen describes the amount of light that is radiated by a light source, the lux states how much light falls on a certain area. When buying lights for indoor or outdoor use, it is important to take into account both the lumen and the Lux value. A lamp with a high number of lumen is not always synonymous with good lighting.

A high number of lumens only means that the lamp releases a lot of light. However, the brightness is influenced by the size of the room and the height of the lamp. For example, a room with a high ceiling requires a higher number of lumen to be adequately illuminated. The Lux value is an important factor for illuminance in one room. In order to determine the correct illumination for a room, various factors such as the space size, the ceiling height and the type of activities that take place in the room must be taken into account. For example, a work area or a kitchen counter needs a higher illuminance than a living room. When choosing the right lighting, it is not just about taking into account the right lux and lumen values, but also about the color temperature and the color rendering index (CRI) of the light source. The color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and influences the atmosphere of the room. Warm white light (2700k-3000K) creates a cozy atmosphere, while cooler light (5000k-6500K) is better suited for work areas.

The CRI is a measure of the ability of a light source to reproduce colors with nature. A high CRI is particularly important in rooms such as bathrooms in which the make-up is applied or in art studios in which color rendering is important. Another important consideration in the choice of lighting is energy consumption. Luminaires that are operated with LED technology usually have lower energy consumption than conventional light bulbs or halogen lamps. LED lights also have a longer lifespan and are more environmentally friendly because they consume less energy and produce less waste. When installing lights, it is important to adhere to the safety regulations. The electrical installation should be carried out by a specialist in order to avoid electric shocks or fires. The lights should also be installed at places where they cannot be accidentally damaged, for example near doors or windows. 

"When buying lights, you should make sure that the illuminance is matched to the room. Use warm light in living areas and cooler light in work areas. Smart lamps offer a flexible and adaptable lighting option."

Basic information about the lighting measurement

If you have ever bought a lamp, you've probably heard the term "lux". But what exactly does this term mean? In this text you will find out everything you need to know about Lux and lighting measurements. When it comes to lighting, not only plays the light design an important role, but above all the properties of the light itself are important. But here there are countless units of measurement that need to be considered - one of which is the illuminance. It is measured in Lux, abbreviated LX, which comes from the Latin and can be translated with light. We want to explain to you in this article.

The illuminance is given in the physical unit Lux and stands for how much light or luminous flux falls on a certain area. However, this cannot be equated with the brightness, since a white wall with the same illuminance looks much brighter than a dark area. The color of the surface thus affects our sense of brightness enormously.

The illumination is important to ensure that we have enough light to carry out our daily tasks. Too little light can lead to eye load and headache, while too much light can be dazzling. Lux is also important to ensure that we have the right type of lighting for our needs. For example, you need more lighting in a work area than in a living room. Lux can be measured with a luxmeter that usually consists of a light sensor and a display device. The light sensor absorbs the incident light and the display device shows the illuminance in Lux. There are also apps for smartphones that can measure the illuminance, but they are usually not as precisely as a luxmeter. Depending on the space, we recommend different illuminance: in our opinion, a illuminance of 100-200 lux is suitable in the living room. While 300 to 500 lux is more suitable in the office. In surgery, you should orientate yourself on a guideline of 5000 lux.

If you want to make sure you have enough light for your needs, you can measure the illuminance in Lux. For example, if you find that your living room only has 50 lux, you can buy a stronger lamp or add an additional light source to increase the illuminance. How much lux the illuminance of a lamp has must be calculated itself, since this depends heavily on the positioning of the luminaire: if this is very close to an area, the Lux value is significantly higher than with a very wide distance of the light source for Area. The illuminance is now defined as lumens per square meter (LM/m²) and it is measured with a so -called luxy meter on horizontal and vertical surfaces or based on simulations. In addition to the removal of the lamp to the surface and the lumen value, the beam angle of the lamp is also needed to ultimately determine the exact lux number.

Important photometric sizes

• Lumen: How much light a light source is given per second in total
• Light intensity (candela): indicates the current related to the space
• Lux luxury level: luminous flux that occurs on a certain area
• Luminance: provides detailed information about the luminous current

What things do I have to pay attention to when it comes to living room lighting?

The illumination in Lux is less relevant for private individuals, but mainly for company and public sites, because here certain regulations apply. They serve occupational safety and personal safety and should therefore also be complied with:

• Workplace lighting: min. 500 lux (the more detail the activity, the more)

• Traffic zone lighting: 100 lux

• Road lighting: 10 lux

• escape path lighting: in the middle min. 1 lux

But you can also orientate yourself on these guidelines for your private spaces. Nevertheless, it makes more sense to concentrate on the luminous flux and the beam angle in order to roughly estimate the illuminance when buying. After all, this is not simply stated and only requires a calculation.

• Bedroom: 45 Lux

• Living room: 77 lux

• Bathroom: 110 lux

Conclusion - that's how you do everything!

Overall, choosing the right lighting is an important factor for the functionality and atmosphere of a room. The consideration of lux, lumen, color temperature and CRI When choosing the lights, can help find the best lighting solution for the room. The current lighting trends, such as the use of decorative lights and smart lamps, offer additional options to improve lighting in one room.

If you are still undecided how you want to implement the lighting in your home, please make an appointment with the light professionals from Skapetze, To a personal advice and the development of an individual Lighting concept to take advantage of.

You are also welcome to us on site in Simbach am Inn in our Light studio visit come.

If you already have a concrete idea what the lights should look like in your living room, we can help you to implement this idea into reality - ours in -house workshop makes it possible.