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Navigating the lightbulb section at a home improvement store can be confusing when you’re faced with a seemingly endless collection of boxes. It helps to have an understanding of what terms like “lumen” and “watt” mean, as both of these terms can weigh into your decision. The team at Palette Studios, the leading source for custom and decorative lighting in Cincinnati, OH, is here to make sense of these terms in the sections below. 

What Is a Lumen?

decorative lightingLumens are a measurement of light a bulb gives off. The higher the lumen is, the brighter the light will be. A low lumen number indicates a dimmer glow. If you’re shopping for brilliant chandeliers for a foyer or bold decorative fixtures for a family room, this measurement should be taken into consideration. A certain lumen measurement equates to a certain wattage. For example, 1,500 lumens are equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb and a 25-watt LED bulb. A 600-lumen measurement translates to a 40-watt incandescent and a 10-watt LED.

What Is a Watt?

Watts indicate the amount of energy needed to create the light. While it stands to reason that a high wattage equates to a greater amount of light, this isn’t always the case. With the introduction of energy-efficient lighting, it becomes even more important to understand the correlation between the number and generation of light. A low-wattage LED bulb, designed to save energy, may provide enough lighting to replace a traditional 60- or 75-watt bulb. But in the case of old-school incandescent models, a high wattage does equate to a brighter glow.

Whether you’re shopping for decorative lighting, floor lamps, or chandeliers, it’s important to understand why lumens and watts matter and how they can affect your buying decision. If you’re interested in learning more about the products at Palette Studios, visit their website. Pay a visit to the showroom to peruse their elegant decorative lighting, lamps, and vintage products, or give them a call at (513) 961-1316.

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