Why does my room sometimes feel too bright… and other times not bright enough?

We’ve all been there.
You’re chopping vegetables and your own shadow blocks the cutting board. Or you’re in the lounge, relaxing with a book, but the light feels like it’s burning your eyes.

The problem? Lumens — the measure of how bright a light actually is.
And yes, there is a science behind how bright different rooms should be. These numbers aren’t guesses — they’re based on UK lighting design guidelines and interior design research.

here’s the no-nonsense way to work it out: Measure your room → Check the table → Area × Brightness = Total Lumens. 

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1) Measure Your Room

• Imperial: Area (ft²) = Length (ft) × Width (ft)

• Metric: Area (m²) = Length (m) × Width (m)

• Handy note: 1 m² = 10.76 ft² (or 1 ft² ≈ 0.093 m²)
  

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2) How Bright Do You Need It? 

From brightest to dimmest — here’s why

Some rooms need sharper, more intense light for tasks that require detail. Others are best with softer, calmer light for relaxation. That’s why we start with the brightest spaces and work our way down.

Room Type	Why it needs this brightness	Recommended Brightness (Lumens per ft²)	Metric Equivalent (Lux)
Kitchen worktop	Chopping, reading labels, accurate colour checking	50–75	540–810
Kitchen (general)	Cooking safely, seeing ingredients clearly	30–40	325–430
Dining area	Balancing atmosphere with seeing food colours	20–30	215–325
Lounge / Living room	Reading, chatting, watching TV without glare	15–25	160–270
Bedroom	Rest, soft light for winding down	10–20	110–220

Prefer it brighter? Pick the higher number. Want it softer? Go for the lower one.

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3) Quick way to calculate the total lumens you need

Formula:
Room area (ft²) × Recommended brightness (lumens/ft²) × 1.2

The ×1.2 is to allow for light loss due to llamp shades, darker walls, higher ceilings or the natural dimming of bulbs over time.

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4) Let’s Work It Out 

 

 

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Extra tips

• Dark walls? Go for the higher end of the range.

• Multiple lamps give softer, more even light and reduce shadows.

• Warm light (2700–3000K) feels cosy, cool light (3000–4000K) helps focus.

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5) How Many Bulbs Do You Need?

• Look at the lumens (lm) on the box, not the watts (W).

• Number of bulbs ≈ Total lumens ÷ lumens per bulb → round up.

Common LED guide:

• ~400 lm ≈ old 40W bulb

• ~800 lm ≈ 60W

• ~1,100 lm ≈ 75W

• ~1,600 lm ≈ 100W

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6) Colour Temperature & CRI 

• Colour temperature (K): Bedrooms/lounges 2,700–3,000K (warm, cosy); kitchens/studies 3,000–4,000K(bright, focused).

• CRI (colour accuracy): CRI ≥ 80 for natural-looking skin tones and food; ≥90 for top quality.

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7) Before You Buy 

• Dark walls, heavy curtains, or high ceilings? → Use a higher safety factor (1.3+).

• One light source = more shadows. Layer your lighting: main light + task light + accent light.

• If you’re lost in specs, just check total lumens and colour temperature — those two decide how it feels.

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📌 At Snooziowl, we don’t just sell lamps — we help you get the right light for your life.