CFL Color Temperatures

Shades of white light are measured in degrees Kelvin, where lower degrees indicate yellower light and higher degrees indicate whiter or bluish white light. Soft White (2700 Kelvin) is the warmest option that most closely approximates a standard incandescent bulb. It is most often used in areas like living rooms. Bright White (3500 - 4100 Kelvin) is a whiter light than soft white and is most often selected for kitchens and bathrooms or work spaces. Daylight (6000 - 6500 Kelvin) is recommended for reading areas or for use in craft rooms and is a more bluish white that most closely approximates an outdoor overcast sky.