Why Switch to LED Bulbs?
Not sure which LED bulb is right for your home? We answer the most common questions on brightness, colour temperature, wattage and more...
Buying a light bulb can be a surprisingly difficult task. We all know that using LED lightbulbs in our homes is a proven way to save on energy bills and, in turn, look after our planet. But what actually is an LED? Which ones are best? Do they really offer the same light output as traditional bulbs, halogens and filaments? We've taken our most-asked light bulb questions and answered them all in one place for your easy reading.
What is an LED Bulb?
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, which pass electricity through a filament to produce light, LEDs pass energy through a semiconductor — a process that generates far less heat and wastes far less energy. Traditional incandescent bulbs lose around 95% of their energy as heat; LEDs use the vast majority of it to actually produce light.
What is the Kelvin Scale?
Kelvin (K) is the unit used to measure the colour temperature of a light — in other words, how warm or cool the light appears. At Tom Raffield, our bulbs sit at the warmer end of the scale: the exposed filament Tala Elva and Tala Gaia bulbs have a colour temperature of 2,200K, giving a rich, warm glow, while Tala Porcelain frosted bulbs sit at 2,500K and offer a slightly softer warm white — a little more understated.
As a general rule, warmer bulbs tend to suit relaxing spaces like bedrooms and living rooms, where atmosphere matters as much as visibility.
Does Wattage Affect Brightness in LED Bulbs?
With LED light bulbs, wattage measures energy use, not brightness — brightness is measured in lumens. A lower-wattage LED can actually outshine a higher-wattage one depending on its efficiency. What wattage does matter for is your fixture's maximum rating — all Tom Raffield designs take up to 25W.
What are Lumens?
Lumens tell you how much light a bulb actually produces. Unlike wattage, which only tells you how much energy it consumes, lumens give you a direct measure of brightness. When replacing an old incandescent bulb, the packaging of most LED bulbs will show a lumen equivalent to help you match the brightness you're used to — handy if you're switching to LED for the first time.
Are LED bulbs bright enough?
Switching from a traditional 50W incandescent to a 5W LED doesn't mean a fraction of the light — it means measuring brightness differently. LEDs are rated in lumens, not watts, and a 5W LED can actually match or outperform a 50W incandescent in light output. Don't let the lower wattage put you off.
What are the Benefits of LED Bulbs?
The efficiency of LEDs translates directly into savings — lower energy consumption means lower electricity bills, and most LED bulbs tend to last much longer than incandescent bulbs before they need replacing. Better for your wallet, and better for the environment too. Lighting currently accounts for around 6% of global carbon emissions, and a widespread shift to LED technology has the potential to make a significant dent in that figure.
Are LED bulbs dimmable?
Most Tom Raffield lights are fully dimmable when paired with a dimmable LED bulb and an inline dimmer switch — ideal for spaces that need to work hard across different moods, from bright task lighting to a softer evening ambience. One thing worth knowing: our bulbs are compatible with trailing edge dimmers, which is the standard in modern domestic wiring. If you have an older leading edge dimmer, upgrading is a simple and inexpensive job for a qualified electrician.
Posted: 29.10.20
Updated: 09.03.26