What are the Best LED Colors for Reading and Studying? Unlock the Secret to Improved Focus and Better Grades (2024)

Did you know that different colors of light can have drastically different effects on your brain and eyesight? It's true. Studies have shown that warm white or soft white lights in the 2700K-3000K (Kelvin) range can help reduce eye strain and improve sleep quality, making them the perfect choice for cozy reading nooks and bedroom study sessions.

On the other hand, daylight or cool white lights in the 5000K-6500K range can boost alertness and productivity, making them ideal for task lighting in home offices and classrooms. But don't just take our word for it. Numbers don't lie. In a study by the Lighting Research Center, participants who read under warm white LEDs scored an average of 5% higher on reading comprehension tests than those who read under cool white LEDs. That's a significant difference that could mean acing an exam or barely passing.

In this article, we'll explore the science behind light color and reading and studying, and provide tips on choosing the best light color for focus, relaxation, and various other situations.

Do you want to create the perfect study environment to help you stay focused and ace those exams? Well, white light might just be your answer. But why is white color suitable for studying? It's the closest you'll get to natural daylight from the brain’s perspective, and it's not just one specific wavelength but rather a combination of all wavelengths, including blues at the lower end of the visible spectrum, that has a similar effect on the brain.

Go for bright lights to mimic natural daylight in your study or dorm. While warmer, softer lighting can be cozy and relaxing, it's not ideal for studying. Bright lights, on the other hand, will keep you alert and focused so you can complete your assignments.

Now, natural daylight falls in the range of 5000K to 6500K. Photographers often use lights around 5000K to mimic an overcast day, while lights with a color temperature of 6500K and above feel more like direct sunlight. When shopping for LED bulbs, check the color temperature in Kelvins and aim for something in this range.

LED Bulbs: Don't Get Hung Up on Kelvin or Lumen Ratings

But make sure to distinguish Kelvins from lumens! While the former refers to the hue of the light, the latter are all about brightness. It's possible to find LED bulbs that are low in lumens and high in Kelvins or vice versa, so make sure you're getting something with high lumens for a good studying environment. You want to avoid straining your eyes trying to read or write in a dimly lit room.

So, is warm light good for studying? Warm lights might feel cozy, but they're not the best choice for hitting the books. To explain, let’s imagine this:

It's the night before a big exam, and you're trying to study as much as possible to nail it. You sit at your desk with all your notes and textbooks, ready to dive in. But as you start reading, you find yourself struggling to stay awake. Your eyes feel heavy, and you start feeling drowsy. You get up to grab a drink of water, hoping it'll help, but when you sit back down, you find yourself drifting off again. Sound familiar?

This situation happens all too often to students trying to study in a warmly-lit room. Warm colors like reds and oranges have wavelengths at the higher end of the spectrum and are naturally associated with rest and bedtime by the brain. These warm colors can trigger a response similar to a sunset or soothing candlelight, making you feel relaxed and sleepy instead of awake and focused.

Melatonin is a natural hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle. Its production is triggered when daylight is reduced and encourages your body to sleep. Warm lights and dimly lit rooms can trigger melatonin production, making it harder for you to stay awake and focused.

Brighten Up Your Studies: The Benefits of Blue and White Light

On the other hand, blue and white lights have been shown to improve alertness and cognitive performance. A study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that students exposed to blue light had significantly better cognitive performance than those exposed to warm light. Another study published in the journal Lighting Research & Technology found that blue light significantly improved alertness and cognitive performance in office workers.

Studies Show Cooler Lighting = Better Focus and Cognition

According to a review of multiple studies published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, avoiding blue lights with a color temperature of 4000K to 6500K or higher before bedtime and using warmer color lights with a color temperature of 2000-3000K can improve sleep quality. In fact, a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews found that exposure to blue light in the evening may have negative effects on sleep quality and can make it harder to fall asleep.

Therefore, it's best to opt for warmer, more muted lighting to promote better sleep and help you relax before bed. This way, you'll be well-rested and more alert the following day, allowing you to perform your best on that exam or finish your project with ease.

But it's not just the color of the light that's important. If you're trying to create the ultimate study setup that'll help you stay focused and crush exams, you've got to pay attention to more than just the color of your light.

Glare can seriously mess with your concentration ability, often caused by direct or rapidly changing light levels. Avoid aiming lights directly at your screen or face and avoid smooth or polished surfaces that might reflect light. Instead, angle lights towards your desk or work surface.

LED Bulbs: Bright Idea for Studying

But it's not just about glare. When picking out LED bulbs, you'll also want to consider lumens and the Color Rendering Index (CRI). Lumens measure the bulb's brightness, so aim for something high in lumens for a well-lit study space.

Lumens and CRI: the Science Behind LED Bulb Selection

CRI measures how accurately colors appear under an LED bulb, with a high CRI (close to 100) meaning colors look vibrant and true to life and a lower CRI indicating they may appear dull and muted. For best results, aim for a CRI of at least 80, especially if you're in a field where accurate colors are essential (like fashion design or art). With these factors in mind, you'll be well on your way to creating a study environment that'll help you focus and succeed!

In conclusion, proper lighting can make all the difference in studying and reading. Warm white or soft white lights in the 2700K-3000K range can help you relax and get a good night's sleep, while cool white lights in the 5000K-6500K range can boost your productivity and focus.

And if you want to take your study setup to the next level, consider the BenQ LaptopBar or e-Reading Desk Lamp. These two lamps both provide adjustable and flicker-free lighting that's perfect for any situation. With a range of color temperatures to choose from, you can easily find the ideal light for your needs.

The BenQ LaptopBar is a a portable laptop light with CIRCUM-Light™ Technology for optimal illumination during reading and studying. The design of its main light and ambient light ensures that you have the perfect illumination for extended reading sessions and focused study sessions.

The BenQ e-reading desk lamp is a versatile and effective tool for enhancing reading and studying. Its optimized lighting ensures a wider and more uniform light coverage, which can help to reduce eye strain and increase reading speed.

Below are advantages of BenQ LaptopBar and BenQ e-Reading Desk Lamp that you may find helpful in deciding if you need one:

An excellent lamp for reading and studying must have the correct brightness and balance of function and adjustability. It should also include additional specifications that allow you to alternate between warm and cool light, which can help you work with different color palettes and improve your efficiency! Overall, the BenQ LaptopBar and e-reading desk lamp can help to create a more comfortable and efficient reading and studying environment, allowing you to be more productive and focused.

What do you think about our eye-friendly lighting? After learning the importance of which color is best for studying, we hope you experience one of our products for yourself!