Choosing by lumens & Kelvin: ambience vs visibility
Do you want ambience in the garden, or visibility & security for your driveway and entrances? Lumens determine brightness and Kelvin determines the light color (warm vs cool). Pick your situation below and instantly see suitable outdoor lighting.
View all outdoor lighting →How to choose the right outdoor lighting
Start with your goal: ambience or visibility. Then decide: (1) Kelvin for color temperature, (2) lumens for brightness, and (3) placement (aiming/beam) to avoid glare.
- 2700K–3000K: warm ambience (garden/patio)
- 4000K: clear visibility & security (driveway/entrances)
- Multiple light points look calmer than one very bright fixture
Lumens (brightness)
Lumens measure brightness. More lumens = brighter light. For ambience you typically go lower (comfortable), for driveways/work areas you go higher (visibility & security).
| Situation | Typical lumens | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Garden/patio (accent) | 100–400 lm per point | Aim at objects or downward |
| Garden/patio (general) | 300–800 lm per point | Multiple points instead of one very bright light |
| Path/orientation | 200–600 lm per point | Wide beam = more even light |
| Driveway/entrance | 1000–3000+ lm | Motion sensor + 4000K often works best |
| Work zone | 2000–5000+ lm | Even light reduces shadows |
Kelvin (color temperature)
Kelvin is the color temperature. Lower = warmer/cozier, higher = cooler/brighter. For residential outdoor areas, 2700K–4000K is usually most pleasant.
- 2700K: warm ambience
- 3000K: warm-white all-round
- 4000K: clear visibility & security
Kelvin guide
| Kelvin | How it looks | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 2700K | Warm, cozy | Garden/patio, facade ambience |
| 3000K | Warm-white, slightly brighter | All-round outdoor, entrances, paths |
| 4000K | Neutral/bright white | Driveways, entrances, security, work areas |
| 5000–6000K | Cool (harsher look) | Specific: work/sports/large areas |
Use cases
Ambience in garden & patio
Browse all garden lighting →Warm, cozy light around your patio, borders, pergola or facade—without glare.
- 2700K–3000K for warm ambience
- Several lower light points look calmer than one very bright lamp
- Aim light downward or onto objects (accent lighting)
Paths & orientation (safe walking)
Browse path lighting →Comfortable, even light along paths and edges—no “stadium light”.
- 3000K–4000K for visibility without a harsh look
- 200–600 lumens per point is often enough
- Choose a wide beam + shielding to reduce glare
Driveway / side entrance & security
Browse all LED floodlights →Clear visibility for parking, entrances, sheds—motion sensor lighting often works best here.
- 4000K for visibility & security
- 1000–3000+ lumens depending on width/distance
- Beam angle matters: wide = even, narrow = focused
Work lighting (construction lights)
Browse all construction lights →For DIY, work areas or loading/unloading. You want even light and enough lumens.
- 4000K–5000K for functional work light
- 2000–5000+ lumens for work zones (or multiple lights)
- At least IP65 for heavy outdoor use
Yard / sports field (large area)
Browse all sports field lighting →Large areas need proper distribution: multiple fixtures, correct beam angle and mounting height.
- Choose high output and distribute light to reduce shadows
- Match beam angle + mounting height for coverage
- Reduce glare towards neighbours/roads (aiming & shielding)
