I know the world has gone crazy over LED lights, but I despise them. I think they make everything look garish and unnatural. I have recessed halogen lighting in my kitchen and they are perfect for illuminating a work space and all the colors look absolutely fine. I also have incandescent lights throughout my home and they add a nice warm, homey glow to everything.

The only problem with both halogen and incandescent is that they are becoming more difficult to find. I stock up on them whenever I can.

Halogens are 2700k when fully on, warmer if they are on a dimmer. 4000k is much too cool for residential spaces for me, 3000k is the right balance for me in which case the 2700k halogens blend in (I have two chandeliers that are 2700k but everything else is 3000). If you are sure about 4000k then you need to change out the pendants which is small compared to the rest of the list. If they are halogen you can probably just replace the bulb.

Halogen bulbs are 3000k.Link. Incandescent bulbs are 2700k. 3500k mixes with the halogen I have. Only one person on this forum prefers 4000k. It's not a standard. I don't use it in the garage. It's recommended for classrooms, offices and supermarkets.

@dan1888 Thank you! What do you mean when you say 3500k mixes with your halogens? That you can use them together in the same room?

I forgot to mention that I have undercabinet Xenon lighting. I can't remember the wattage. However, as nice as they look when on I rarely use them. Partly because they get so hot. Ambiance-wise they do look nice... but I don't find myself needing them for practicality sake very often.

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC I agree it has become harder to find specific halogen bulbs. i have always had good luck with Ebay if I can't find them in my local stores.

@HALLETT & Co. Thank you! Good to know. I'm a blank slate when it comes to lighting.

I definitely did not realize I could replace the bulbs in halogen pendants. The ones I have have a very specific sockets (which I despise, i'm always breaking the pins so as much as I've liked the lights, they've posed a problem at change time). Do you mean the sockets can be changed? Thank you

I prefer 3000k in my home. It seems many are recommending 4000k today, but this lighting is too bright and harsh for my taste; and I like a more contempory style also!

@Rachel Thanks for your input, one thing is for sure I do not want harsh or super-bright. For heavens sake I'm too old for that lmao

We Have ours set to 3500, on dimmers, just a tic of warmth. 4000 is super bright, you could always put them on a dimmer, but theres absolutely no warmth, they give off a very sterile light. We used 4000 in the garage.

@duchamp, I wish to make a correction. 3000k bulbs are what I'm using in the 6" cans throughout the house. A19 100w equivalents from Costco. Feit 17.5w, I've replaced 3000k MR16 50w bulbs with Cree MR16 Pro GU5.3 570 lumen 3000k Narrow Flood bulbs, Link. These are listed as 75w equivalent 6.5w. 8' ceiling shining on counter work zones and island seating counter areas.

You get LED replacements for you halogen and the replacements can be 4000K I replaced all my halogens with LEDs no issues. You can also replace all the 6" can bulbs with the same 4000K I have 4000K all through my house and I love it I do not find sterile but if you are used to incandecsent it will take a couple of days to get used to the new lighting.

Take one of your halogen bulbs into a store like Batteries Plus. They can find an LED replacement for you.

I like a softer bulb, and have 2700-3000 in all rooms. So don’t feel like you have to go for whiter if you don’t truly want them that colour. There is no “norm”.

I prefer a softer light - 2700-3000 which would go well with existing halogens. Don’t feel like you have to to a whiter bulb if you don’t truly like it!