How many lumens per m²? Lighting room by room, from bulb to floor lamp

The lumen measures the light emitted by a source, the lux the light received by a surface: one lux equals one lumen per square metre. Recommendations by room are expressed in lux, or in lumens per m², to be multiplied by the area. Only one standard applies, to workplaces: NF EN 12464-1, which sets 500 lux for reading, writing and screen work. For homes, the following values are benchmarks used by lighting professionals.

How many lumens per m²: the calculation rule

Lumens required = room area in m² × target lumens per m². A 20 m² living room at 200 lm/m² requires 4,000 lumens distributed across several sources; a 12 m² bedroom at 150 lm/m² needs only 1,800 lumens. An opaque lampshade, dark walls or a ceiling above 2.70 m absorb part of the flux: add 20 to 30% in that case. Localised lighting, reading lamp or worktop spotlight, only needs the flux for its zone.

How many lumens for a living room

Between 150 and 300 lumens per m², i.e. 3,000 to 6,000 lumens for 20 m², distributed in three layers: soft general lighting (pendant light or ceiling light, 1,500 to 2,500 lm), functional lighting near the sofa (reading floor lamp of 800 to 1,200 lm, such as the Arco LED by Flos, 1,224 lm at 2,700 K according to its data sheet) and ambient lighting (table lamps of 200 to 500 lm). A dimmer does the rest.

How many lumens for a bedroom

Between 100 and 200 lumens per m², i.e. 1,200 to 2,400 lumens for 12 m², in 2,700 K. The bedroom doesn't need powerful general lighting: two bedside lamps of 200 to 400 lm, an adjustable reading wall light and, if needed, a dimmable pendant light. The Vuelta by Ferm Living and its 265 lumens at 2,700 K with dimmer, according to the manufacturer's data sheet, fulfils exactly this role.

How many lumens for a kitchen

Between 300 and 500 lumens per m² for general lighting, and 500 lux on the worktop, a value which NF EN 12464-1 sets for professional kitchens and which is applied at home. In practical terms, a 10 m² kitchen requires 3,000 to 5,000 lumens, part of which above the worktop in the form of spotlights or strip lights in 3,000 to 4,000 K. An adjustable ceiling light such as the Onda by Maytoni, 767 lm at 3,916 K with a CRI of 84 according to its data sheet, precisely lights a worktop or an island.

How many lumens for bathroom mirror

The bathroom requires 300 to 500 lumens per m² overall and, at the mirror, light that comes from the front or both sides, not from the ceiling: two wall lights of 200 to 400 lm each placed at eye level, around 160 cm, or a mirror with integrated lighting. Choose 3,000 K and a CRI of 90 if you apply make-up in front of it. The Moy by Faro Barcelona, 220 lm at 3,000 K in IP44 wall light is installed in pairs on either side of the mirror.

How many lumens for outdoor lighting

Outdoors, we think by zone: 100 to 300 lumens to mark out a path, 300 to 800 lumens for a dining terrace, 1,000 lumens and more for a façade. The colour remains warm, 2,700 K. A garage or workshop is treated like a worktop: 300 to 500 lux in 4,000 K. All types of lighting are brought together in the lighting.

Four pieces of information are enough to choose a light bulb: the luminous flux in lumens, the colour temperature in kelvins, the colour rendering index (CRI or Ra) and the cap. Since LEDs, the power in watts only indicates consumption.

100-watt bulb how many lumens: the equivalence table

European Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 set the equivalences to be displayed between an incandescent bulb and its replacement: 25 W for 249 lumens, 40 W for 470 lumens, 60 W for 806 lumens, 75 W for 1,055 lumens, 100 W for 1,521 lumens. An LED produces these fluxes with 3 to 13 W: the 12 W E27 LED bulb by Flos delivers 1,180 lumens at 2,700 K, the equivalent of a former 75 W, according to its data sheet. The maximum power marked on the socket concerns the heat output: an LED stays well below.

How to choose an LED bulb: 2,700 K, 3,000 K or 4,000 K

The colour temperature describes the shade of white light. 2,700 K is warm white, that of incandescence, for the living room, bedroom and dining room. 3,000 K remains warm but clearer: hallway, bathroom, kitchen where comfort is wanted. 4,000 K is a neutral white, for the worktop, study and workshop; beyond 5,000 K, you enter daylight, rarely pleasant at home. Some LEDs go down to 2,200 K, an amber light close to candlelight, like the wall light Kilter by Tala. Filament LEDs reproduce the appearance of old low-flux bulbs: the Spiral bulb by Normann Copenhagen, E14, 1.5 W, dimmable, is made for lighting where the bulb is visible.

The colour rendering index

The CRI ranges from 0 to 100 and measures colour fidelity compared to daylight. Standard NF EN 12464-1 requires a Ra of at least 80 in most workspaces; this is the threshold to apply at home. For the kitchen, dressing room or mirror, aim for 90. Serious data sheets indicate it: CRI 84 for the Onda ceiling light by Maytoni, above 80 for the Pipistrello by Martinelli Luce and the Carrie lamp by Audo.

E27, E14, GU10, G9 and G4 caps

The cap is designated by a letter and a number (IEC 60061 standard). E27 and E14 are screw caps of 27 and 14 mm: the first equips pendant lights and floor lamps, the second small lamps and wall lights. GU10, with pins 10 mm apart, to push in then turn, equips spotlights. G9 and G4, with thin pins 9 and 4 mm apart, equip compact wall lights; the G4 often works on low voltage. Designer bulbs and LEDs for editor lighting are in the bulbs.

The height of a floor lamp is chosen according to its function. For reading, the light source should be just above the shoulder of a seated person, meaning a lampshade whose lower edge sits around 110 to 130 cm from the floor: a reading floor lamp measures 120 to 150 cm, such as the Leaf by Muuto, 118 cm, or the Apex by HAY, 110 cm, with an adjustable lampshade. To illuminate a room or corner, the light source rises to 150 to 190 cm and diffuses upwards or through a lampshade: this is the height of the Singapour by Market Set, 157 cm, or the Bow by Zuiver, 190 cm. The arc floor lamp, finally, replaces a pendant light above a coffee table or dining table: the Arco by Flos rises to 240 cm and extends its light source by 220 cm, according to its specification sheet. These heights are practical benchmarks; the dimensions come from manufacturers' specification sheets.

Which floor lamp for a living room therefore depends on the sofa: next to a reading armchair, a 110 to 150 cm model with adjustable lampshade; behind a sofa, a 150 to 190 cm model with diffused light; above a coffee table, an arc lamp. Allow for 800 to 1,200 lumens for reading, 300 to 600 for ambience, and a dimmable LED such as on the Leaf. Check the cable length, 150 to 240 cm depending on the model, in relation to the socket. All formats are in the floor lamps.

A good desk lamp provides 400 to 500 lux over the work area, the value that NF EN 12464-1 specifies for reading and writing, without glare and without casting shadows on the page. Three criteria matter: an articulated arm that positions the source 35 to 45 cm from the surface, a swivel head that directs the beam towards the task and not towards the eyes, and an output of 400 to 800 lumens at 2,700 to 4,000 K.

Which bulb for a desk lamp? An LED of 400 to 500 lumens is sufficient when the head is 40 cm from the surface: the Type 75 Paul Smith Edition 3 by Anglepoise features an LED of 470 lumens at 2,700 K, the Apex by HAY states 500 to 800 lumens at 2,700 to 3,000 K, according to their specifications. A CRI of 80 at least, 90 for drawing or photo retouching. A dimmable lamp, such as the PC by HAY with clamp or the Leaf by Muuto, adapts to screen work, which requires less light than paper.

How to position your desk lamp: on the left for a right-hander, on the right for a left-hander, so that the hand does not shadow the writing; the head 35 to 45 cm from the surface and slightly forward; never facing the screen, as it would create a reflection. The arm matters as much as the output: the Tolomeo by Artemide extends up to 102 cm and rises to 108 cm, which covers a 160 cm desk without moving it. Models with clamps and arms are brought together in the desk lamps.

General lighting comes from the ceiling and should account for only half the light output in a living space; the rest comes from lamps. A pendant light brings the source down above a table or island, its bottom 70 to 90 cm from the worktop, a practical guideline detailed in our pendant light guide. A ceiling light stays flush and suits low ceilings and circulation spaces.

Which ceiling light for a kitchen: an LED model of 700 to 1,500 lumens, 3,000 to 4,000 K, with a CRI of 80 and above, adjustable if possible to aim at the worktop, like the Onda by Maytoni, whose head swivels 355 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically. For a dining room, a dimmable pendant light of 1,500 to 2,500 lumens at 2,700 to 3,000 K, such as the Tense by New Works, 90 cm, LED 2,000 lm at 3,000 K, according to the specification, or the Nelson Saucer Bubble by HAY, 63 cm, which diffuses soft light through its lampshade.

How to light a room without a ceiling light: this is the case in many period living rooms and most bedrooms. General lighting is replaced by two or three perimeter sources: a 150 to 190 cm ambient floor lamp with diffused light, a wall light to plug into a socket, a table lamp on a piece of furniture. The total in lumens remains that of the calculation per m², distributed differently. Flush models are in the ceiling lights collection, cable models in the pendant lights.

The IP rating (IEC 60529 standard) is read as two digits: the first, from 0 to 6, indicates protection against solids and dust; the second, from 0 to 9, against water. IP20 designates an indoor lighting fixture; IP44 resists splashes; IP54 and IP65 resist jets; IP67 resists temporary immersion. An X replaces an untested digit, hence IPX4 or IPX7.

In the bathroom, standard NF C 15-100 divides the room into zones around the bathtub and shower. In zone 0, the interior of the bathtub or shower tray, only IPX7 lighting fixtures in extra-low voltage are permitted. In zone 1, above the bathtub or shower up to 2.25 m, IPX4 minimum is required (IPX5 if jets are present) and safety extra-low voltage. In zone 2, the 60 cm band around, IPX4 minimum. Beyond that, IP20 lighting is permitted, but IP44 remains advisable near a washbasin. Mirror wall lights should therefore be chosen in IP44, such as the Cime by ENOstudio or the Cast Sconce by Audo, IP44 and dimmable, according to their specifications. If in doubt about the zones, have the installation validated by an electrician.

Outdoors, the logic is the same. Under an awning or covered pergola, IP44 is sufficient; exposed to rain, IP54 to IP65; placed on the ground or liable to be hosed, IP65 to IP67. The Archigrande floor lamp by Fatboy is rated IP55 and UV-resistant; the Tika solar lantern by Vincent Sheppard is IP67, with 500 lumens at 2,700 K; the Carrie lamp by Audo, cordless and IP44, moves from table to terrace with 384 lumens at 2,700 K and a CRI of 80. These values come from the manufacturers' specifications. IP44 wall lights for mirrors are in the bathroom wall lights collection, terrace models in the garden lighting.

A 25 m² living room with reading nook

Target 200 lm/m², i.e. 5,000 lumens. A dimmable pendant light of 2,000 lumens above the table (Tense by New Works), a reading floor lamp of 1,200 lumens next to the armchair (Arco LED by Flos or Leaf by Muuto), two table lamps of 500 lumens on furniture, in 2,700 K. In the evening, the pendant light dims to 30% and the lamps take over.

A study in a 12 m² bedroom

The bedroom keeps its 150 lm/m², i.e. 1,800 lumens in 2,700 K; the study adds an articulated arm lamp directed at the work surface, such as the Type 75 Mini by Anglepoise, on the left for a right-hander: 500 lux on the work area without changing the room's ambience.

A 6 m² bathroom with double basin

Target 400 lm/m², i.e. 2,400 lumens: an IP44 ceiling light of 1,200 to 1,500 lumens in 3,000 K for general lighting, and two IP44 wall lights of 220 to 400 lumens on either side of the mirror, at 160 cm from the floor, such as two Moy by Faro Barcelona. A CRI of 90 at the mirror for make-up. The wall lights are in the wall lights.

An LED doesn't burn out, it decreases in output: the product sheets state 25,000 hours for the Carrie lamp by Audo, 30,000 for the Vuelta by Ferm Living, 35,000 for the Leaf lamp by Muuto, equivalent to ten to fifteen years at three hours per day. On a lighting fixture with integrated LED, this duration is that of the fixture itself; with a base, you replace the bulb.

Dust absorbs part of the light: dust lampshades and diffusers twice a year, with the lighting switched off, using a soft, dry cloth, as recommended by Muuto and Fatboy; never use abrasive products on an opal glass or polycarbonate diffuser. Outdoor lighting should be rinsed with clean water in spring. Two habits extend an installation's life: use a dimmer only with dimmable LEDs, and respect the maximum wattage marked on the socket. All the lighting in the catalogue is brought together in the lighting.

What The Cool Republic's orders show between January and September 2026 in the Lighting collection. Shares are counted by number of orders, not quantities, so that a large purchase doesn't weigh more than another.

What's most ordered in 2026

• Colours: white (32%), black (11%), beige (10%).
• Materials: paper - cardboard (15%), steel (11%), plastic - innovative materials (9%).
• Types: pendant lights (24%), lamps (17%), lampshades (17%), wall lights (16%).

Most ordered models since January

• White rice paper lampshade Classic 80 cm, HAY
• White rice paper lampshade Ellips Classic, HAY
• Warm white LED neon tube 150 cm Neon, HAY
• Beige linen, birch and black metal pendant light 110 cm Screen, The Cool Republic

• Choosing a bulb by its wattage: an 8 W LED produces the 806 lumens of an old 60 W bulb.
• A single 3,000-lumen ceiling light in a 20 m² living room: the total is right, the atmosphere is flat; you need three layers.
• 4,000 K or 6,500 K in a bedroom: neutral white delays sleep onset, stick to 2,700 K.
• A desk lamp placed on the right for a right-hander, or facing the screen: shadow on the page and glare on the screen.
• An IP20 wall light in zone 2 of the bathroom, less than 60 cm from the shower: NF C 15-100 standard requires IPX4.
• An old wall dimmer on a non-dimmable LED: flickering and reduced lifespan.
• A 190 cm floor lamp with diffused light as a reading lamp: the source is too high, you need 110 to 150 cm.