This is the first post in our “How To Achieve Great Lighting” series – a practical guide to understanding the elements that make light not just functional, but beautiful and mood-enhancing.
From CRI and color temperature to dimming, placement, and layering, we’ll explore how thoughtful lighting choices can transform your space from flat to full of life. Whether you’re designing a cozy reading nook or lighting an entire home, this series will help you make smarter, more inspiring decisions about the light that surrounds you.
When we talk about “great light,” we’re not just referring to how bright a room is – we’re talking about the quality of the light. It’s that subtle but powerful difference you feel the moment you step into a well-lit space.
The atmosphere feels calm, the colors appear rich and natural, and materials take on their true texture and depth. This isn’t just a matter of style – it’s about something measurable: CRI, or RA as it’s often called in Europe.
... Before starting FlowForm, I spent years creating 3D visualizations of homes - carefully balancing color, light, and material to make digital spaces feel real.
But no matter how good a render was, it was always the quality of light that made it convincing. That same principle applies in real homes.
When I first began experimenting with physical lights, I was shocked by how many “nice-looking” lamps came with poor-quality light sources.
I wanted to do better - and now I do.
| Light source | CCT (K) | CRI |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pressure sodium (LPS/SOX) | 1800 | −44 |
| Clear mercury-vapor | 6410 | 17 |
| High-pressure sodium (HPS/SON) | 2100 | 24 |
| Coated mercury-vapor | 3600 | 49 |
| Halophosphate warm-white fluorescent | 2940 | 51 |
| Halophosphate cool-white fluorescent | 4230 | 64 |
| Tri-phosphor warm-white fluorescent | 2940 | 73 |
| Halophosphate cool-daylight fluorescent | 6430 | 76 |
| “White” SON | 2700 | 82 |
| Standard LED Lamp | 2700–5000 | 83 |
| Quartz metal halide | 4200 | 85 |
| Tri-phosphor cool-white fluorescent | 4080 | 89 |
| High-CRI LED lamp (blue LED) | 2700–5000 | 95 |
| Ceramic discharge metal-halide lamp | 5400 | 96 |
| Ultra-high-CRI LED lamp (violet LED) | 2700–5000 | 99 |
| Incandescent/halogen bulb | 3200 | 100 |
CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a scale from 0 to 100 that tells us how accurately a light source shows colors compared to natural daylight.
A CRI of 100 means you’ll see colors exactly as you would under the sun.
80+ is decent (what many cheaper LEDs offer).
90+ is excellent – and that’s what all FlowForm bulbs aim for.
You’ve probably experienced low CRI without realizing it. Maybe your green sofa looks a bit greyish in the evening. Or your food seems dull and unappetizing under harsh kitchen lights. That’s low light quality – and once you notice it, it’s hard to unsee.
High CRI lighting brings subtle but important benefits:
True-to-life colors in clothes, furniture, plants, and art
Better skin tones – you don’t look washed out or sickly
A sense of clarity and calm, especially during dark seasons
Improved focus and comfort in work or creative spaces
In our Northern climate, where daylight fades fast in the winter, this kind of light becomes even more valuable. It helps preserve our natural rhythm and keeps the home feeling “awake” and natural – even when it’s pitch black at 16:00.
Every FlowForm lamp includes an energy-efficient, smart LED bulb with a CRI above 90. But that’s just part of the story.
Our bulbs are also tunable – meaning you can adjust the color temperature to suit your mood and the time of day. Cozy warm tones in the evening. Crisp white light for daytime focus.
(More on this in our upcoming post about color temperature – stay tuned!)
And we don’t just look at the overall CRI number. Some lamps score “high CRI” by averaging well, but miss important colors -like reds, skin tones, and deep natural hues.
That’s why we look at specific R-values too – especially R9 and R13. R13 in particular relates to deep red tones, which are key to how lifelike and warm your space feels. Many cheap LEDs underperform in this area.
FlowForm bulbs are chosen with this full spectrum in mind – so the natural tones of wood, textiles, skin, and food are all rendered beautifully.
Every FlowForm lamp includes an energy-efficient, smart LED bulb with a CRI above 90. But that’s just part of the story.
Our bulbs are also tunable – meaning you can adjust the color temperature to suit your mood and the time of day. Cozy warm tones in the evening. Crisp white light for daytime focus.
(More on this in our upcoming post about color temperature – stay tuned!)
And we don’t just look at the overall CRI number. Some lamps score “high CRI” by averaging well, but miss important colors -like reds, skin tones, and deep natural hues.
That’s why we look at specific R-values too – especially R9 and R13. R13 in particular relates to deep red tones, which are key to how lifelike and warm your space feels. Many cheap LEDs underperform in this area.
FlowForm bulbs are chosen with this full spectrum in mind – so the natural tones of wood, textiles, skin, and food are all rendered beautifully.
We believe light should enhance your space, not flatten it. It should bring out the beauty of your home – and the warmth in your life.
That’s why we choose high-quality light sources as carefully as we design the lamps themselves.
“Because good light doesn’t just brighten a room
– it brings everything in it to life”
This blog will be a space to share my thoughts on lighting – both the technical and the emotional side.
We’ll explore how to light your home well, what makes good light quality (CRI, color temperature, etc.), and why smart lighting isn’t just a gimmick. I’ll also take you behind the scenes on the creative and manufacturing process.
Thanks for being here. I’m excited to share this journey with you.
Warm regards,
Jørgen L.
Founder, FlowForm
What to Look for in Any Light Bulb