When you switch to LEDs, it’s easy to focus on brightness and colour temperature. But there’s another factor that changes how your space actually looks: Colour Rendering Index (CRI). CRI tells you how accurately a light source reveals colours compared to natural daylight — the higher the number, the more true-to-life everything appears.

🎨 What Is CRI (In Plain English)?

CRI is measured on a scale from 0 to 100. A perfect 100 means colours look the same as they would under natural light. Most quality LED bulbs sit between 80 and 97 CRI, and those few points make a noticeable difference to skin tones, timber finishes, food, artwork — everything.

80 CRI: Functional and acceptable for general use.
90 CRI: Excellent, balanced and natural for daily living.
95+ CRI: Professional, near-studio accuracy for colour-critical tasks.

💡 Why High CRI Matters at Home and Work

High-CRI lighting makes spaces feel comfortable and accurate. Skin looks natural, timber reads warm, greenery is vibrant, and food looks appetising. Lower CRI can make colours appear dull or slightly “off”, and reds in particular may look flat.

Kitchens: True colour helps with prep and plating; produce looks fresh.
Bathrooms: Accurate makeup and grooming with natural-looking skin tones.
Living/Bedrooms: Warm, balanced light for relaxing, reading and entertaining.
Art/Retail/Studios: High CRI ensures materials, pigments and merchandise present correctly.

🔢 CRI Levels Explained (80 vs 90 vs 95+)

80 CRI — Functional but Limited

Fine reds and subtle tones can look muted, and the spectrum can feel a touch unbalanced over longer periods. Suitable for garages, hallways, storage and utility areas where colour fidelity isn’t critical.

90 CRI — Ideal for Everyday Living

A clear step up in clarity and comfort. Most homes find CRI90+ perfect for living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. Try our Classic LED Bulbs or Dimmable LED Bulbs for CRI90+, flicker-free light with smooth dimming.

95+ CRI — Professional & Artistic Precision

Near-studio accuracy where subtle differences matter: art galleries, photography, design studios, premium retail. For most homes, the leap from 90 to 95 CRI is subtle; for creators and curators, it’s worth it. Explore our Ultra High CRI Bulbs collection for advanced LED filament bulbs offering CRI95+ performance — ideal for spaces demanding exceptional colour fidelity.

🏠 Recommended CRI Ranges (Australia)

Homes: Aim for CRI90+ in living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens for natural colour and comfort.
Offices: CRI90+ supports accurate documents, fabrics and skin tones in meetings.
Galleries/Studios/Retail: CRI95+ for faithful colour judgement and presentation.

Pair CRI with the right colour temperature (e.g., 2,000–2,700 K for warm ambience, 3,000–4,000 K for task clarity) to get both accurate colour and the mood you want.

🧠 Tips for Selecting High-CRI LED Bulbs

Check the spec: Look for a listed CRI value — choose CRI90+ as your everyday baseline.
Mind R9 (reds): If available, higher R9 improves skin, timber and food tones.
Match the mood: Pick colour temperature to suit the room’s job (warm for unwind, neutral for tasks).
Insist on comfort: Choose flicker-free designs (IEC guidance: PST < 1, SVM < 0.4) for eye-ease.
Choose proven LEDs: Look for LM-80 tested packages — ours typically retain ~96–98% brightness at 9,000 h with projected L70 > 54,000 h (package-level).

✅ The Bottom Line

CRI shapes how you experience every surface and shade. While 80 CRI covers the basics, stepping up to 90 CRI+ brings your home to life; 95 CRI+ is the choice for colour-critical work.

Explore our Ultra High CRI LED Bulbs range for the most accurate light quality available, or browse Classic LED Bulbs and Dimmable LED Bulbs for high-CRI, flicker-free illumination. Need help choosing? Contact us — we’ll match CRI and colour temperature to your space.