Color Temperature & Bulb Style Guide
C9, C7, mini, icicle, bistro — and what 2200K vs 5000K actually does to your house. The complete cheat sheet.
If you've ever been overwhelmed at the lighting aisle, this is for you.
Color temperature, decoded
Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). Lower = warmer = more orange. Higher = cooler = more blue.
- 2200K — candle / amber. Vintage and intimate. Great for bistro string lights at events.
- 2700K — warm white. The classic "incandescent" look. Best for traditional homes, brick, dark trim.
- 3000K — soft white. A touch crisper. Pairs well with modern white stucco.
- 4000K — neutral white. Reads as "office lighting." Avoid outdoors unless you want a sterile look.
- 5000K+ — cool / daylight. Don't use this on your house. It looks like a parking lot.
Bulb shapes for holiday lighting
C9 — the big classic. About 1.25" wide, screw-in. Reads from across the street. The right pick for rooflines on most homes.
C7 — the little brother. About 0.75" wide. Better for smaller homes, single-story, or a more delicate look.
Mini lights (5mm) — tiny LED dots. Best for tree wraps, garlands, and bushes. Comes in cool and warm white.
Icicle lights — drooping strands. Use sparingly — over a porch or front entry — not the whole roofline.
Bistro / globe — the big café-style bulbs on a string. Magic for backyards, patios, events. Almost always 2200K.
Mixing styles (carefully)
The pro move: pick one bulb style for the architecture (usually C9 on the roof) and one bulb style for landscaping (usually mini lights wrapped on trees). Don't introduce a third unless there's a strong design reason.
Match the color temperature across both — if your roof is 2700K, your trees should be 2700K. Mismatched warmth is the #1 thing that makes a yard look amateur.
When in doubt
Warm white. C9 on the roof. Mini lights on the trees. You will never regret it.