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Guide - find the right light source for your lamp

Are you wondering whether to choose a large or small base, whether your lamp is dimmable or how long an LED lamp will last? Then look no further! Here you will find your guide to choosing the right LED light source.

A globe opal white SOLHETTA LED bulb E14 470 lumen

Get to know all the parts of a light source

When you buy an LED bulb, we help you along the way by providing information about the light source's base, brightness, colour temperature and dimmability. 

5 things to know when choosing a light source

1. Features

Consider where you want to place your lamp. Spotlights are usually used with lamps that have a spreading angle, depending on how focused you want the light to be. Opal-coloured glass on lamps provides a more even light, while lamps with clear glass create effects on ceilings and walls if you have a lampshade with a cut-out pattern. Globe-shaped lamps spread light horizontally, while crown-shaped lamps direct the light better in, for example, elongated shades.

Discover all LED lights
A hanging SOLHETTA light bulb casts a warm glow over a grey sofa with a pink knitted blanket. On the sofa lies a book with glasses on top.
Discover all LED lights

2. Colour rendering

Even indoors, we want the best possible light quality, and CRI (Colour Rendering Index) is a way of indicating how well a light source renders colours. It is measured from 0 to 100 CRI, where 100 corresponds to perfect daylight. In our work with SOLHETTA, we have succeeded in improving the colour rendering of LED light to 90 CRI in all light sources except one, which measures 80 CRI. This creates a more natural and pleasant feeling – and shows your home's true colours.

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A lit dining table with plates, two artichokes, a carafe of water, drinking glasses and cutlery. The wall behind is dark green.
See all LED bulbs

3. Lifespan

The lifespan of the light source is measured in hours and corresponds to 20 or 10 years depending on which one you choose, based on 3 hours of use per day. 25,000 hours ≈ 20 years, and 15,000 hours ≈ 10 years.

Explore all LED lights
Two white cushions are stacked next to a small black table with a lit SOLHETTA light bulb and a water glass. The wall behind is dark green.
Explore all LED lights

4. Energy consumption

Our new energy-efficient and long-lasting SOLHETTA light sources are 35% more energy-efficient than previous IKEA LED light sources. That's why you choose LED bulbs based on brightness measured in lumens (lm) instead of watts (W). Watts measure energy consumption, and our bulbs consume 1.8–22W. At IKEA, we have started using the new energy labelling for LEDs that will come into effect in spring 2023, which is why our LED light sources have a higher rating even though they consume less energy than the previous ones.

See all SOLHETTA LED light sources
Several different SOLHETTA light sources hang from the ceiling. The wall behind is dark green.
See all SOLHETTA LED light sources

5. Colour temperature

LED light sources are available in different colour temperatures, which make the light feel more or less warm. The colour temperature of the light source is expressed in Kelvin and can be fixed or adjustable depending on the light source you choose. You can choose between light sources that emit a warm white light (2700 Kelvin), light reminiscent of candlelight (1800 Kelvin) or change the colour of your lighting with TRÅDFRI light sources.

See all LED light sources
A white desk lamp shines over a white table with a stack of books and white headphones. In the foreground is an orange chair, and the wall behind it is dark green.
See all LED light sources
Light sources hang from a ceiling against a dark green background.

Save energy and money with SOLHETTA

SOLHETTA LED light bulbs are 35% more energy efficient than previous IKEA LED light bulbs, so you'll save money on your electricity bill too. Each light source also lasts longer, up to 25,000 hours. If you have your lamp on for a few hours every day, you won't need to replace it for about 20 years. This also means that significantly fewer light sources need to be produced – and discarded.

Discover our sustainable products