What Is CRI and Why Should You Care?

You’ve picked the perfect light fitting and the right colour temperature — but have you considered how well it will show off the colours in your space? That’s where CRI comes in.

CRI stands for Colour Rendering Index, and it plays a big role in how your room really looks once the lights go on. Whether you're lighting a kitchen, bathroom, artwork, or clothing, CRI can be the difference between colours that pop and colours that fall flat.

What is CRI?

CRI (Colour Rendering Index) is a measurement of how accurately a light source displays colours compared to natural daylight. It's measured on a scale from 0 to 100.

• CRI 100 = Perfect colour rendering (identical to daylight)
• CRI 80–89 = Good for most residential use
• CRI 90+ = Excellent, preferred in high-spec or design-led environments

The higher the CRI, the more vivid, natural, and true-to-life colours appear under that light.

Why Does CRI Matter?

Low CRI lights can make colours look dull, washed out, or even distorted. High CRI lighting helps:

• Show colours accurately — especially important for art, fashion, food, and decor
• Create a high-quality atmosphere — where skin tones and materials look natural
• Improve comfort — because things look as expected, with less visual strain

Even if you’ve picked the right style and brightness, poor CRI can ruin the effect by making everything appear off-colour.

Where CRI Really Counts

While CRI matters everywhere, it’s especially important in:

• Kitchens and dining areas: Food looks more appetising and colours of surfaces show properly
• Bathrooms: Skin tones look more natural in mirrors
• Wardrobes and dressing rooms: Colours of clothes appear as they do in daylight
• Living rooms with artwork or natural finishes: Paintings, wood, and fabric textures look richer

CRI vs Brightness: Not the Same Thing

It’s a common mistake to think a brighter bulb gives better colour. That’s not true — CRI is about accuracy, not intensity.

A bulb can be bright (high lumens) but still have poor colour rendering. Always check the CRI rating alongside the brightness when selecting bulbs.

What is a Good CRI Rating?

At Leora Lighting, we always list CRI ratings where available — and many of our fittings are rated CRI90+ as standard, so you know your lighting will show your space at its best.

High CRI and LED Lighting

Not all LEDs are created equal. Some cheaper or older LED technology can have low CRI, especially if colour accuracy wasn’t a design priority.

Many of our newer LED ranges use high CRI LED chips — this makes them ideal for detail-focused and design-conscious spaces without sacrificing efficiency.

Final Thoughts

CRI might not be the first thing you think about when choosing a light — but once you’ve seen the difference, you won’t want to go back.

From food to fabrics to faces, colour matters. And with the right CRI, your space can look as good at night as it does in natural daylight.

Browse our high CRI lighting options or talk to our team to find out which fittings will make your colours shine.