Suitable lighting in a workspace has been proven to have a significant effect on productivity. We’ll show you how to make the most of your workspace with these home office lighting tips.
LEVERAGE NATURAL LIGHT
Natural light is the ideal light source for any room, but contingent on your home’s design and layout, you may not have a lot of it. If you’re lucky enough to have a large window or two, it may be tempting to position your desk facing the window. However, you may find yourself staring directly into the morning or afternoon sun as you’re trying to work. Instead, position your desk with the window to one side, to minimize screen glare while still benefiting from the light and the view.
USE OVERHEAD LIGHTS FOR AMBIENT LIGHTING
Ambient lighting is usually considered the primary lighting for the room, as it tends to provide light across the widest area of space. These types of light sources, including track and recessed lighting, work well for home offices, especially in conjunction with task lighting, as you can use one or both types of lights depending on the task.
Depending on the space, a well-positioned pendant light is also a great light source and a nice design accent for the space. To illuminate a large area of the room, hang one or more pendant lights in the center of the room, and the higher the better.
ADD DESK & PENDANT LIGHTS FOR TASK LIGHTING
Desk lamps are essential for alleviating eye strain while providing light for near work (tasks performed within a short working distance, like reading and writing). To avoid screen glare and shadows, place your desk lamp to the side of your computer or workspace. Placing the lamp on the side opposite your dominant hand will prevent you from casting shadows as you write.
Pendant lights can also be used for task lighting; hang one over your desk, leaving approximately 28 inches between the light fixture and the desk surface. Choose a pendant light size based on the size of your workspace. The light it provides should be able to illuminate the entire desk, from corner to corner. Larger workspaces may require multiple pendant lights to achieve the right amount of illumination.
GET FLOOR LIGHTS TO SAVE DESK SPACE
With home offices where surface space is at a premium, it may work better to save your desk space for working and get a floor lamp instead of a desk lamp. Easily adjustable and moveable, you can place your floor lamp next to your desk or behind a reading chair. Our Gooseneck Floor Lamp reduces eye strain by providing light that replicates natural sunlight.
