Home Office Lighting Guide

In the age of the internet, more and more people are working from home. Employers these days also tend to offer more flexible solutions to issues like childcare, for example, and this contributes to the growing trend of working from home that saw almost 14% of the workforce doing some or all of their work from home in 2014.

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If you are going to work from home you need a dedicated work space in your house and reliable office lights. Working in your living room or bedroom is not only too distracting but can also lead to problems when you try to disassociate yourself from your work at the end of the day. What you need is a home office that is separate from the living space that you use to relax in.

Your home office would ideally be a room on its own, although if you lack the space then you can improvise by having a desk or table that you use only for your work. Your home office should be a clean, organised space and lighting is very important. You are aiming to create a space to work which is comfortable and keeps the inspiration coming.

Improve your productivity

Good lighting boosts your mood, enhances your energy levels and therefore improves productivity. Bad lighting will do the opposite, sapping your energy and even leading to headaches and eye strain.

Layering modern light by using combination of different light fittings is the best solution. You can use desk lamps, ceiling lights, wall lights, spotlights, floor lamps and downlights, for example, all of which will serve a different purpose in your home office lighting plan. . Home lights often come in contemporary or traditional styles and this can be the same for the interior design of your office space depending on your preference.

You need to balance the requirements of having sufficient light to work at the computer without glare, but strong enough light to read documents or do paperwork at your desk. Spotlights that can be positioned at different angles, downlights with a tilt function or track lights are all good examples of ceiling lights that are ideally suited to a home office. Adjustable lights like this can be angled to where they are needed most and you can change their position throughout the day depending on the ambient lighting in the room and the task that you are performing at the time. You can also use fittings with a dimmer to control light levels.

Task lighting is very important for when you choose your home office lighting. Task lighting is where you have specific lights to help you perform specific tasks. In your kitchen it might be to light your cooker when you are cooking, in your bathroom it might be to help you shave at the mirror. In your home office it will likely be to help you read and write either from paper documents or on a computer screen. Desk lamps with adjustable arms can be used to help when you looking at paperwork and need to concentrate on specific details. Clip-on desk lamps are also an option if you want to save space on the surface of your desk.

Top tips for home office lighting

Make sure to position your desk lamps on the opposite side of the desk to your writing hand to avoid shadows.
Aim lights at your work space, not your computer screen, to avoid glare.
If you don’t have a lot of desk space you can use a wall spotlight. This is mounted on your wall and has an adjustable head or arm which can be angled so the beam falls were you need it to.
Use task lighting and layer your lighting by using several different fittings. A proven idea used by interior designers throughout the world.
Use energy-efficient LED bulbs to make your home office cost efficient. LED lamps can even be used in more traditional antique fittings.

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Author Profile

James Crouch

James is an experienced professional with over a decade of experience in the lighting industry. His expertise in the field makes him a valuable asset to Scotlight Direct.

James has a deep understanding of the technical and creative aspects of lighting. He is passionate about staying up-to-date with the latest innovations and trends in the field, and he is always looking for ways to apply this knowledge to his work.