How to Properly Light Your Home Office
A home office should have the same productivity as an office building while also providing the comforts of home. Free from headache-inducing fluorescent lights, your home office should feel like a welcoming space to work and create. Lighting plays an important role in creating an inviting work environment. Proper office lighting will help reduce eye strain, improve productivity, and make your home office a visually appealing room in your house. Here are four ideas to help you properly light your home office:
Take Advantage of Multiple Types of Light Sources
A welcoming home office layers different sources of light. HGTV says that there are three basic types of light, and your home office should take advantage of all of them.
Ambient Light
Ambient light provides the general illumination of a room through overhead lighting, recessed lighting that points downward, or floor lamps. In an office building, the ambient light source is usually fluorescent ceiling lights. Fluorescent lights are notoriously harsh, so you wouldn’t want them in your welcoming home office. Instead, The Spruce suggests diffusing ambient lights with lampshades or using upward-facing lights to prevent the harshness of direct light.
Task Light
Task lighting is essential to eliminating eye strain in a home office. Think of task lights as spotlights on what your eyes are should be looking at. Although the ambient light should be diffused and indirect, task lights should point directly at what you need to see in your office. Place task lights over your paperwork or workstations, so that you do not have to squint while working.
Accent Light
Accent lights draw your attention to certain features in a room, like a bookcase or piece of artwork. In your home office, accent lights help give your room dimension by layering light sources. You can use wall-mounted sconces or track lighting to highlight artwork on your walls or bookshelf. If you have frequent video conference calls, you can improve your background by highlighting special features in your room with accent lights.
Choose the Right Light Temperature
Although lights in office buildings are usually harsh and flickering, there is a reason why offices choose those bright lights. The temperature and brightness of lights have been found to affect our sleep patterns and our moods. Office buildings use bright and cool-toned lights because it stimulates productivity and alertness by mimicking daylight. Lights on the warmer end of the spectrum can help you relax and unwind. In your home office, choose cool-toned light bulbs for your task lights because this is where you need to promote productivity. If you have a casual reading corner in your office, you may want to choose a warmer toned light for that floor lamp to help you relax.
Save Space With Unique Light Fixtures
If your home office is small, don’t be afraid to get creative with light sources. The Homeworker magazine suggests hanging pendants, wall sconces, or even a stylish hanging bulb because these lights do not take up any space on the floor. However, the best space-saving light source is sunlight. If you have windows, take advantage of their natural light by facing your desk in the direction of the window.
Incorporate Stylish Decorative Lamps
When lighting your office, functionality is the first priority. You want to be able to see what you are working on and feel productive in this space. However, your lighting can actually bring you joy as well if you pick pieces that reflect your style. A stylish table lamp might inspire you to be more creative or at least put you in a better mood while you work. One of the biggest benefits of a home office is that it can reflect your own personal style.
Conclusion
From table lamps to desks, Matter Brothers Furniture offers a curated selection of furniture and home decor to help you furnish your home office. Come visit our Naples furniture store or any of our convenient locations. Lastly, please contact us if you have any questions.
