7 Tips to Creating A Comfortable Home Office That'S Functional and Personal

Stay Productive and Relaxed

Whether you work remotely or desire a private sanctuary to escape the drama called 'home,' lighting plays a vital role in making your home office space functional, comfortable, and personal.

So why not enjoy your office space as much as you would any other room in the house?

Many lighting fixtures are available to create the private sanctuary you envision. Each lighting fixture will play a specific role in helping alleviate weariness when spending extended periods in a relatively small space or a space that does not have access to natural light. A well-lit, comfortable homework space will help you stay productive and relaxed.

Desk Lamps and Task Lighting You'll Love

Beginning at the desk of your home office, task lighting is widely relied on by those who need focused light—especially when attention to detail is of utmost importance. Task lighting reduces eye strain and fatigue and has come a long way since your grandpa’s workbench.

Today’s desk lamps combine full-spectrum LED technology with sleek, stylish lines. They are available with the floor, table, clamp bases, and adjustable brightness levels that work with you instead of against you.

Top Seven Home Office Lighting Tips from the Experts:

1. Plan. Plan. Method: Before you shop for lighting fixtures, have a room or office layout that includes the size and location of your desk and other furniture.

2. Pleasing placement: Avoid placing lamps or lighting fixtures directly behind your desk to reduce glare.

3. Get the 'Layered Look': Just as layering your clothing assures comfort in a changing outdoor environment, your light optimizes your work environment. Combine task lighting with ambient lighting from a chandelier, floor lamp, and wall lights, and accent lighting from a floor lamp or table lamp to deliver varying levels and combinations of light. Layering your light will help to reduce eye strain and headaches.

4. Maximize desk space: A clamp-on task light or a plug-in swag light will maximize the space on your desk, giving you more room to work. You can also add a personal flare by adding a pendant light (or two) mounted off to the side of your desk.

5. Select lighting fixtures that are in scale to the room size:
   The Ultimate Chandelier Buying Guide from EMPTYOO will show you everything you need to know about chandeliers, including measuring your room and ensuring the chandelier you choose is the right size.

6. Avoid eye strain: Task lighting combined with ambient lighting makes you feel at home in your home office and helps your eyes readily adjust to different parts of your workspace.

7. The correct bulb can enhance the lighting effect: Cool white 4100K light in your workspace has been shown to reduce eye fatigue. Daylight colors in the 5000-6000K range or a warm white such as 2600-3500K may be more to your liking. Play with the paint to see what works best for you and reduce light reflection on paperwork or computer monitor glare.

Temperature Range Effects of Lighting in Kelvin (K)