A Guide To Properly Lighting Your Home Office

The use of both natural lighting and artificial lighting in any office space will not only boost productivity but also employee health and well-being. According to the American Society of Interior Design, 68 percent of office employees complain about the lighting in their workspaces either being too dim or too harsh. 

The Problem

Harsh lighting can lead to headaches and migraines while excessively dim lighting can result in eye strain, fatigue, and a lack of focus. All of which will negatively affect an employee’s sense of motivation.

The Solution 

The first step to a well-lit office space is natural lighting. As human beings, we all follow an internal clock called our circadian rhythm. According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, “Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light and dark and affect most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes.” An example of a light-related circadian rhythm is sleeping at night and being awake during the day.

Layers of Lighting

In addition to natural lighting, both direct and indirect artificial lighting should be introduced to any home office space.

Start by illuminating your home office with an even layer of warm light, ideally in the 2700 – 3000K range, through the use of recessed lighting. This can also be referred to as ambient lighting. 

Pro-tip: Install a dimmer switch. This issues flexibility to adjust lighting depending on the time of day and tasks at hand.

Next, add in additional layers of lighting through task and accent lighting. 

Task lighting is any light source that provides a spotlight effect to any activity space. Think of a desk lamp for example. When reading, you may turn on a lamp beside you to better illuminate the book’s pages. This act prevents eye strain and resulting headaches.

Other forms of task lighting that you may want to incorporate into your home office include pendants, undercabinet lighting, and tape lighting.

Finally, accent lighting can be used through chandeliers, wall sconces, picture lighting, and track lighting to add visual interest to the space. Working in a visually stimulating space can lead to a boosted attitude and overall productivity and performance. Accent lighting can also be used in your home office to highlight areas of the space that may spark your creativity or motivation. This can include highlighting art pieces or meaningful photographs.

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