Lighting does affect our work productivity, no matter our physical setting. Make sure it will not negatively affect yours by reading these tips!
As COVID-19 continues to reshape our lives, make sure you have the best lighting to make working from home unchallenging. From color temperature to the fixture size, it can be overwhelming to know what you need. Let us help you narrow it down!
Color Temperature Matters!
While all the letters and numbers on your bulbs might seem pointless, they are necessary to your productivity. The most important information is the kelvin. A simple way of explaining this is a higher kelvin will produce cooler light, and a lower kelvin will be warmer. Cooler light increases brain activity and is what to aim for the best productivity.
Our brains are trained by sunlight to be awake when it’s bright outside and asleep or resting when it’s dark. Therefore, you will often feel more tired on cloudy days. Because of this, you want to make sure that your home lighting imitates the brightest hours of the day, especially in the morning when your productivity is usually the highest.
The ideal color temperature to aim for is 4000K-5000K. This will be just bright enough to keep your brain active but not so bright it will hurt your eyes. It also might be worthwhile to investigate smart lighting that can be programmed to dim in the later hours of the day.
The Different Types of Lighting
Before buying your new office lighting, make sure you know what kind of lights you want for your space!
Task
Task lighting refers to any light source that helps you with your tasks/work. This includes but is not limited to desk and floor lamps, under shelf lighting, track lights, and even book lights. And do not let the name scare you off task lighting can easily be incorporated into your décor while being useful.
Starting with lamps, they will be the simplest lights to use as decoration. If your home office has an armchair or any kind of seating area, floor lamps are a good way to illuminate that corner. If you are specifically looking for desk lighting, then table lamps will be your best bet. They can be easily moved to the side of the desk they are needed at and are a more direct light source than an overhead fixture.
Sometimes though, even lamps can’t give you the right amount of light. If you have a shelf or cabinet above your desk, then you should try out under-cabinet lights. Simply mount the light to the bottom of the shelf and turn it on to see the difference. These lights will illuminate your entire desk instead of just a small section of it, increasing your vision and your productivity by default.
The last type of lighting to be aware of is track lighting. It provides an out of the way light source that replaces regular overhead fixtures. They also have the added benefit of being directional. Each head can be directed towards different areas of the room, ensuring that your entire space will be well lit.
Accent
You cannot have a home office without taking advantage of the fact that you can decorate your space however you choose. And lighting can be easily incorporated into your décor! Accent lighting is actually a preferred option because most of it is mounted which will give you more floor space to move around in.
To achieve the perfect look for your office, you can use a variety of lighting. For starters, there are the widely popular LED strip lights. These work perfectly for lighting coves or cabinetry. While not strong enough to be the main source of light, it will enhance your office and provide ambient lighting. Although if LED strips are not what you are looking for, then rope lights will deliver the same performance in a more decorative form.
You might also consider string lights that will dress up any space when strategically placed. There are large string lights that will stand out on a wall, or you can go simple with miniature light strands that will accent any décor you have on a shelf.
If light strands are not what you are looking for, then you will want to consider overhead fixtures. Pendants are a surprisingly good source of light and will stand out in any room. Wall-mounted fixtures such as sconces are also a great option as they can be mounted on either side of your desk.
Natural
Never underestimate the power of natural light! Why do you think offices with windows are so coveted? When picking out your home office, make sure you find a room with plenty of windows.
If you are concerned that the sun will be too bright, blinds or curtains will diffuse the glare and heat, keeping your office comfortable. Keep in mind that getting enough natural light for your home office does not just affect your work, but it will also save you money on your electrical bill.
If a home office with plenty of sunlight is not an option for you, then consider taking walks on your breaks. Studies have shown that even that little bit of exposure to natural light will boost your mood and restart your brain.
The bottom line is while the world seems out of control, you do have control over your own space. Make sure it reflects you and your needs as you move into the next year!
