8 Modern Lighting ideas for Home Office from Jessica Max

Lighting can work wonders for any home. It can emphasize certain areas of the room or provide an open space for going about your daily activities. A poorly lit home can lead to eyesight problems and affect your overall mood, especially in regions that are known to be dark during the day. In the home office, lighting is extra essential, especially for productivity. When modern technology meets architecture, you get a great combination of practicality with sophisticated design. Lighting is no exception and here are 8 ways to make the most of modern lighting for your home office.

1. Make the Most of Natural Light.

Even if you live near the North Pole, natural sunlight exists wherever you are. Take advantage of this. In your home office, open the shades or curtains during the morning and early afternoons on a sunny day. Not only does this save you a lot of money on your electric bill, but also you get all the great benefits of natural sunlight such as vitamin D, which helps boost happiness and mood. Keep in mind, that natural sunlight can make a computer screen difficult to see. Be strategic in how you set up your home office.

2. Work With Angles

 Two things to keep in mind when aligning your workstation are glare and shadows. It may not be wise to place your desk directly across from the windows in which the screen is in direct contact with the light. You may want to place your workstation against the windows so that your computer will face against the light. However, remember to have fun with angles in your home office. Getting the most from natural light depends on the placement of your desk and chair. A good rule of thumb is to place your workstation to face north or south, so that the sunlight does not create shadows.

3. Utilize Ambient Lighting Over Task Lighting

 Do you live up north away and lack sunlight most of the year? Try to make the most of ambient lighting. The basic premise of ambient lighting is to make the most of overhead lighting. Recessed lights that come with many homes may be able to do the job, but do not settle for what you already have if it is not sufficient. Existing ambient light installed in a household is typically not designed for a home office. Do not be afraid to install or place additional lighting to supplement your ambient lighting sources. The best ambient lighting illuminates an entire room evenly. It minimizes the amount of alternating areas of dark and bright light patches. Keep in mind that although task lighting is enough to get the job done, ambient light can set a mood for the room.

4. Take Your Task Lighting to the Next Level 

Unlike ambient lighting, task lighting is more practical and essential to a home office. Task lighting is meant to ensure that you get your work done under the best possible lighting conditions. With the advancements of modern technology and architecture, from sleek floor lamps to bold table lamps there is a plethora of modern lamp designs that can supplement your home office. If you are unsure how much lighting you may need, try to go with a lamp with a dimmer option. This can allow you more versatility as many tasks require differing intensities of light. Remember not to overrule your ambient lighting structures for task lighting. There may be times you will need more light in certain areas of the room, but always try to keep the overall atmosphere light enough to maintain a good atmosphere.

5. Add Some Accent Lighting

 There are three basic layers of lighting, ambient, task, and accent. Ambient lighting provides the base and mood, task lighting provides functionality and practicality, and accent lighting is the most aesthetically appealing part of the room. Just focusing on one over the other can hinder the potential of your home office. While ambient lighting meets the need for a mood and task lighting meets the need for practicality, accent lighting meets the need for interior design and beauty. Expert interior designers suggest a height-based approach to considering all three layers of lighting. For instance, the ambient lighting may be the recessed lights, task lighting may be small desk lamps near your computer, and accent lighting may be table lamps placed around the room.

6. Coordinate Your Lighting

 After deciding what type of lights you want, try to create a theme for your home office. If you are going with a modern theme with bold colors, you may want to emphasize accent lights more. If you are more of a practical person, you may want to go with neutral colors for a sophisticated look. Try to think about what colors you want in the room and then think about a theme that can supplement your ideas into a cohesive vision. Do not be afraid to have trendy task lamps or ambient lights as they may add to or inspire your overall vision. Nothing is wrong with being a little bold with your home office. After all, you will be using your home office and having something that both practically and aesthetically appeals to you is important.

7. Maximize Space

 Not everyone has the luxury of large home offices. For those who are in the majority of having a tight room, you can easily optimize your space by utilizing pendant lights, sconces and emergency lights. These lights are installed from the ceiling or walls, thus allowing more room for your workstation and other furniture. You will be surprised how versatile some pendant lights and sconces can be. Try a desk sconce with swing arm lamp for ultimate flexibility in lighting use.

8. Avoid Strain and Use Some Shades

Because natural light often results in glare, consider using some shades, sheer curtains, or blinds to control how much sunlight enters your home office. You want to optimize your use or natural sunlight as much as possible without having to suffer the eye strain. By installing some shades, you can make the most of the natural sunlight while avoiding the pitfalls it may have in your home office. If you are not in shades or cannot afford to install them, try to use an indoor plant near the window to block some light and prevent some glare.

No matter what your needs are in a home office, do not underestimate the importance of lighting. Lighting is what makes a home office work and it is essential for your mood, productivity, and need for beauty.

–Jessica Max
Emergency Lights